ATI Mental Health EXAM WITH 200 QUESTIONS &
CORRECT ANSWERS
A nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a newly licensed nurse.
Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates a need for
further teaching?
A. "To check cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by 7."
B. "To check affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To check language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To check remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects." -
ANSWER-D
D. CORRECT: This statement requires further teaching. Asking the client to repeat
a list of objects is appropriate to check immediate, rather than remote, memory.
A. INCORRECT: This statement does not require further teaching. Counting
backward by 7 is an appropriate technique to check a client's cognitive ability. B.
INCORRECT: This statement does not require further teaching. Observing a
client's facial expression is appropriate when checking affect. C. INCORRECT:
This statement does not require further teaching. Writing a sentence is an
indication of language ability.
CHAPTER 1 Basic Mental Health Nursing Concepts
A nurse is assisting in the planning of care for a client who has a mental health
disorder. Which of the following is appropriate to include as a psychobiological
intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Encourage the client to use appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Evaluate the client for comorbid health conditions.
,D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications. - ANSWER-D
D. CORRECT: Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a
psychobiological intervention.
A. INCORRECT: Assisting with systematic desensitization therapy is a cognitive
and behavioral, rather than psychobiological, intervention. B. INCORRECT:
Encouraging appropriate coping mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching,
rather than a psychobiological intervention. C. INCORRECT: Evaluating for
comorbid health conditions is health promotion and maintenance, rather than a
psychobiological intervention.
CHAPTER 1 Basic Mental Health Nursing Concepts
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial
client interview. When conducting the interview, which of the following is the
highest priority action?
A. Respect the client's need for personal space.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Reinforce teaching about the client's mental health disorder. - ANSWER-B
B. CORRECT: Data collection is the priority action when taking the nursing
process approach to client care. Identifying the client's perception of her mental
health status provides important information about the client's psychosocial
history.
A. INCORRECT: It is appropriate to respect the client's need for personal space.
However, it is not the highest priority action when taking the nursing process
approach to client care. C. INCORRECT: If the client wishes, it is appropriate to
include the client's family in the interview. However, it is not the highest priority
action when taking the nursing process approach to client care. D. INCORRECT:
It is appropriate to reinforce teaching for the client about her disorder. However, it
,is not the highest priority action when taking the nursing process approach to client
care. CHAPTER 1 Basic Mental Health Nursing Concepts
A nurse is told during change-of-shift report that a client is stuporous. When
collecting data from the client, which of the following is an expected finding?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
B. The client has a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place. - ANSWER-A
A. CORRECT: A client who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful stimuli to
elicit a response.
B. INCORRECT: A GCS score of less than 7 indicates a comatose, rather than
stuporous, level of consciousness. C. INCORRECT: Abnormal posturing is
associated with a comatose, rather than stuporous, level of consciousness. D.
INCORRECT: A client who is stuporous is not alert.
CHAPTER 1 Basic Mental Health Nursing Concepts
A nurse is assisting with the planning of a peer group discussion about the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).
Which of the following is appropriate to include in the discussion?
(Select all that apply.)
A. The DSM-5 is used to identify mental health disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment.
D. The DSM-5 is used to assist in the planning of care.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected data collection findings. - ANSWER-A, B, D, E
, A. CORRECT: The DSM-5 is used as a diagnostic tool to identify mental health
diagnoses. B. CORRECT: The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for mental
health disorders. D. CORRECT: Nurses use the DSM-5 to assist in the planning of
care, and to implement and evaluate care. E. CORRECT: The DSM-5 identifies
expected findings for mental health disorders.
C. INCORRECT: The DSM-5 is a diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of mental
health disorders but does not indicate pharmacological treatment.
CHAPTER 1 Basic Mental Health Nursing Concepts
A nurse is discussing candidates for emergency admission to a mental health
facility with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following is an example of a
client who requires emergency admission to a mental health facility?
A. A client who has schizophrenia and has frequent hallucinations
B. A client who has symptoms of depression and attempted suicide a year ago
C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a homeless man
with a metal rod
D. A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly down the sidewalk while
talking to himself - ANSWER-C
C. CORRECT: A client who is a current danger to self or others is a candidate for
emergency admission.
A. INCORRECT: The presence of hallucinations does not constitute a clear reason
for emergency commitment. B. INCORRECT: Clinical findings of depression do
not constitute a clear reason for emergency commitment. D. INCORRECT: A
client who is pacing does not constitute a clear reason for emergency commitment.
CHAPTER 2 Legal and Ethical Issues
CORRECT ANSWERS
A nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a newly licensed nurse.
Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates a need for
further teaching?
A. "To check cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by 7."
B. "To check affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To check language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To check remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects." -
ANSWER-D
D. CORRECT: This statement requires further teaching. Asking the client to repeat
a list of objects is appropriate to check immediate, rather than remote, memory.
A. INCORRECT: This statement does not require further teaching. Counting
backward by 7 is an appropriate technique to check a client's cognitive ability. B.
INCORRECT: This statement does not require further teaching. Observing a
client's facial expression is appropriate when checking affect. C. INCORRECT:
This statement does not require further teaching. Writing a sentence is an
indication of language ability.
CHAPTER 1 Basic Mental Health Nursing Concepts
A nurse is assisting in the planning of care for a client who has a mental health
disorder. Which of the following is appropriate to include as a psychobiological
intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Encourage the client to use appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Evaluate the client for comorbid health conditions.
,D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications. - ANSWER-D
D. CORRECT: Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a
psychobiological intervention.
A. INCORRECT: Assisting with systematic desensitization therapy is a cognitive
and behavioral, rather than psychobiological, intervention. B. INCORRECT:
Encouraging appropriate coping mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching,
rather than a psychobiological intervention. C. INCORRECT: Evaluating for
comorbid health conditions is health promotion and maintenance, rather than a
psychobiological intervention.
CHAPTER 1 Basic Mental Health Nursing Concepts
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial
client interview. When conducting the interview, which of the following is the
highest priority action?
A. Respect the client's need for personal space.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Reinforce teaching about the client's mental health disorder. - ANSWER-B
B. CORRECT: Data collection is the priority action when taking the nursing
process approach to client care. Identifying the client's perception of her mental
health status provides important information about the client's psychosocial
history.
A. INCORRECT: It is appropriate to respect the client's need for personal space.
However, it is not the highest priority action when taking the nursing process
approach to client care. C. INCORRECT: If the client wishes, it is appropriate to
include the client's family in the interview. However, it is not the highest priority
action when taking the nursing process approach to client care. D. INCORRECT:
It is appropriate to reinforce teaching for the client about her disorder. However, it
,is not the highest priority action when taking the nursing process approach to client
care. CHAPTER 1 Basic Mental Health Nursing Concepts
A nurse is told during change-of-shift report that a client is stuporous. When
collecting data from the client, which of the following is an expected finding?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
B. The client has a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place. - ANSWER-A
A. CORRECT: A client who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful stimuli to
elicit a response.
B. INCORRECT: A GCS score of less than 7 indicates a comatose, rather than
stuporous, level of consciousness. C. INCORRECT: Abnormal posturing is
associated with a comatose, rather than stuporous, level of consciousness. D.
INCORRECT: A client who is stuporous is not alert.
CHAPTER 1 Basic Mental Health Nursing Concepts
A nurse is assisting with the planning of a peer group discussion about the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).
Which of the following is appropriate to include in the discussion?
(Select all that apply.)
A. The DSM-5 is used to identify mental health disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment.
D. The DSM-5 is used to assist in the planning of care.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected data collection findings. - ANSWER-A, B, D, E
, A. CORRECT: The DSM-5 is used as a diagnostic tool to identify mental health
diagnoses. B. CORRECT: The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for mental
health disorders. D. CORRECT: Nurses use the DSM-5 to assist in the planning of
care, and to implement and evaluate care. E. CORRECT: The DSM-5 identifies
expected findings for mental health disorders.
C. INCORRECT: The DSM-5 is a diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of mental
health disorders but does not indicate pharmacological treatment.
CHAPTER 1 Basic Mental Health Nursing Concepts
A nurse is discussing candidates for emergency admission to a mental health
facility with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following is an example of a
client who requires emergency admission to a mental health facility?
A. A client who has schizophrenia and has frequent hallucinations
B. A client who has symptoms of depression and attempted suicide a year ago
C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a homeless man
with a metal rod
D. A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly down the sidewalk while
talking to himself - ANSWER-C
C. CORRECT: A client who is a current danger to self or others is a candidate for
emergency admission.
A. INCORRECT: The presence of hallucinations does not constitute a clear reason
for emergency commitment. B. INCORRECT: Clinical findings of depression do
not constitute a clear reason for emergency commitment. D. INCORRECT: A
client who is pacing does not constitute a clear reason for emergency commitment.
CHAPTER 2 Legal and Ethical Issues
