ATI RN MENTAL HEALTH EXAM REVIEW- LATEST
STUDY GUIDE
A
A nurse is caring for a client in a mental health facility. the nurse overhears another staff member make derogatory
comments to the client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Confront the staff member.
B) Encourage the client to report the incident.
C) Document the incident in the client's health record.
D) Report the occurrence to the charge nurse.
Answer: D It is the charge nurse and the nurse manager's responsibility to confront the staff member about her behavior
toward the client.
A nurse is caring for a client who has attempted suicide and has alcohol use disorder. Which of the following statements
indicates that the client is using a positive coping mechanism?
A) "I will limit my drinking to the weekends."
B) "I will stay in my room and avoid others when I'm feeling down."
C) "I will be dependent on others for the time being."
D) "I will attend daily group therapy sessions to practice relaxation techniques."
Answer: D Relaxation techniques decreases the risk for self-harm by decreasing stress, anxiety, and depression.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing mania. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A) Encourage the client to participate in group therapy.
B) Instruct the client to avoid napping during the day.
C) Offer the client high-calorie finger foods frequently.
D) Decrease the client's daily fiber intake.
Answer: C The nurse should frequently offer the client, high-calorie foods that can be eaten while on the go. Clients
experiencing mania might be unable to sit down for meals and can experience weight loss and dehydration.
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is to begin undergoing light therapy at home to treat seasonal affective
disorder. Which of the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
A) Have a family member present during treatment.
B) Increase fluid intake.
C) Change position slowly.
D) Wear sunglasses when outdoors.
Answer: D Light therapy, or phototherapy, can cause eye strain and sensitivity to light.
A nurse in a community health center is teaching families of clients who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) about
expected clinical manifestations. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse include?
A) Repeatedly talks about the traumatic episode.
B) Sleeps excessively.
C) Experiences feelings of isolation.
D) Uses repetitive speech.
Answer: C Clients who have PTSD often feel estranged and detached from others.
A nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who has been in seclusion after threatening to harm others on the unit.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
A) Document the client's behavior every 8 hours.
B) Limit the client's fluid intake to 50 mL/hr.
C) Renew the prescription for the client every 4 hours.
D) Toilet the client every 4 hours.
,Answer: C The nurse should assess the client's behavior frequently during seclusion and should renew the prescription
for seclusion for an adult client every 4 hours for a maximum of 24 hours.
, A nurse is planning prevention strategies for intimate partner abuse in the community. Which of the following strategies
should the nurse include as a method of secondary prevention?
A) Provide teaching about the use of positive coping mechanisms.
B) Establish screening programs to identify at-risk clients.
C) Refer survivors of intimate partner abuse to legal advocacy program.
D) Organize rehabilitation therapy for clients who have experienced intimate partner abuse.
Answer: B This is an example of secondary prevention. By establishing screening programs, the nurse can identify
individuals who are at risk for intimate partner abuse in the community and can take the necessary steps to address
individual client needs.
A nurse in an outpatient mental health setting is collecting a health history from a client who is taking paroxetine for
depression. The client reports to the nurse that he also takes herbal supplements. The nurse should advise the client that
which of the following supplements interacts adversely with paroxetine?
A) St. John's Wort
B) Saw palmetto
C) Echinacea
D) Ginkgo
Answer: A St. John's Wort is an herbal preparation that decreases the reuptake of serotonin. The nurse should advise the
client that taking St. John's Wort with another medication that also inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, such as
paroxetine, places the client at risk for serotonin syndrome.
A nurse is planning care for an adolescent who is being admitted to an acute care unit following a suicide attempt.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse identify as the priority?
A) Arrange one-to-one observation of the client.
B) Encourage interaction with the client's peers.
C) Administer medication for depressive disorder.
D) Encourage the client to attend a support group.
Answer: A The greatest risk to the client is self-injury. Therefore, the priority nursing intervention is one-to-one
observation to promote client safety.
A client who has a diagnosis of depression is attending group therapy. During the group meeting, the nurse asks each
member to identify one goal for the day. When it is the client's turn, she does not respond. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take before repeating the request to the client?
A) Allow the client time to collect her thoughts.
B) Prompt the client to give a response.
C) Move on to the next client.
D) Offer the client a suggestion for a goal.
Answer: A Slowed response time is common in clients who have depression. The nurse should allow the client time to
comprehend and formulate an answer to the question.
A home health nurse is assessing an older adult client whose sibling is the primary caregiver. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as a possible indicator of neglect?
A) Increased confusion
B) Sleep disturbances
C) Cluttered environment
D) Inappropriate dress
Answer: D Clothing that is soiled or clothing that is not appropriate for weather conditions is a possible indicator of
neglect.
While observing group therapy, a nurse recognizes that a client is behaving in a way suggestive of dependent personality
disorder. Which of the following behaviors is consistent with this condition?
A) The client needs excessive external input to make everyday decisions.
B) The client demonstrates a dedication to his job that excludes time for leisure activities.
STUDY GUIDE
A
A nurse is caring for a client in a mental health facility. the nurse overhears another staff member make derogatory
comments to the client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Confront the staff member.
B) Encourage the client to report the incident.
C) Document the incident in the client's health record.
D) Report the occurrence to the charge nurse.
Answer: D It is the charge nurse and the nurse manager's responsibility to confront the staff member about her behavior
toward the client.
A nurse is caring for a client who has attempted suicide and has alcohol use disorder. Which of the following statements
indicates that the client is using a positive coping mechanism?
A) "I will limit my drinking to the weekends."
B) "I will stay in my room and avoid others when I'm feeling down."
C) "I will be dependent on others for the time being."
D) "I will attend daily group therapy sessions to practice relaxation techniques."
Answer: D Relaxation techniques decreases the risk for self-harm by decreasing stress, anxiety, and depression.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing mania. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A) Encourage the client to participate in group therapy.
B) Instruct the client to avoid napping during the day.
C) Offer the client high-calorie finger foods frequently.
D) Decrease the client's daily fiber intake.
Answer: C The nurse should frequently offer the client, high-calorie foods that can be eaten while on the go. Clients
experiencing mania might be unable to sit down for meals and can experience weight loss and dehydration.
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is to begin undergoing light therapy at home to treat seasonal affective
disorder. Which of the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
A) Have a family member present during treatment.
B) Increase fluid intake.
C) Change position slowly.
D) Wear sunglasses when outdoors.
Answer: D Light therapy, or phototherapy, can cause eye strain and sensitivity to light.
A nurse in a community health center is teaching families of clients who have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) about
expected clinical manifestations. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse include?
A) Repeatedly talks about the traumatic episode.
B) Sleeps excessively.
C) Experiences feelings of isolation.
D) Uses repetitive speech.
Answer: C Clients who have PTSD often feel estranged and detached from others.
A nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who has been in seclusion after threatening to harm others on the unit.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
A) Document the client's behavior every 8 hours.
B) Limit the client's fluid intake to 50 mL/hr.
C) Renew the prescription for the client every 4 hours.
D) Toilet the client every 4 hours.
,Answer: C The nurse should assess the client's behavior frequently during seclusion and should renew the prescription
for seclusion for an adult client every 4 hours for a maximum of 24 hours.
, A nurse is planning prevention strategies for intimate partner abuse in the community. Which of the following strategies
should the nurse include as a method of secondary prevention?
A) Provide teaching about the use of positive coping mechanisms.
B) Establish screening programs to identify at-risk clients.
C) Refer survivors of intimate partner abuse to legal advocacy program.
D) Organize rehabilitation therapy for clients who have experienced intimate partner abuse.
Answer: B This is an example of secondary prevention. By establishing screening programs, the nurse can identify
individuals who are at risk for intimate partner abuse in the community and can take the necessary steps to address
individual client needs.
A nurse in an outpatient mental health setting is collecting a health history from a client who is taking paroxetine for
depression. The client reports to the nurse that he also takes herbal supplements. The nurse should advise the client that
which of the following supplements interacts adversely with paroxetine?
A) St. John's Wort
B) Saw palmetto
C) Echinacea
D) Ginkgo
Answer: A St. John's Wort is an herbal preparation that decreases the reuptake of serotonin. The nurse should advise the
client that taking St. John's Wort with another medication that also inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, such as
paroxetine, places the client at risk for serotonin syndrome.
A nurse is planning care for an adolescent who is being admitted to an acute care unit following a suicide attempt.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse identify as the priority?
A) Arrange one-to-one observation of the client.
B) Encourage interaction with the client's peers.
C) Administer medication for depressive disorder.
D) Encourage the client to attend a support group.
Answer: A The greatest risk to the client is self-injury. Therefore, the priority nursing intervention is one-to-one
observation to promote client safety.
A client who has a diagnosis of depression is attending group therapy. During the group meeting, the nurse asks each
member to identify one goal for the day. When it is the client's turn, she does not respond. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take before repeating the request to the client?
A) Allow the client time to collect her thoughts.
B) Prompt the client to give a response.
C) Move on to the next client.
D) Offer the client a suggestion for a goal.
Answer: A Slowed response time is common in clients who have depression. The nurse should allow the client time to
comprehend and formulate an answer to the question.
A home health nurse is assessing an older adult client whose sibling is the primary caregiver. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as a possible indicator of neglect?
A) Increased confusion
B) Sleep disturbances
C) Cluttered environment
D) Inappropriate dress
Answer: D Clothing that is soiled or clothing that is not appropriate for weather conditions is a possible indicator of
neglect.
While observing group therapy, a nurse recognizes that a client is behaving in a way suggestive of dependent personality
disorder. Which of the following behaviors is consistent with this condition?
A) The client needs excessive external input to make everyday decisions.
B) The client demonstrates a dedication to his job that excludes time for leisure activities.
