RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 5 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of suicide attempts. Which of the following findings
places the client at risk for another suicide attempt? (Select all that apply.)
✓ A. Hallucinations
✓ B. Depression
✓ C. Delusions
D. Tinnitus
E. Catatonia
✓ Correct Answer: A, B, C
Risk factors for suicide include: HALLUCINATIONS (command hallucinations may instruct self-harm); DEPRESSION (the
psychiatric condition most strongly associated with suicide — hopelessness is the single greatest predictor); DELUSIONS
(distorted thinking can lead to self-destructive acts). TINNITUS is a hearing disorder — not a psychiatric risk factor for
suicide. CATATONIA (a state of unresponsiveness/immobility) in itself is not a direct predictor of suicide attempt.
Page 1 | RN ATI Capstone Mental Health 2026
, RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 10 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who has panic disorder. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include?
A. Encourage the client to attend group therapy sessions.
B. Allow the client to choose scheduled daily activities.
✓ C. Use simple words to describe procedures to the client.
D. Avoid discussing topics that can trigger a panic attack.
✓ Correct Answer: C
During a panic attack, the client experiences extreme anxiety with cognitive impairment — complex instructions cannot be
processed. The nurse should use SHORT, SIMPLE, CLEAR communication to convey information. Encouraging group
therapy requires moderate-high anxiety tolerance — appropriate for stabilization phase, not acute panic. Allowing activity
choices provides some control but is not the priority intervention. AVOIDING triggers is not therapeutic — graduated
exposure to triggers (with CBT) is the evidence-based approach. Avoidance maintains the disorder.
Page 2 | RN ATI Capstone Mental Health 2026
, RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 18 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse in an inpatient mental health facility sees a client who is talking while walking alone. The
client tells the nurse, 'This guy is in my head telling me what to do.' Which of the following responses
should the nurse make?
A. "It is not possible to have someone else in your head talking to you."
B. "Are you sure it wasn't your roommate telling you that?"
✓ C. "Although I can't hear that voice, it must be very upsetting for you."
D. "Why do you think he is telling you what to do?"
✓ Correct Answer: C
The therapeutic response acknowledges the client's EXPERIENCE without reinforcing the delusion or arguing against it.
'Although I can't hear that voice, it must be very upsetting for you' validates the emotional distress while gently introducing
reality (I cannot hear it). This maintains the therapeutic relationship and opens communication. Telling the client it is not
possible directly contradicts their reality and damages trust. Suggesting the roommate reinforces the delusion. Asking 'why'
implies the hallucination is logical and reinforces it.
Page 3 | RN ATI Capstone Mental Health 2026
, RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 27 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder. The client says to the nurse, 'Give me your
pen to cut the pain out of my chest.' The nurse should identify that the client is at risk for which of
the following?
A. Illusion
B. Hallucination
C. Attention-seeking behavior
✓ D. Self-mutilation
✓ Correct Answer: D
The client is requesting a sharp object (pen) to PHYSICALLY CUT themselves — this is a direct request indicating risk for
SELF-MUTILATION (non-suicidal self-injury/NSSI). Self-harm in bipolar disorder is often used to cope with emotional pain
('cut the pain out'). The nurse must immediately remove all sharp objects and assess for safety. This is not an illusion
(misinterpretation of real stimulus), hallucination (false perception), or attention-seeking behavior — it is a direct statement
of intent to self-harm.
Page 4 | RN ATI Capstone Mental Health 2026
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 5 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of suicide attempts. Which of the following findings
places the client at risk for another suicide attempt? (Select all that apply.)
✓ A. Hallucinations
✓ B. Depression
✓ C. Delusions
D. Tinnitus
E. Catatonia
✓ Correct Answer: A, B, C
Risk factors for suicide include: HALLUCINATIONS (command hallucinations may instruct self-harm); DEPRESSION (the
psychiatric condition most strongly associated with suicide — hopelessness is the single greatest predictor); DELUSIONS
(distorted thinking can lead to self-destructive acts). TINNITUS is a hearing disorder — not a psychiatric risk factor for
suicide. CATATONIA (a state of unresponsiveness/immobility) in itself is not a direct predictor of suicide attempt.
Page 1 | RN ATI Capstone Mental Health 2026
, RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 10 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who has panic disorder. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include?
A. Encourage the client to attend group therapy sessions.
B. Allow the client to choose scheduled daily activities.
✓ C. Use simple words to describe procedures to the client.
D. Avoid discussing topics that can trigger a panic attack.
✓ Correct Answer: C
During a panic attack, the client experiences extreme anxiety with cognitive impairment — complex instructions cannot be
processed. The nurse should use SHORT, SIMPLE, CLEAR communication to convey information. Encouraging group
therapy requires moderate-high anxiety tolerance — appropriate for stabilization phase, not acute panic. Allowing activity
choices provides some control but is not the priority intervention. AVOIDING triggers is not therapeutic — graduated
exposure to triggers (with CBT) is the evidence-based approach. Avoidance maintains the disorder.
Page 2 | RN ATI Capstone Mental Health 2026
, RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 18 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse in an inpatient mental health facility sees a client who is talking while walking alone. The
client tells the nurse, 'This guy is in my head telling me what to do.' Which of the following responses
should the nurse make?
A. "It is not possible to have someone else in your head talking to you."
B. "Are you sure it wasn't your roommate telling you that?"
✓ C. "Although I can't hear that voice, it must be very upsetting for you."
D. "Why do you think he is telling you what to do?"
✓ Correct Answer: C
The therapeutic response acknowledges the client's EXPERIENCE without reinforcing the delusion or arguing against it.
'Although I can't hear that voice, it must be very upsetting for you' validates the emotional distress while gently introducing
reality (I cannot hear it). This maintains the therapeutic relationship and opens communication. Telling the client it is not
possible directly contradicts their reality and damages trust. Suggesting the roommate reinforces the delusion. Asking 'why'
implies the hallucination is logical and reinforces it.
Page 3 | RN ATI Capstone Mental Health 2026
, RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 27 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder. The client says to the nurse, 'Give me your
pen to cut the pain out of my chest.' The nurse should identify that the client is at risk for which of
the following?
A. Illusion
B. Hallucination
C. Attention-seeking behavior
✓ D. Self-mutilation
✓ Correct Answer: D
The client is requesting a sharp object (pen) to PHYSICALLY CUT themselves — this is a direct request indicating risk for
SELF-MUTILATION (non-suicidal self-injury/NSSI). Self-harm in bipolar disorder is often used to cope with emotional pain
('cut the pain out'). The nurse must immediately remove all sharp objects and assess for safety. This is not an illusion
(misinterpretation of real stimulus), hallucination (false perception), or attention-seeking behavior — it is a direct statement
of intent to self-harm.
Page 4 | RN ATI Capstone Mental Health 2026
