HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
ANSWERED CORRECTLY
1. At the first meeting of a group of older adults at a daycare center for the
elderly, the nurse asks one of the members what kinds of things she would like to
do with the group. The older woman shrugs her shoulders and says, "You tell me,
you're the leader." What is the best response for the nurse to make?
A "Yes, I am the leader today. Would you like to be the leader tomorrow?"
B "Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to accomplish during this
time?"
C "Yes, I have been assigned to be the leader of this group. I will be here for the
next six weeks."
D "Yes, I am the leader. You seem angry about not being the leader yourself."
B
Over a period of several weeks, one male participant of a socialization group at a
community day care center for the elderly monopolizes most of the group's time
and interrupts others when they are talking. What is the best action for the nurse
to take in this situation?
A Talk to the client outside the group about his behavior during group meetings.
B Remind the client to allow others in the group a chance to talk.
C Allow the group to handle the problem. Correct
D Ask the client to join another group.
C
An 86-year-old female client with Alzheimer's disease is wandering the busy halls
of the extended care facility and asks the nurse, "Where should I stand for the
parade?" Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
A "Anywhere you want to stand as long as you do not get hurt by those in the
parade."
,B "You are confused because of all the activity in the hall. There is no parade."
C "Let's go back to the activity room and see what is going on in there."
D "Remember I told you that this is a nursing home and I am your nurse."
C.
Physical examination of a 6-year-old reveals several bite marks in various
locations on his body. X-ray examination reveals healed fractures of the ribs. The
mother tells the nurse that her child is always having accidents. Which initial
response by the nurse is most appropriate?
A "I need to inform the healthcare provider about your child's tendency to be
accident prone."
B "Tell me more specifically about your child's accidents."
C "I must report these injuries to the authorities because they do not seem
accidental."
D "Boys this age always seem to require more supervision and can be quite
accident prone."
B
A child is brought to the emergency room with a broken arm. Because of other
injuries, the nurse suspects the child may be a victim of abuse. When the nurse
tries to give the child an injection, the child's mother becomes very loud and
shouts, "I won't leave my son! Don't you touch him! You'll hurt my child!" What is
the best interpretation of the mother's statements? The mother is
A regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
B sublimating her anger.
C projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
D suppressing her fear.
C
.
A 38-year-old female client is admitted with a diagnosis of paranoid
schizophrenia. When her tray is brought to her, she refuses to eat and tells the
nurse, "I know you are trying to poison me with that food." Which response
would be most appropriate for the nurse to make?
, A "I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else."
B "You're not being poisoned. Why do you think someone is trying to poison
you?"
C "No one on this unit has ever died from poisoning. You're safe here."
D "I will talk to your healthcare provider about the possibility of changing your
diet."
A.
A 25-year-old female client has been particularly restless and the nurse finds her
trying to leave the psychiatric unit. She tells the nurse, "Please let me go! I must
leave because the secret police are after me." Which response is best for the
nurse to make?
A "No one is after you, you're safe here."
B "You'll feel better after you have rested."
C "I know you must feel lonely and frightened."
"Come with me to your room and I will sit with you."
D.
. A 45-year-old male client tells the nurse that he used to believe that he was
Jesus Christ, but now he knows he is not. Which response is best for the nurse to
make?
A "Did you really believe you were Jesus Christ?"
B "I think you're getting well."
C "Others have had similar thoughts when under stress."
"Why did you think you were Jesus Christ?"
c
. A nurse working in the emergency room of a children's hospital admits a child
whose injuries could have resulted from abuse. Which statement most accurately
describes the nurse's responsibility in cases of suspected child abuse?
A The nurse should obtain objective data such as x-rays before reporting
suspicions to the authorities.
B The nurse should confirm any suspicions of child abuse with the healthcare
provider before reporting to the authorities.
ANSWERED CORRECTLY
1. At the first meeting of a group of older adults at a daycare center for the
elderly, the nurse asks one of the members what kinds of things she would like to
do with the group. The older woman shrugs her shoulders and says, "You tell me,
you're the leader." What is the best response for the nurse to make?
A "Yes, I am the leader today. Would you like to be the leader tomorrow?"
B "Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to accomplish during this
time?"
C "Yes, I have been assigned to be the leader of this group. I will be here for the
next six weeks."
D "Yes, I am the leader. You seem angry about not being the leader yourself."
B
Over a period of several weeks, one male participant of a socialization group at a
community day care center for the elderly monopolizes most of the group's time
and interrupts others when they are talking. What is the best action for the nurse
to take in this situation?
A Talk to the client outside the group about his behavior during group meetings.
B Remind the client to allow others in the group a chance to talk.
C Allow the group to handle the problem. Correct
D Ask the client to join another group.
C
An 86-year-old female client with Alzheimer's disease is wandering the busy halls
of the extended care facility and asks the nurse, "Where should I stand for the
parade?" Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
A "Anywhere you want to stand as long as you do not get hurt by those in the
parade."
,B "You are confused because of all the activity in the hall. There is no parade."
C "Let's go back to the activity room and see what is going on in there."
D "Remember I told you that this is a nursing home and I am your nurse."
C.
Physical examination of a 6-year-old reveals several bite marks in various
locations on his body. X-ray examination reveals healed fractures of the ribs. The
mother tells the nurse that her child is always having accidents. Which initial
response by the nurse is most appropriate?
A "I need to inform the healthcare provider about your child's tendency to be
accident prone."
B "Tell me more specifically about your child's accidents."
C "I must report these injuries to the authorities because they do not seem
accidental."
D "Boys this age always seem to require more supervision and can be quite
accident prone."
B
A child is brought to the emergency room with a broken arm. Because of other
injuries, the nurse suspects the child may be a victim of abuse. When the nurse
tries to give the child an injection, the child's mother becomes very loud and
shouts, "I won't leave my son! Don't you touch him! You'll hurt my child!" What is
the best interpretation of the mother's statements? The mother is
A regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
B sublimating her anger.
C projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
D suppressing her fear.
C
.
A 38-year-old female client is admitted with a diagnosis of paranoid
schizophrenia. When her tray is brought to her, she refuses to eat and tells the
nurse, "I know you are trying to poison me with that food." Which response
would be most appropriate for the nurse to make?
, A "I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else."
B "You're not being poisoned. Why do you think someone is trying to poison
you?"
C "No one on this unit has ever died from poisoning. You're safe here."
D "I will talk to your healthcare provider about the possibility of changing your
diet."
A.
A 25-year-old female client has been particularly restless and the nurse finds her
trying to leave the psychiatric unit. She tells the nurse, "Please let me go! I must
leave because the secret police are after me." Which response is best for the
nurse to make?
A "No one is after you, you're safe here."
B "You'll feel better after you have rested."
C "I know you must feel lonely and frightened."
"Come with me to your room and I will sit with you."
D.
. A 45-year-old male client tells the nurse that he used to believe that he was
Jesus Christ, but now he knows he is not. Which response is best for the nurse to
make?
A "Did you really believe you were Jesus Christ?"
B "I think you're getting well."
C "Others have had similar thoughts when under stress."
"Why did you think you were Jesus Christ?"
c
. A nurse working in the emergency room of a children's hospital admits a child
whose injuries could have resulted from abuse. Which statement most accurately
describes the nurse's responsibility in cases of suspected child abuse?
A The nurse should obtain objective data such as x-rays before reporting
suspicions to the authorities.
B The nurse should confirm any suspicions of child abuse with the healthcare
provider before reporting to the authorities.
