HESI NSG 221 MENTAL HEALTH
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 TEST
PAPER QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+ VERIFIED ANSWERS
◉ Tardive Dyskinesia. Answer: Tardive dyskinesia (TD), a syndrome of
permanent involuntary movements, is most commonly caused by the
long-term use of conventional antipsychotic drugs. Tongue thrusting and
protruding, lip smacking, blinking, grimacing, and other excessive
unnecessary facial movements are characteristic. After it has developed,
TD is irreversible, although decreasing or discontinuing antipsychotic
medications can arrest its progression
◉ Civial Rights-Psychiatric Clients. Answer: Clients receiving mental
health care retain all civil rights afforded to all people except the right to
leave the hospital in the case of involuntary commitment. Any
restrictions (e.g., mail, visitors, clothing) must be made for a verifiable,
documented reason. These decisions can be made by a court or a
designated decision-making person or persons, for example, a primary
nurse or treatment team, depending on local laws or regulations.
◉ Group Therapy. Answer: In group therapy, clients participate in
sessions with a group of people. The members share a common purpose
and are expected to contribute to the group to benefit others and receive
benefit from others in return. Group rules are established, which all
members must observe. These rules vary according to the type of group.
Being a member of a group allows the client to learn new ways of
looking at a problem or ways of coping with or solving problems and
also helps him or her learn important interpersonal skills.
,◉ Crisis Intervention-Empathy. Answer: Empathy is the ability to place
oneself into the experience of another for a moment in time. Nurses
develop empathy by gathering as much information about an issue as
possible directly from the client to avoid interjecting their personal
experiences and interpretations of the situation. The nurse asks as many
questions as needed to gain a clear understanding of the client's
perceptions of an event or issue.
◉ Clarification Communication. Answer: Understanding the context of
communication is extremely important in accurately identifying the
meaning of a message. To clarify context, the nurse must gather
information from verbal and nonverbal sources and validate findings
with the client.
◉ Depressed Adolescent Rapport (use of self disclosure). Answer: Self-
disclosure means revealing personal information such as biographical
information and personal ideas, thoughts, and feelings about oneself to
clients. Now, however, it is believed that some purposeful, well-planned
self-disclosure can improve rapport between the nurse and the client.
The nurse can use self-disclosure to convey support, educate clients, and
demonstrate that a client's anxiety is normal and that many people deal
with stress and problems in their lives.
◉ Depressed Adolescent Rapport (Establishing Rapport). Answer:
When assessing a new patient, establish rapport first. If not much time is
available to establish rapport, or if the patient is guarded or suspicious,
you can say, "The questions I am about to ask you I ask all of my
patients," and then proceed. Some other tips include the following:
, Establish rapport and connection by showing interest in the patient and
by listening.
◉ Codependent Behaviors & Alcohol Abuse. Answer: Codependence is
a maladaptive coping pattern on the part of family members or others
resulting from a prolonged relationship with the person who uses
substances. Characteristics of codependence are poor relationship skills,
excessive anxiety and worry, compulsive behaviors, and resistance to
change. Family members learn these dysfunctional behavior patterns as
they try to adjust to the behavior of the substance user. One type of
codependent behavior is called enabling, which is a behavior that seems
helpful on the surface but actually perpetuates the substance use.
◉ Clonidine (Catapress). Answer: Suppresses opiate withdrawal
symptoms
It is given to clients with opiate dependence to suppress some effects of
withdrawal or abstinence. It is most effective against nausea, vomiting,
and diarrhea, but produces modest relief from muscle aches, anxiety, and
restlessness
is an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist used to treat hypertension. It is given to
clients with opiate dependence to suppress some effects of withdrawal or
abstinence. It is most effective against nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea,
but produces modest relief from muscle aches, anxiety, and restlessness
◉ Disulfiram (Antabuse). Answer: Maintains abstinence from alcohol
Disulfiram (Antabuse) may be prescribed to help deter clients from
drinking. If a client taking disulfiram drinks alcohol, a severe adverse
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 TEST
PAPER QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+ VERIFIED ANSWERS
◉ Tardive Dyskinesia. Answer: Tardive dyskinesia (TD), a syndrome of
permanent involuntary movements, is most commonly caused by the
long-term use of conventional antipsychotic drugs. Tongue thrusting and
protruding, lip smacking, blinking, grimacing, and other excessive
unnecessary facial movements are characteristic. After it has developed,
TD is irreversible, although decreasing or discontinuing antipsychotic
medications can arrest its progression
◉ Civial Rights-Psychiatric Clients. Answer: Clients receiving mental
health care retain all civil rights afforded to all people except the right to
leave the hospital in the case of involuntary commitment. Any
restrictions (e.g., mail, visitors, clothing) must be made for a verifiable,
documented reason. These decisions can be made by a court or a
designated decision-making person or persons, for example, a primary
nurse or treatment team, depending on local laws or regulations.
◉ Group Therapy. Answer: In group therapy, clients participate in
sessions with a group of people. The members share a common purpose
and are expected to contribute to the group to benefit others and receive
benefit from others in return. Group rules are established, which all
members must observe. These rules vary according to the type of group.
Being a member of a group allows the client to learn new ways of
looking at a problem or ways of coping with or solving problems and
also helps him or her learn important interpersonal skills.
,◉ Crisis Intervention-Empathy. Answer: Empathy is the ability to place
oneself into the experience of another for a moment in time. Nurses
develop empathy by gathering as much information about an issue as
possible directly from the client to avoid interjecting their personal
experiences and interpretations of the situation. The nurse asks as many
questions as needed to gain a clear understanding of the client's
perceptions of an event or issue.
◉ Clarification Communication. Answer: Understanding the context of
communication is extremely important in accurately identifying the
meaning of a message. To clarify context, the nurse must gather
information from verbal and nonverbal sources and validate findings
with the client.
◉ Depressed Adolescent Rapport (use of self disclosure). Answer: Self-
disclosure means revealing personal information such as biographical
information and personal ideas, thoughts, and feelings about oneself to
clients. Now, however, it is believed that some purposeful, well-planned
self-disclosure can improve rapport between the nurse and the client.
The nurse can use self-disclosure to convey support, educate clients, and
demonstrate that a client's anxiety is normal and that many people deal
with stress and problems in their lives.
◉ Depressed Adolescent Rapport (Establishing Rapport). Answer:
When assessing a new patient, establish rapport first. If not much time is
available to establish rapport, or if the patient is guarded or suspicious,
you can say, "The questions I am about to ask you I ask all of my
patients," and then proceed. Some other tips include the following:
, Establish rapport and connection by showing interest in the patient and
by listening.
◉ Codependent Behaviors & Alcohol Abuse. Answer: Codependence is
a maladaptive coping pattern on the part of family members or others
resulting from a prolonged relationship with the person who uses
substances. Characteristics of codependence are poor relationship skills,
excessive anxiety and worry, compulsive behaviors, and resistance to
change. Family members learn these dysfunctional behavior patterns as
they try to adjust to the behavior of the substance user. One type of
codependent behavior is called enabling, which is a behavior that seems
helpful on the surface but actually perpetuates the substance use.
◉ Clonidine (Catapress). Answer: Suppresses opiate withdrawal
symptoms
It is given to clients with opiate dependence to suppress some effects of
withdrawal or abstinence. It is most effective against nausea, vomiting,
and diarrhea, but produces modest relief from muscle aches, anxiety, and
restlessness
is an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist used to treat hypertension. It is given to
clients with opiate dependence to suppress some effects of withdrawal or
abstinence. It is most effective against nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea,
but produces modest relief from muscle aches, anxiety, and restlessness
◉ Disulfiram (Antabuse). Answer: Maintains abstinence from alcohol
Disulfiram (Antabuse) may be prescribed to help deter clients from
drinking. If a client taking disulfiram drinks alcohol, a severe adverse
