ATI RN MENTAL HEALTH PROCTORED
ACTUAL PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder.
Which of the following actions should the nurse include as a
psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the medications.
Answer: D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the medications.
⩥ A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct
an initial client interview. When conducting the interview, which of the
following actions should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
Answer: B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
,⩥ A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous.
When assessing the client, which of the following findings should the
nurse expect?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
B. The client has a glasgow coma scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place.
Answer: A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
⩥ A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which
of the following information is appropriate to include in the discussion?
(Select all that apply)
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health
disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental
health disorders.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment for
mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for client's who have
mental health disorders.
,E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health
disorders.
Answer: B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual
mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for client's who have
mental health disorders.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health
disorders.
⩥ A nurse in an emergency mental health facility is caring for a group of
clients. The nurse should identify that which of the following clients
requires a temporary emergency admission?
A. A client who has schizophrenia with delusions of grandeur
B. A client who has manifestations of depression and attempted suicide a
year ago
C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a
homeless man with a metal rod
D. A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly around the room
while talking to himself
Answer: C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and
assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod
⩥ A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in
seclusion overnight because the unit is very short-staffed, and the client
, frequently fights with other clients. The nurse's actions are an example
of which of the following torts?
A. Invasion of privacy
B. False imprisonment
C. Assault
D. Battery
Answer: B. False imprisonment
⩥ A client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone but I hid a sharp knife under
my mattress in order to protect myself from my roommate, who is
always yelling at me and threatening me." Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the client
daily, using therapeutic communication to convince him to admit to
hiding the knife
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client
and his roommate closely.
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to the health care team
because it concerns the health and safety of the client and others.
D. Report the incident to the health care team, but do not inform the
client of the intention to do so.
Answer: D. Report the incident to the health care team, but do not
inform the client of the intention to do so.
ACTUAL PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder.
Which of the following actions should the nurse include as a
psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the medications.
Answer: D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the medications.
⩥ A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct
an initial client interview. When conducting the interview, which of the
following actions should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
Answer: B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
,⩥ A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous.
When assessing the client, which of the following findings should the
nurse expect?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
B. The client has a glasgow coma scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place.
Answer: A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
⩥ A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which
of the following information is appropriate to include in the discussion?
(Select all that apply)
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health
disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental
health disorders.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment for
mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for client's who have
mental health disorders.
,E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health
disorders.
Answer: B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual
mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for client's who have
mental health disorders.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health
disorders.
⩥ A nurse in an emergency mental health facility is caring for a group of
clients. The nurse should identify that which of the following clients
requires a temporary emergency admission?
A. A client who has schizophrenia with delusions of grandeur
B. A client who has manifestations of depression and attempted suicide a
year ago
C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a
homeless man with a metal rod
D. A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly around the room
while talking to himself
Answer: C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and
assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod
⩥ A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in
seclusion overnight because the unit is very short-staffed, and the client
, frequently fights with other clients. The nurse's actions are an example
of which of the following torts?
A. Invasion of privacy
B. False imprisonment
C. Assault
D. Battery
Answer: B. False imprisonment
⩥ A client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone but I hid a sharp knife under
my mattress in order to protect myself from my roommate, who is
always yelling at me and threatening me." Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the client
daily, using therapeutic communication to convince him to admit to
hiding the knife
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client
and his roommate closely.
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to the health care team
because it concerns the health and safety of the client and others.
D. Report the incident to the health care team, but do not inform the
client of the intention to do so.
Answer: D. Report the incident to the health care team, but do not
inform the client of the intention to do so.
