ATI MENTAL HEALTH PROCTOR|ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
WELL DETAILED VERIFIED SOLUTIONS| GRADED A+| BRAND NEW
2026/2027 UPDATE
2. A nurse is counseling a client following the death of the client's
partner 8 months ago. Which of the following client statements
indicates maladaptive grieving?
a. "I am so sorry for the times I was angry with my partner."
b. "I like looking at his personal items in the closet."
c. "I find myself thinking about my partner often."
d. "I still don't feel up to returning to work." - ANSWER d. "I still don't feel up to returning
to work."
Rationale: 8 months too long Maladaptive Grief: . Distorted or exaggerated grief response -
unable to
perform activities of daily living.
RISK FACTORS FOR MALADAPTIVE GRIEVING
●● Being dependent upon the deceased
●● Unexpected death at a young age, through violence, or by a socially unacceptable man-
ner
●● Inadequate coping skills or lack of social support
●● Pre-existing mental health issues, such as depression or substance use disorder
1.A client is fearful of driving and enters a behavioral therapy
program to help him overcome his anxiety. Using systematic
desensitization, he is able to drive down a familiar street without
1
,experiencing a panic attack. The nurse should recognize that to
continue positive results, the client should participate in which of
the following?
a. Biofeedback
b. Therapist modeling
c. Frequent pacing
d. Positive reinforcement - ANSWER a. Biofeedback
3./21 A nurse in an inpatient mental health facility is assessing a
client who has schizophrenia and is taking haloperidol (antipsychotic,
1st gen).
Which of the following clinical findings is the nurse's priority?
a. Headache
b. Insomnia (sedation)
c. Urinary hesitancy (Complication → ANTIcholinergic effects)
d. High fever (Complication → agranulocytosis) - ANSWER d. High fever (Complication →
agranulocytosis)
Other complications: Acute dystonia, Pseudoparkinsonism, Akathisia, Tardive dyskinesia,
Neuroendocrine effects (Gynecomastia, Weight gain, Menstrual irregularities), NMS,
Orthostatic Hypotension, Sedation, Sexual dysfunction, Skin effects, Liver impairment
4. A nurse is planning care for a client who has obsessive
compulsive disorder. Which of the following recommendations
should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?
a. Reality Orientation therapy (re-orient to reality)
b. Operant Conditioning (receives positive rewards for positive behavior)
c. Thought Stopping (say "stop" when compulsive behaviors arise & substitute
2
,w/ positive thought)
d. Validation Therapy (acknowledging pt's feelings) - ANSWER c. Thought Stopping (say
"stop" when compulsive behaviors arise & substitute
w/ positive thought)
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the manic phase of
bipolar disorder. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
a. Provide in depth explanation of nursing expectations
(inability to focus - give concise explanations)
b. Encourage the client to participate in group activities
(decrease stimulation)
c. Avoid power struggles by remaining neutral (do not react
personally to pt's comments)
d. Allow the client to set limits for his behavior (nurse sets limits) - ANSWER c. Avoid
power struggles by remaining neutral (do not react
personally to pt's comments)
6. A nurse is providing behavioral therapy for a client who has
OCD. The client repeatedly checks that the doors are locked at
night. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give
the client when using thought stopping technique?
a. "Keep a journal of how often you check the locks each
night."
b. "Ask a family member to check the locks for you at night."
c. "Focus on abdominal breathing whenever you go to
check the locks."
d. "Snap a rubber band on your wrist when you think about
3
, checking the locks." - ANSWER d. "Snap a rubber band on your wrist when you think
about
checking the locks."
Thought stopping: teach pt to say "stop" when negative
thoughts/compulsive behaviors arise & substitute positive thought - goal forpt use command
silently over time
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has a cocaine use disorder.
Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect
the client to have during withdrawal?
a. Hand tremors (Intoxication)
b. Fatigue
c. Seizures (Intoxication)
d. Rapid speech
Rationale: Pg: 97 WITHDRAWAL MANIFESTATIONS● Depression, fatigue, craving, excess
sleeping or
insomnia, dramatic unpleasant dreams, psychomotor retardation, agitation ● Not life-threat-
ening, but
possible occurrence of suicidal ideation
Cocaine = STIMULANT → OPPOSITE of HEROIN
● Withdrawal = opposite effects - ANSWER b. Fatigue
8. A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is taking
clozapine. For which of the following findings should the nurse
withhold the medication and notify the provider?
a. WBC count
b. Heart rate
4
WELL DETAILED VERIFIED SOLUTIONS| GRADED A+| BRAND NEW
2026/2027 UPDATE
2. A nurse is counseling a client following the death of the client's
partner 8 months ago. Which of the following client statements
indicates maladaptive grieving?
a. "I am so sorry for the times I was angry with my partner."
b. "I like looking at his personal items in the closet."
c. "I find myself thinking about my partner often."
d. "I still don't feel up to returning to work." - ANSWER d. "I still don't feel up to returning
to work."
Rationale: 8 months too long Maladaptive Grief: . Distorted or exaggerated grief response -
unable to
perform activities of daily living.
RISK FACTORS FOR MALADAPTIVE GRIEVING
●● Being dependent upon the deceased
●● Unexpected death at a young age, through violence, or by a socially unacceptable man-
ner
●● Inadequate coping skills or lack of social support
●● Pre-existing mental health issues, such as depression or substance use disorder
1.A client is fearful of driving and enters a behavioral therapy
program to help him overcome his anxiety. Using systematic
desensitization, he is able to drive down a familiar street without
1
,experiencing a panic attack. The nurse should recognize that to
continue positive results, the client should participate in which of
the following?
a. Biofeedback
b. Therapist modeling
c. Frequent pacing
d. Positive reinforcement - ANSWER a. Biofeedback
3./21 A nurse in an inpatient mental health facility is assessing a
client who has schizophrenia and is taking haloperidol (antipsychotic,
1st gen).
Which of the following clinical findings is the nurse's priority?
a. Headache
b. Insomnia (sedation)
c. Urinary hesitancy (Complication → ANTIcholinergic effects)
d. High fever (Complication → agranulocytosis) - ANSWER d. High fever (Complication →
agranulocytosis)
Other complications: Acute dystonia, Pseudoparkinsonism, Akathisia, Tardive dyskinesia,
Neuroendocrine effects (Gynecomastia, Weight gain, Menstrual irregularities), NMS,
Orthostatic Hypotension, Sedation, Sexual dysfunction, Skin effects, Liver impairment
4. A nurse is planning care for a client who has obsessive
compulsive disorder. Which of the following recommendations
should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?
a. Reality Orientation therapy (re-orient to reality)
b. Operant Conditioning (receives positive rewards for positive behavior)
c. Thought Stopping (say "stop" when compulsive behaviors arise & substitute
2
,w/ positive thought)
d. Validation Therapy (acknowledging pt's feelings) - ANSWER c. Thought Stopping (say
"stop" when compulsive behaviors arise & substitute
w/ positive thought)
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the manic phase of
bipolar disorder. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
a. Provide in depth explanation of nursing expectations
(inability to focus - give concise explanations)
b. Encourage the client to participate in group activities
(decrease stimulation)
c. Avoid power struggles by remaining neutral (do not react
personally to pt's comments)
d. Allow the client to set limits for his behavior (nurse sets limits) - ANSWER c. Avoid
power struggles by remaining neutral (do not react
personally to pt's comments)
6. A nurse is providing behavioral therapy for a client who has
OCD. The client repeatedly checks that the doors are locked at
night. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give
the client when using thought stopping technique?
a. "Keep a journal of how often you check the locks each
night."
b. "Ask a family member to check the locks for you at night."
c. "Focus on abdominal breathing whenever you go to
check the locks."
d. "Snap a rubber band on your wrist when you think about
3
, checking the locks." - ANSWER d. "Snap a rubber band on your wrist when you think
about
checking the locks."
Thought stopping: teach pt to say "stop" when negative
thoughts/compulsive behaviors arise & substitute positive thought - goal forpt use command
silently over time
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has a cocaine use disorder.
Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect
the client to have during withdrawal?
a. Hand tremors (Intoxication)
b. Fatigue
c. Seizures (Intoxication)
d. Rapid speech
Rationale: Pg: 97 WITHDRAWAL MANIFESTATIONS● Depression, fatigue, craving, excess
sleeping or
insomnia, dramatic unpleasant dreams, psychomotor retardation, agitation ● Not life-threat-
ening, but
possible occurrence of suicidal ideation
Cocaine = STIMULANT → OPPOSITE of HEROIN
● Withdrawal = opposite effects - ANSWER b. Fatigue
8. A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is taking
clozapine. For which of the following findings should the nurse
withhold the medication and notify the provider?
a. WBC count
b. Heart rate
4
