HESI RN Mental Health Exam Prep Quest
] ] ] ] ] ]
ions and Correct Answers - 2026
] ] ] ]
A ]married ]male ]client ]with ]three ]children ]has ]lost ]his ]job ]and ]states ]that ]he ]feels ]useless. ]He ]is ]t
earful, ]upset, ]and ]embarrassed. ]What ]is ]an ]appropriate ]objective ]of ]care ]for ]this ]client?
1. ]Limiting ]tearfulness
2. ]Increasing ]self-esteem
3. ]Controlling ]feelings ]of ]sadness
4. ]Promoting ]acceptance ]by ]others ]- ]correct ]answer: ]2. ]Increasing ]self-esteem
The ]loss ]of ]a ]job ]can ]precipitate ]negative ]feelings ]about ]the ]self ]and ]decrease ]self-
esteem. ]Feelings ]should ]be ]expressed, ]not ]limited; ]attempting ]to ]decrease ]a ]client's ]crying ]often
]ends ]up ]worsening ]it. ]Crying ]is ]not ]necessarily ]an ]expression ]of ]sadness; ]other ]feelings ]are ]invol
ved. ]The ]focus ]should ]be ]on ]the ]client's ]self-acceptance, ]not ]acceptance ]by ]others.
A ]44-year-
old ]client ]has ]been ]unable ]to ]function ]since ]her ]husband ]asked ]for ]a ]divorce ]2 ]weeks ]ago. ]She ]is ]
brought ]to ]the ]crisis ]intervention ]center ]by ]a ]friend. ]What ]type ]of ]crisis ]is ]this ]situation?
1. ]Social
2. ]Situational
3. ]Maturational
4. ]Developmental ]- ]correct ]answer: ]2. ]Situational
Situational ]crises ]involve ]an ]unanticipated ]loss, ]such ]as ]a ]divorce, ]that ]is ]threatening ]to ]the ]clien
t. ]Social ]crises ]involve ]multiple ]losses ]such ]as ]those ]occurring ]during ]major ]disasters. ]Maturation
al ]crises ]occur ]in ]response ]to ]stress ]experienced ]as ]one ]struggles ]with ]developmental ]tasks. ]Dev
,elopmental ]
(maturational) ]crises ]are ]associated ]with ]developmental ]tasks; ]divorce ]is ]not ]a ]developmental ]ta
sk.
A ]resident ]in ]a ]nursing ]home ]recently ]immigrated ]to ]the ]United ]States ]from ]Italy. ]How ]does ]the ]
nurse ]plan ]to ]provide ]emotional ]support?
1. ]By ]offering ]choices ]consistent ]with ]the ]client's ]heritage
2. ]By ]ensuring ]that ]the ]client ]understands ]American ]beliefs
3. ]By ]assisting ]the ]client ]in ]adjusting ]to ]the ]American ]culture
4. ]By ]correcting ]the ]client's ]misconceptions ]about ]appropriate ]health ]practices ]- ]correct ]answer:
]1. ]By ]offering ]choices ]consistent ]with ]the ]client's ]heritage
Adherence ]to ]a ]plan ]of ]care ]is ]enhanced ]by ]the ]nurse's ]providing ]choices ]consistent ]with ]the ]clie
nt's ]cultural ]beliefs ]and ]practices. ]The ]nurse's ]cultural ]or ]personal ]beliefs ]and ]biases ]should ]not ]i
nfluence ]or ]interfere ]with ]the ]implementation ]of ]appropriate ]care. ]Helping ]the ]client ]adjust ]to ]t
he ]American ]culture ]is ]not ]the ]priority ]at ]this ]time; ]care ]should ]be ]adapted ]to ]the ]client's ]needs ]
and ]culture. ]The ]person's ]cultural ]practices ]should ]not ]be ]addressed ]unless ]they ]are ]detrimental
]to ]the ]person's ]health.
A ]nurse ]should ]reassess ]an ]older ]adult ]client's ]needs ]and ]current ]plan ]of ]care ]when ]the ]client's ]
behavior ]indicates ]the ]development ]of ]what ]symptom?
1. ]Confusion
2. ]Hypochondriasis
3. ]Additional ]complaints
4. ]Increased ]socialization ]- ]correct ]answer: ]1. ]Confusion
The ]development ]of ]confusion ]indicates ]that ]the ]client's ]ability ]to ]maintain ]equilibrium ]has ]not ]
been ]achieved ]and ]that ]further ]disequilibrium ]is ]occurring. ]Hypochondriasis ]and ]additional ]com
,plaints ]do ]not ]indicate ]that ]the ]plan ]needs ]to ]be ]changed ]unless ]the ]client's ]history ]demonstrate
s ]no ]prior ]use ]of ]these ]defenses. ]Increased ]socialization ]is ]a ]positive ]response ]to ]the ]plan ]of ]care
]that ]does ]not ]require ]reassessment.
An ]injured ]child ]is ]brought ]to ]the ]emergency ]department ]by ]the ]parents. ]While ]interviewing ]the
]parents, ]the ]nurse ]begins ]to ]suspect ]child ]abuse. ]Which ]parental ]behaviors ]might ]support ]this ]c
onclusion? ]Select ]all ]that ]apply.
1. ]Demonstrating ]concern ]for ]the ]injured ]child
2. ]Focusing ]on ]the ]child's ]role ]in ]sustaining ]the ]injury
3. ]Changing ]the ]story ]of ]how ]the ]child ]sustained ]the ]injury
4. ]Asking ]questions ]about ]the ]injury ]and ]the ]child's ]prognosis
5. ]Giving ]an ]explanation ]of ]how ]the ]injury ]occurred ]that ]is ]not ]consistent ]with ]the ]injury ]- ]correc
t ]answer: ]2. ]Focusing ]on ]the ]child's ]role ]in ]sustaining ]the ]injury
3. ]Changing ]the ]story ]of ]how ]the ]child ]sustained ]the ]injury
5. ]Giving ]an ]explanation ]of ]how ]the ]injury ]occurred ]that ]is ]not ]consistent ]with ]the ]injury
The ]child ]is ]often ]made ]the ]scapegoat ]in ]the ]situation; ]the ]parents ]blame ]the ]child ]because ]they
]have ]unrealistic ]expectations ]of ]the ]child. ]Discrepancies ]or ]inconsistencies ]in ]the ]history ]result ]f
rom ]attempts ]to ]present ]a ]story ]that ]is ]not ]based ]in ]fact. ]Discrepancies ]between ]the ]parental ]ex
planation ]for ]the ]child's ]injuries ]and ]the ]physical ]findings ]or ]discrepancies ]in ]the ]history ]that ]eac
h ]parent ]gives ]are ]common ]because ]the ]information ]that ]is ]being ]provided ]is ]not ]based ]in ]fact. ]
Abusive ]parents ]usually ]do ]not ]ask ]questions ]about ]the ]injury ]or ]prognosis ]and ]demonstrate ]littl
e ]or ]no ]interest ]in ]their ]child's ]well-being.
A ]nurse ]is ]planning ]to ]teach ]a ]client ]about ]self-
care. ]What ]level ]of ]anxiety ]will ]best ]enhance ]the ]client's ]learning ]abilities?
1. ]Mild
2. ]Panic
, 3. ]Severe
4. ]Moderate ]- ]correct ]answer: ]1. ]Mild
Mild ]anxiety ]motivates ]one ]to ]action, ]such ]as ]learning ]or ]making ]changes. ]Higher ]levels ]of ]anxiet
y ]tend ]to ]blur ]the ]individual's ]perceptions ]and ]interfere ]with ]functioning. ]Attention ]is ]severely ]re
duced ]by ]panic. ]The ]perceptual ]field ]is ]greatly ]reduced ]with ]severe ]anxiety ]and ]narrowed ]with ]
moderate ]anxiety.
A ]nurse ]is ]caring ]for ]depressed ]older ]adults. ]What ]precipitating ]factors ]for ]depression ]are ]most ]c
ommon ]in ]the ]older ]adult ]without ]cognitive ]problems? ]Select ]all ]that ]apply.
1. ]Dementia
2. ]Multiple ]losses
3. ]Declines ]in ]health
4. ]A ]milestone ]birthday
5. ]An ]injury ]requiring ]hospitalization ]- ]correct ]answer: ]2. ]Multiple ]losses
3. ]Declines ]in ]health
Depression ]in ]the ]older ]adult ]is ]most ]often ]associated ]with ]the ]loss ]of ]family ]members ]and ]frien
ds ]
(e.g., ]death, ]relocation) ]and ]declines ]in ]mobility, ]health, ]and ]income. ]A ]decline ]in ]health, ]particu
larly ]when ]associated ]with ]a ]chronic ]illness, ]frequently ]precipitates ]depression ]in ]older ]adults. ]D
ementia ]is ]a ]cognitive ]problem. ]Research ]does ]not ]correlate ]the ]onset ]of ]depression ]with ]a ]mile
stone ]birthday ]in ]older ]adults. ]A ]traumatic ]injury ]does ]not ]precipitate ]the ]onset ]of ]depression ]in
]the ]older ]adult ]as ]often ]as ]does ]a ]chronic ]illness.
The ]nurse ]observes ]biting, ]rocking, ]sucking, ]and ]lags ]in ]intellectual ]development ]in ]a ]child. ]She ]a
lso ]concludes ]the ]child ]is ]suffering ]from ]sleep ]disorders. ]What ]could ]be ]the ]reason ]for ]the ]child's
]condition?
] ] ] ] ] ]
ions and Correct Answers - 2026
] ] ] ]
A ]married ]male ]client ]with ]three ]children ]has ]lost ]his ]job ]and ]states ]that ]he ]feels ]useless. ]He ]is ]t
earful, ]upset, ]and ]embarrassed. ]What ]is ]an ]appropriate ]objective ]of ]care ]for ]this ]client?
1. ]Limiting ]tearfulness
2. ]Increasing ]self-esteem
3. ]Controlling ]feelings ]of ]sadness
4. ]Promoting ]acceptance ]by ]others ]- ]correct ]answer: ]2. ]Increasing ]self-esteem
The ]loss ]of ]a ]job ]can ]precipitate ]negative ]feelings ]about ]the ]self ]and ]decrease ]self-
esteem. ]Feelings ]should ]be ]expressed, ]not ]limited; ]attempting ]to ]decrease ]a ]client's ]crying ]often
]ends ]up ]worsening ]it. ]Crying ]is ]not ]necessarily ]an ]expression ]of ]sadness; ]other ]feelings ]are ]invol
ved. ]The ]focus ]should ]be ]on ]the ]client's ]self-acceptance, ]not ]acceptance ]by ]others.
A ]44-year-
old ]client ]has ]been ]unable ]to ]function ]since ]her ]husband ]asked ]for ]a ]divorce ]2 ]weeks ]ago. ]She ]is ]
brought ]to ]the ]crisis ]intervention ]center ]by ]a ]friend. ]What ]type ]of ]crisis ]is ]this ]situation?
1. ]Social
2. ]Situational
3. ]Maturational
4. ]Developmental ]- ]correct ]answer: ]2. ]Situational
Situational ]crises ]involve ]an ]unanticipated ]loss, ]such ]as ]a ]divorce, ]that ]is ]threatening ]to ]the ]clien
t. ]Social ]crises ]involve ]multiple ]losses ]such ]as ]those ]occurring ]during ]major ]disasters. ]Maturation
al ]crises ]occur ]in ]response ]to ]stress ]experienced ]as ]one ]struggles ]with ]developmental ]tasks. ]Dev
,elopmental ]
(maturational) ]crises ]are ]associated ]with ]developmental ]tasks; ]divorce ]is ]not ]a ]developmental ]ta
sk.
A ]resident ]in ]a ]nursing ]home ]recently ]immigrated ]to ]the ]United ]States ]from ]Italy. ]How ]does ]the ]
nurse ]plan ]to ]provide ]emotional ]support?
1. ]By ]offering ]choices ]consistent ]with ]the ]client's ]heritage
2. ]By ]ensuring ]that ]the ]client ]understands ]American ]beliefs
3. ]By ]assisting ]the ]client ]in ]adjusting ]to ]the ]American ]culture
4. ]By ]correcting ]the ]client's ]misconceptions ]about ]appropriate ]health ]practices ]- ]correct ]answer:
]1. ]By ]offering ]choices ]consistent ]with ]the ]client's ]heritage
Adherence ]to ]a ]plan ]of ]care ]is ]enhanced ]by ]the ]nurse's ]providing ]choices ]consistent ]with ]the ]clie
nt's ]cultural ]beliefs ]and ]practices. ]The ]nurse's ]cultural ]or ]personal ]beliefs ]and ]biases ]should ]not ]i
nfluence ]or ]interfere ]with ]the ]implementation ]of ]appropriate ]care. ]Helping ]the ]client ]adjust ]to ]t
he ]American ]culture ]is ]not ]the ]priority ]at ]this ]time; ]care ]should ]be ]adapted ]to ]the ]client's ]needs ]
and ]culture. ]The ]person's ]cultural ]practices ]should ]not ]be ]addressed ]unless ]they ]are ]detrimental
]to ]the ]person's ]health.
A ]nurse ]should ]reassess ]an ]older ]adult ]client's ]needs ]and ]current ]plan ]of ]care ]when ]the ]client's ]
behavior ]indicates ]the ]development ]of ]what ]symptom?
1. ]Confusion
2. ]Hypochondriasis
3. ]Additional ]complaints
4. ]Increased ]socialization ]- ]correct ]answer: ]1. ]Confusion
The ]development ]of ]confusion ]indicates ]that ]the ]client's ]ability ]to ]maintain ]equilibrium ]has ]not ]
been ]achieved ]and ]that ]further ]disequilibrium ]is ]occurring. ]Hypochondriasis ]and ]additional ]com
,plaints ]do ]not ]indicate ]that ]the ]plan ]needs ]to ]be ]changed ]unless ]the ]client's ]history ]demonstrate
s ]no ]prior ]use ]of ]these ]defenses. ]Increased ]socialization ]is ]a ]positive ]response ]to ]the ]plan ]of ]care
]that ]does ]not ]require ]reassessment.
An ]injured ]child ]is ]brought ]to ]the ]emergency ]department ]by ]the ]parents. ]While ]interviewing ]the
]parents, ]the ]nurse ]begins ]to ]suspect ]child ]abuse. ]Which ]parental ]behaviors ]might ]support ]this ]c
onclusion? ]Select ]all ]that ]apply.
1. ]Demonstrating ]concern ]for ]the ]injured ]child
2. ]Focusing ]on ]the ]child's ]role ]in ]sustaining ]the ]injury
3. ]Changing ]the ]story ]of ]how ]the ]child ]sustained ]the ]injury
4. ]Asking ]questions ]about ]the ]injury ]and ]the ]child's ]prognosis
5. ]Giving ]an ]explanation ]of ]how ]the ]injury ]occurred ]that ]is ]not ]consistent ]with ]the ]injury ]- ]correc
t ]answer: ]2. ]Focusing ]on ]the ]child's ]role ]in ]sustaining ]the ]injury
3. ]Changing ]the ]story ]of ]how ]the ]child ]sustained ]the ]injury
5. ]Giving ]an ]explanation ]of ]how ]the ]injury ]occurred ]that ]is ]not ]consistent ]with ]the ]injury
The ]child ]is ]often ]made ]the ]scapegoat ]in ]the ]situation; ]the ]parents ]blame ]the ]child ]because ]they
]have ]unrealistic ]expectations ]of ]the ]child. ]Discrepancies ]or ]inconsistencies ]in ]the ]history ]result ]f
rom ]attempts ]to ]present ]a ]story ]that ]is ]not ]based ]in ]fact. ]Discrepancies ]between ]the ]parental ]ex
planation ]for ]the ]child's ]injuries ]and ]the ]physical ]findings ]or ]discrepancies ]in ]the ]history ]that ]eac
h ]parent ]gives ]are ]common ]because ]the ]information ]that ]is ]being ]provided ]is ]not ]based ]in ]fact. ]
Abusive ]parents ]usually ]do ]not ]ask ]questions ]about ]the ]injury ]or ]prognosis ]and ]demonstrate ]littl
e ]or ]no ]interest ]in ]their ]child's ]well-being.
A ]nurse ]is ]planning ]to ]teach ]a ]client ]about ]self-
care. ]What ]level ]of ]anxiety ]will ]best ]enhance ]the ]client's ]learning ]abilities?
1. ]Mild
2. ]Panic
, 3. ]Severe
4. ]Moderate ]- ]correct ]answer: ]1. ]Mild
Mild ]anxiety ]motivates ]one ]to ]action, ]such ]as ]learning ]or ]making ]changes. ]Higher ]levels ]of ]anxiet
y ]tend ]to ]blur ]the ]individual's ]perceptions ]and ]interfere ]with ]functioning. ]Attention ]is ]severely ]re
duced ]by ]panic. ]The ]perceptual ]field ]is ]greatly ]reduced ]with ]severe ]anxiety ]and ]narrowed ]with ]
moderate ]anxiety.
A ]nurse ]is ]caring ]for ]depressed ]older ]adults. ]What ]precipitating ]factors ]for ]depression ]are ]most ]c
ommon ]in ]the ]older ]adult ]without ]cognitive ]problems? ]Select ]all ]that ]apply.
1. ]Dementia
2. ]Multiple ]losses
3. ]Declines ]in ]health
4. ]A ]milestone ]birthday
5. ]An ]injury ]requiring ]hospitalization ]- ]correct ]answer: ]2. ]Multiple ]losses
3. ]Declines ]in ]health
Depression ]in ]the ]older ]adult ]is ]most ]often ]associated ]with ]the ]loss ]of ]family ]members ]and ]frien
ds ]
(e.g., ]death, ]relocation) ]and ]declines ]in ]mobility, ]health, ]and ]income. ]A ]decline ]in ]health, ]particu
larly ]when ]associated ]with ]a ]chronic ]illness, ]frequently ]precipitates ]depression ]in ]older ]adults. ]D
ementia ]is ]a ]cognitive ]problem. ]Research ]does ]not ]correlate ]the ]onset ]of ]depression ]with ]a ]mile
stone ]birthday ]in ]older ]adults. ]A ]traumatic ]injury ]does ]not ]precipitate ]the ]onset ]of ]depression ]in
]the ]older ]adult ]as ]often ]as ]does ]a ]chronic ]illness.
The ]nurse ]observes ]biting, ]rocking, ]sucking, ]and ]lags ]in ]intellectual ]development ]in ]a ]child. ]She ]a
lso ]concludes ]the ]child ]is ]suffering ]from ]sleep ]disorders. ]What ]could ]be ]the ]reason ]for ]the ]child's
]condition?
