PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
A nurse is assisting with the planning of a therapeutic support group for individuals who
have bulimia nervosa. Which of the following tasks should the nurse include during the
orientation phase of group development?
A. determine the rules that the group will follow
B. address disagreements among group members
C. help clients work through the grief response
D. transition from the role of leader to facilitator -ANSW- determine the rules that the
group will follow
*during the orientation phase of group development, the nurse should determine the
rules that apply to the group and ensure that all members understand these rules.
Examples of rules to be discussed include confidentiality and meeting times.
A nurse is providing support for a client who is grieving the loss of her mother who died
from Alzeimer's disease. Which of the following statements should the nurse offer?
A. "I know how you must be feeling. I recently lost my father." B.
"Dealing with your mother's death must be difficult for you."
C. "Knowing your mother is in a better place provides you with some comfort."
D. "I want you to let me know what I can do to help you cope with your mother's death."
-ANSW- "Dealing with your mother's death must be difficult for you."
*The nurse should use therapeutic communication when supporting a client who is
grieving. This statement keeps the focus of the conversation on the client by
acknowledging her grief and encourages further communication."
A nurse in the emergency room is collecting data from a client who has heroin
intoxication. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Seizure activity
B. Respiratory depression
C. Hypersensitivity to
pain
D. Increased mental alertness -ANSW- Respiratory depression
PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
,PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
*Heroin is an opioid; therefore, the nurse should expect this client who has heroin
intoxication to exhibit respiratory depression.
A nurse on a mental health unit is caring for a client who is displaying signs of anger.
Which of the following pieces of information about the client is the strongest indicator
that the client might become aggressive?
A. The client has marginal coping
skills B. The client has a history of
violence
C. The client feels powerless after being hospitalized
D. The client blames others for her problems -ANSW- The client has a history of
violence
*The client's history of violence is the most important indicator that this client might
become violent; therefore, this is the strongest indicator of potential aggressiveness.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the caregiver of a client who has dementia. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Offer the client a list of activities to choose from
B. Offer finger foods to the client
C. Discourage naps throughout the day
D. Turn on the television when the client is in the room -ANSW- Offer finger foods to the
client
*The caregiver should offer finger foods that the client can eat without sitting down. Clients
who have dementia often like to wander and walk off nervous energy, which can decrease
anxiety and calm the client.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client with bipolar disorder who has
acute mania. Which of the following interventions should the nurse recommend
including in the plan?
A. Provide the client with a low-calorie, low-fat diet B.
Encourage the client to have frequent rest periods C.
Escort the client to daily group therapy
D. Limit the client's intake of caffeinated beverages to 12 oz per day -ANSW-
Encourage the client to have frequent rest periods
*The nurse should recommend encouraging frequent rest periods throughout the day to
decrease the client's risk of exhaustion from the constant activity associated with acute
mania.
A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a client who has bipolar disorder. Which of the
PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
,PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
following is an effect of using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for a client who has
bipolar disorder?
A. Prevents the need for mood-stabilizing medications
B. Helps the client deal with distorted thought processes
C. Aids in communication among family members
D. Replaces the need for lifestyle interventions -ANSW- Helps the client
deal with distorted thought processes
*CBT assists the client with recognizing distorted thought processes that are maladaptive
with regards to recovery. When experiencing mania, the client tends to view the future
unrealistically as highly favorable. CBT assists the client in recognizing and challenging
such unrealistic or "automatic" thoughts and can help the client and the health care team
recognize early trends toward mania
A nurse is caring for a client in a mental health facility and overhears the client
discussing plans to harm her father-in-law physically when she is discharged. Which of
the following interventions should the nurse take?
A. Ask the client to sign a contract agreeing not to harm others B.
Notify the provider of the client's threat
C. Keep the client's discussion confidential
D. Place the client in individual observation -ANSW- Notify the provider of the client's
threat
*It is the nurse's duty to notify the provider of the client's threat. It will then be the
provider's responsibility to warn the the intended victim or the police of the client's
threat
A nurse is preparing to meet with a client who has borderline personality disorder. Which
of the following actions should the nurse plan to take during the working phase of the
therapeutic relationship?
A. Introduce the concept of client
confidentiality B. Establish goals with the client
C. Define the roles of the nurse and the client
D. Facilitate change in the client's behavior -ANSW- Facilitate change in the client's
behavior
*The nurse should facilitate change in the client's behavior during the working phase of the
therapeutic relationship.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has suicidal ideation and is
being transferred to the mental health unit. Which of the following interventions should
the nurse recommend?
PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
, PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
A. Search the client and his belongings upon arrival
B. Assign the client to a private room near the nurse's station
C. Instruct assistive personnel to check on the client every 15 m in
D. Keep the door to the client's room closed -ANSW- Search the client and
his belongings upon arrival
*The nurse should plan to search the client and all of his belongings upon arrival to the
unit. This search is conducted for the client's safety so that the nurse can identify and
remove any objects that increase the client's risk of injury or suicide. Potentially harmfully
objects include razors, shoelaces, hygiene products, and tweezers
A nurse is talking with a client about his admission to a mental health unit. The
client states, "I just don't know if I should be here. What will my family think?"
Which of the following responses by the nurse uses the therapeutic communication
technique of reflection?
A. "It sounds like you are concerned about your family's reaction."
B. "What your family thinks isn't important; you need to be concerned about
getting well."
C. "I suspect your family doesn't seem to understand you.
D. "Many clients are concerned about the reaction of their families." -ANSW- "It
sounds like you are concerned about your family's reaction."
*In a reflective response, the nurse directs feelings and statements back to the client,
allowing the client to think about personal feelings
A nurse is caring for a client who just received a terminal diagnosis of cancer. Which of the
following initial reactions should the nurse expect from the client?
A. Bargaining
B. Depression
C. Denial
D. Anger -ANSW- Denial
*The nurse should expect the client to deny the reality of the diagnosis initially. This is a
protective reaction seeking to avoid psychological pain
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parent of a child who has a new prescription for
methylphenidate to treat ADHD. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
include in the teaching?
A. "Weigh your child 3 times per week."
B. "Expect your child to experience dark-colored
stools." C. "Administer this medication at bedtime."
PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
A nurse is assisting with the planning of a therapeutic support group for individuals who
have bulimia nervosa. Which of the following tasks should the nurse include during the
orientation phase of group development?
A. determine the rules that the group will follow
B. address disagreements among group members
C. help clients work through the grief response
D. transition from the role of leader to facilitator -ANSW- determine the rules that the
group will follow
*during the orientation phase of group development, the nurse should determine the
rules that apply to the group and ensure that all members understand these rules.
Examples of rules to be discussed include confidentiality and meeting times.
A nurse is providing support for a client who is grieving the loss of her mother who died
from Alzeimer's disease. Which of the following statements should the nurse offer?
A. "I know how you must be feeling. I recently lost my father." B.
"Dealing with your mother's death must be difficult for you."
C. "Knowing your mother is in a better place provides you with some comfort."
D. "I want you to let me know what I can do to help you cope with your mother's death."
-ANSW- "Dealing with your mother's death must be difficult for you."
*The nurse should use therapeutic communication when supporting a client who is
grieving. This statement keeps the focus of the conversation on the client by
acknowledging her grief and encourages further communication."
A nurse in the emergency room is collecting data from a client who has heroin
intoxication. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Seizure activity
B. Respiratory depression
C. Hypersensitivity to
pain
D. Increased mental alertness -ANSW- Respiratory depression
PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
,PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
*Heroin is an opioid; therefore, the nurse should expect this client who has heroin
intoxication to exhibit respiratory depression.
A nurse on a mental health unit is caring for a client who is displaying signs of anger.
Which of the following pieces of information about the client is the strongest indicator
that the client might become aggressive?
A. The client has marginal coping
skills B. The client has a history of
violence
C. The client feels powerless after being hospitalized
D. The client blames others for her problems -ANSW- The client has a history of
violence
*The client's history of violence is the most important indicator that this client might
become violent; therefore, this is the strongest indicator of potential aggressiveness.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the caregiver of a client who has dementia. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Offer the client a list of activities to choose from
B. Offer finger foods to the client
C. Discourage naps throughout the day
D. Turn on the television when the client is in the room -ANSW- Offer finger foods to the
client
*The caregiver should offer finger foods that the client can eat without sitting down. Clients
who have dementia often like to wander and walk off nervous energy, which can decrease
anxiety and calm the client.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client with bipolar disorder who has
acute mania. Which of the following interventions should the nurse recommend
including in the plan?
A. Provide the client with a low-calorie, low-fat diet B.
Encourage the client to have frequent rest periods C.
Escort the client to daily group therapy
D. Limit the client's intake of caffeinated beverages to 12 oz per day -ANSW-
Encourage the client to have frequent rest periods
*The nurse should recommend encouraging frequent rest periods throughout the day to
decrease the client's risk of exhaustion from the constant activity associated with acute
mania.
A nurse is reviewing the plan of care for a client who has bipolar disorder. Which of the
PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
,PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
following is an effect of using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for a client who has
bipolar disorder?
A. Prevents the need for mood-stabilizing medications
B. Helps the client deal with distorted thought processes
C. Aids in communication among family members
D. Replaces the need for lifestyle interventions -ANSW- Helps the client
deal with distorted thought processes
*CBT assists the client with recognizing distorted thought processes that are maladaptive
with regards to recovery. When experiencing mania, the client tends to view the future
unrealistically as highly favorable. CBT assists the client in recognizing and challenging
such unrealistic or "automatic" thoughts and can help the client and the health care team
recognize early trends toward mania
A nurse is caring for a client in a mental health facility and overhears the client
discussing plans to harm her father-in-law physically when she is discharged. Which of
the following interventions should the nurse take?
A. Ask the client to sign a contract agreeing not to harm others B.
Notify the provider of the client's threat
C. Keep the client's discussion confidential
D. Place the client in individual observation -ANSW- Notify the provider of the client's
threat
*It is the nurse's duty to notify the provider of the client's threat. It will then be the
provider's responsibility to warn the the intended victim or the police of the client's
threat
A nurse is preparing to meet with a client who has borderline personality disorder. Which
of the following actions should the nurse plan to take during the working phase of the
therapeutic relationship?
A. Introduce the concept of client
confidentiality B. Establish goals with the client
C. Define the roles of the nurse and the client
D. Facilitate change in the client's behavior -ANSW- Facilitate change in the client's
behavior
*The nurse should facilitate change in the client's behavior during the working phase of the
therapeutic relationship.
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has suicidal ideation and is
being transferred to the mental health unit. Which of the following interventions should
the nurse recommend?
PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
, PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
A. Search the client and his belongings upon arrival
B. Assign the client to a private room near the nurse's station
C. Instruct assistive personnel to check on the client every 15 m in
D. Keep the door to the client's room closed -ANSW- Search the client and
his belongings upon arrival
*The nurse should plan to search the client and all of his belongings upon arrival to the
unit. This search is conducted for the client's safety so that the nurse can identify and
remove any objects that increase the client's risk of injury or suicide. Potentially harmfully
objects include razors, shoelaces, hygiene products, and tweezers
A nurse is talking with a client about his admission to a mental health unit. The
client states, "I just don't know if I should be here. What will my family think?"
Which of the following responses by the nurse uses the therapeutic communication
technique of reflection?
A. "It sounds like you are concerned about your family's reaction."
B. "What your family thinks isn't important; you need to be concerned about
getting well."
C. "I suspect your family doesn't seem to understand you.
D. "Many clients are concerned about the reaction of their families." -ANSW- "It
sounds like you are concerned about your family's reaction."
*In a reflective response, the nurse directs feelings and statements back to the client,
allowing the client to think about personal feelings
A nurse is caring for a client who just received a terminal diagnosis of cancer. Which of the
following initial reactions should the nurse expect from the client?
A. Bargaining
B. Depression
C. Denial
D. Anger -ANSW- Denial
*The nurse should expect the client to deny the reality of the diagnosis initially. This is a
protective reaction seeking to avoid psychological pain
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parent of a child who has a new prescription for
methylphenidate to treat ADHD. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
include in the teaching?
A. "Weigh your child 3 times per week."
B. "Expect your child to experience dark-colored
stools." C. "Administer this medication at bedtime."
PROCTORED ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
