HESI Mental Health Exam Updated 2022
An adolescent make receives a prescription for an antidepressant drug because he is
exhibiting a depressed affect. While the client is taking the antidepressant, which
comparison of the client's behavior before and after taking the drug is most important for
the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite.
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity.
D. The interactions he has with others.
{{ANS}}B. The emotional quality of his attitude
A nurse is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client who
is a victim of intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety
plan?
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit.
D. Have a big ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
{{ANS}}
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit.
D. Have a big ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
While setting in the dayroom of the mental health unit, a male adolescent avoids eye
contact, looks at the floor, and talks softly when interacting verbally with the nurse. The
two trade places, and the nurse demonstrate the client's behavior. What is the main
goal of this therapeutic techniques?
A. Discuss the client's feeling when he responds.
B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
C. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client.
D. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions.
{{ANS}}B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day, and declines activities. Which
nursing problem has the greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity.
B. Social isolation.
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs.
D. Low self-esteem.
{{ANS}}C. Refusal to address nutritional needs
The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipolar disorder and notices that the
client discontinued antipsychotic medication for several days. Which medication should
also be discontinued?
A. Lithium. (Lithotabs)
,B. Benzotropine (Cogentin).
C. Alprazolam (Xanax).
D. Magnesium (Milk of Magnesia).
{{ANS}}B. Benzotropine (cogentin)
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to stay in the room during the
admission assessment. When interviewing the client, the RN notes a discrepancy
between the client's verbal and nonverbal communication. What action does the RN
take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages.
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy.
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client's verbal messages.
D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and interpret them as one.
{{ANS}}A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages.
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression on his face and raises his
voice, saying "My roommate is the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I have ever
met. If he loses his temper one more time with me, I am going to punch him out!" The
RN recognizes that the client is using which defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting.
{{ANS}}B. Projection
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days ago is
complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink water from the
bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed.
{{ANS}}A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the prescribed abstinence therapy
using disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the client acknowledge
understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user.
{{ANS}}B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
, A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental health unit after abruptly
stopping his prescription for ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago. Which question is
most important for the RN to ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear?
{{ANS}}D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear?
During an annual physical by the occupational RN working in a corporate clinic, a male
employee tells the RN that is high-stress job is causing trouble in his personal life. He
further explains that he often gets so angry while driving to and from work that he has
considered "getting even" with other drivers. How should the RN respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major confrontation." B. "Try not to let your
anger cause you to act impulsively." C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could
result in an unsafe situation."
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you feel angry."
{{ANS}}D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you feel angry."
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is beginning desensitization with the
therapist, and the RN is reinforcing the process. Which intervention has the highest
priority for this client's plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts and negative ones.
B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment.
C. Progressively expose the client to larger crowds.
D. Encourage deep breathing when anxiety escalates in a crowd.
{{ANS}}B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment.
Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self-esteem of a male client with
modern depression? select all that apply
A. Ask the client what his long term goals are.
B. Discuss the challenges of his medical condition.
C. Include the client in determining treatment protocol.
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy.
E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his concerns.
{{ANS}}
A. Ask the client what his long term goals are.
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy.
E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his concerns.
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit for recurrent negative symptoms of
chronic schizophrenia and medication adjustment of Risperidone (Risperdal). When the
client walks to the nurse's station in a laterally contracted position, he states that
something has made his body contort into a monster. What action should the RN take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic thioridazine (Mellaril).
An adolescent make receives a prescription for an antidepressant drug because he is
exhibiting a depressed affect. While the client is taking the antidepressant, which
comparison of the client's behavior before and after taking the drug is most important for
the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite.
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity.
D. The interactions he has with others.
{{ANS}}B. The emotional quality of his attitude
A nurse is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client who
is a victim of intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety
plan?
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit.
D. Have a big ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
{{ANS}}
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit.
D. Have a big ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
While setting in the dayroom of the mental health unit, a male adolescent avoids eye
contact, looks at the floor, and talks softly when interacting verbally with the nurse. The
two trade places, and the nurse demonstrate the client's behavior. What is the main
goal of this therapeutic techniques?
A. Discuss the client's feeling when he responds.
B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
C. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client.
D. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions.
{{ANS}}B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day, and declines activities. Which
nursing problem has the greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity.
B. Social isolation.
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs.
D. Low self-esteem.
{{ANS}}C. Refusal to address nutritional needs
The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipolar disorder and notices that the
client discontinued antipsychotic medication for several days. Which medication should
also be discontinued?
A. Lithium. (Lithotabs)
,B. Benzotropine (Cogentin).
C. Alprazolam (Xanax).
D. Magnesium (Milk of Magnesia).
{{ANS}}B. Benzotropine (cogentin)
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to stay in the room during the
admission assessment. When interviewing the client, the RN notes a discrepancy
between the client's verbal and nonverbal communication. What action does the RN
take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages.
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy.
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client's verbal messages.
D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and interpret them as one.
{{ANS}}A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages.
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression on his face and raises his
voice, saying "My roommate is the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I have ever
met. If he loses his temper one more time with me, I am going to punch him out!" The
RN recognizes that the client is using which defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting.
{{ANS}}B. Projection
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days ago is
complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink water from the
bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed.
{{ANS}}A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the prescribed abstinence therapy
using disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the client acknowledge
understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user.
{{ANS}}B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
, A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental health unit after abruptly
stopping his prescription for ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago. Which question is
most important for the RN to ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear?
{{ANS}}D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear?
During an annual physical by the occupational RN working in a corporate clinic, a male
employee tells the RN that is high-stress job is causing trouble in his personal life. He
further explains that he often gets so angry while driving to and from work that he has
considered "getting even" with other drivers. How should the RN respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major confrontation." B. "Try not to let your
anger cause you to act impulsively." C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could
result in an unsafe situation."
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you feel angry."
{{ANS}}D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you feel angry."
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is beginning desensitization with the
therapist, and the RN is reinforcing the process. Which intervention has the highest
priority for this client's plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts and negative ones.
B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment.
C. Progressively expose the client to larger crowds.
D. Encourage deep breathing when anxiety escalates in a crowd.
{{ANS}}B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment.
Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self-esteem of a male client with
modern depression? select all that apply
A. Ask the client what his long term goals are.
B. Discuss the challenges of his medical condition.
C. Include the client in determining treatment protocol.
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy.
E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his concerns.
{{ANS}}
A. Ask the client what his long term goals are.
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy.
E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his concerns.
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit for recurrent negative symptoms of
chronic schizophrenia and medication adjustment of Risperidone (Risperdal). When the
client walks to the nurse's station in a laterally contracted position, he states that
something has made his body contort into a monster. What action should the RN take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic thioridazine (Mellaril).
