HESI MENTAL HEALTH RN V1-V3 LATEST
UPDATE Q & A
1. The nurse is planning care for a 32-year-old male client diagnosed with HIV infection
who has a history of chronic depression. Recently, the client's viral load has begun to
increase rather than decrease despite his adherence to the HIV drug regimen. What
should the nurse do first while taking the client's history upon admission to the hospital?
A) Determine if the client attends a support group weekly.
B) Hold all antidepressant medications until further
notice. C) Ask the client if he takes St. John's Wort
routinely.
D) Have the client describe any recent changes in mood.
2. A 35-year-old male client on the psychiatric ward of a general hospital believes that
someone is trying to poison him. The nurse understands that a client's delusions are most
likely related to his
A) early childhood experiences involving authority issues.
B) anger about being
hospitalized. C) low self-esteem.
D) phobic fear of food.
3. The nurse plans to help an 18-year-old female mentally retarded client ambulate the
first postoperative day after an appendectomy. When the nurse tells the client it is time
to get out of bed, the client becomes angry and tells the nurse, "Get out of here! I'll get
up when I'm ready!" Which response is best for the nurse to make?
A) Your healthcare provider has prescribed ambulation on the first postoperative day.
B) You must ambulate to avoid complications which could cause more discomfort than
ambulating.
C) I know how you feel. You're angry about having to ambulate, but this will help you get well.
, HESI MENTAL HEALTH RN V1-V3 LATEST
UPDATE Q & A
D) I'll be back in 30 minutes to help you get out of bed and walk around the room.
4. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of depression. The nurse knows that which
characteristic is most indicative of depression?
A) Grandiose ideation.
B) Self-destructive thoughts.
C) Suspiciousness of others.
D) A negative view of self and the future.
5. 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.
6. 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).
7. 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.
, HESI MENTAL HEALTH RN V1-V3 LATEST
UPDATE Q & A
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.
8. 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?
9. 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.
, HESI MENTAL HEALTH RN V1-V3 LATEST
UPDATE Q & A
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.
10. 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.
11. A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior.
Which action by the MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
A client on the mental health unit is becoming more agitated, shouting at the staff, and pacing in
the hallway. When the PRN medication is offered, the client refuses the medication and defiantly
sits on the floor in the middle of the unit hallway. What nursing intervention should the RN
implement first?
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff
members. C. Take other clients in the area to the client
lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the patient.
UPDATE Q & A
1. The nurse is planning care for a 32-year-old male client diagnosed with HIV infection
who has a history of chronic depression. Recently, the client's viral load has begun to
increase rather than decrease despite his adherence to the HIV drug regimen. What
should the nurse do first while taking the client's history upon admission to the hospital?
A) Determine if the client attends a support group weekly.
B) Hold all antidepressant medications until further
notice. C) Ask the client if he takes St. John's Wort
routinely.
D) Have the client describe any recent changes in mood.
2. A 35-year-old male client on the psychiatric ward of a general hospital believes that
someone is trying to poison him. The nurse understands that a client's delusions are most
likely related to his
A) early childhood experiences involving authority issues.
B) anger about being
hospitalized. C) low self-esteem.
D) phobic fear of food.
3. The nurse plans to help an 18-year-old female mentally retarded client ambulate the
first postoperative day after an appendectomy. When the nurse tells the client it is time
to get out of bed, the client becomes angry and tells the nurse, "Get out of here! I'll get
up when I'm ready!" Which response is best for the nurse to make?
A) Your healthcare provider has prescribed ambulation on the first postoperative day.
B) You must ambulate to avoid complications which could cause more discomfort than
ambulating.
C) I know how you feel. You're angry about having to ambulate, but this will help you get well.
, HESI MENTAL HEALTH RN V1-V3 LATEST
UPDATE Q & A
D) I'll be back in 30 minutes to help you get out of bed and walk around the room.
4. A client is admitted with a diagnosis of depression. The nurse knows that which
characteristic is most indicative of depression?
A) Grandiose ideation.
B) Self-destructive thoughts.
C) Suspiciousness of others.
D) A negative view of self and the future.
5. 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.
6. 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).
7. 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.
, HESI MENTAL HEALTH RN V1-V3 LATEST
UPDATE Q & A
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.
8. 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?
9. 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.
, HESI MENTAL HEALTH RN V1-V3 LATEST
UPDATE Q & A
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.
10. 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.
11. A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior.
Which action by the MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
A client on the mental health unit is becoming more agitated, shouting at the staff, and pacing in
the hallway. When the PRN medication is offered, the client refuses the medication and defiantly
sits on the floor in the middle of the unit hallway. What nursing intervention should the RN
implement first?
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff
members. C. Take other clients in the area to the client
lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the patient.
