PSYCHIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE
EXAM EVOLVE HESI QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED LATEST EDITION
At the first meeting of a group of older adults at a daycare center for the elderly, the nurse asks
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one of the members what kinds of things she would like to do with the group. The older woman
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shrugs her shoulders and says, "You tell me, you're the leader." What is the best response for the
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nurse to make?
II! II! II!
A. "Yes, I am the leader today. Would you like to be the leader tomorrow?"
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B. "Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to accomplish during this time?"
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C. "Yes, I have been assigned to be the leader of this group. I will be here for the next six weeks."
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D. "Yes, I am the leader. You seem angry about not being the leader yourself."
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B. "Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to accomplish during this time?"
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Anxiety over participation in a group and testing of the leader characteristically occur in the initial
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phase of group dynamics.
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(B) provides information and focuses the group back to defining its function.
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(A) is manipulative bargaining.
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Although (C) provides information, it does not focus the group on its purpose or task. II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
(D) is interpreting the client's feelings and is almost challenging.
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Over a period of several weeks, one male participant of a socialization group at a community day
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care center for the elderly monopolizes most of the group's time and interrupts others when they
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are talking. What is the best action for the nurse to take in this situation?
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A. Talk to the client outside the group about his behavior during group meetings.
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B. Remind the client to allow others in the group a chance to talk.
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C. Allow the group to handle the problem.
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D. Ask the client to join another group.
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,C. Allow the group to handle the problem.
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After several weeks, the group is in the working phase and the group members should be allowed
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to determine the direction of the group. The nurse should ignore the client's comments and allow
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the group to handle the situation (C). A good leader should not have separate meetings with
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group members (A), as such behavior is manipulative on the part of the leader. (B) is dictatorial
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and is not in keeping with good leadership skills. (D) is avoiding the problem. Remember, identify
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what phase the group is in--initial, working, or termination--this will help determine
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communication style.
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An 86-year-old female client with Alzheimer's disease is wandering the busy halls of the extended
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care facility and asks the nurse, "Where should I stand for the parade?" Which response is best
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for the nurse to provide?
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A. "Anywhere you want to stand as long as you do not get hurt by those in the parade."
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B. "You are confused because of all the activity in the hall. There is no parade."
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C. "Let's go back to the activity room and see what is going on in there."
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D. "Remember I told you that this is a nursing home and I am your nurse."
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C. "Let's go back to the activity room and see what is going on in there."
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It is common for those with Alzheimer's disease to use the wrong words. Redirecting the client
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(using an accepting non-judgmental dialogue) to a safer place and familiar activities (C) is most
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helpful because clients experience short-term memory loss. (A) dismisses the client's attempt to
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find order and does not help her relate to her surroundings. (B) dismisses the client and may
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increase her anxiety level because it merely labels the client's behavior and offers no solution. It is
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very frustrating for those with Alzheimer's disease to "remember," and scolding them (D) may
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hurt their feelings.
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Physical examination of a 6-year-old reveals several bite marks in various locations on his body. X-
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ray examination reveals healed fractures of the ribs. The mother tells the nurse that her child is
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always having accidents. Which initial response by the nurse is most appropriate?
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A. "I need to inform the healthcare provider about your child's tendency to be accident prone."
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B. "Tell me more specifically about your child's accidents."
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,C. "I must report these injuries to the authorities because they do not seem accidental."
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D. "Boys this age always seem to require more supervision and can be quite accident prone."
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B. "Tell me more specifically about your child's accidents."
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(B) seeks more information using an open ended, non-threatening statement. (A) could be
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appropriate, but it is not the best answer because the nurse is being somewhat sarcastic and is
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also avoiding the situation by referring it to the healthcare provider for resolution. Although it is
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true that suspected cases of child abuse must be reported, (C) is virtually an attack and is jumping
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to conclusions before conclusive data has been obtained. (D) is a cliché and dismisses the
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seriousness of the situation.
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A child is brought to the emergency room with a broken arm. Because of other injuries, the nurse
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suspects the child may be a victim of abuse. When the nurse tries to give the child an injection,
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the child's mother becomes very loud and shouts, "I won't leave my son! Don't you touch him!
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You'll hurt my child!" What is the best interpretation of the mother's statements? The mother is
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A. regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
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B. sublimating her anger.
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C. projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
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D. suppressing her fear.
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C. projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
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Projection is attributing one's own thoughts, impulses, or behaviors onto another--it is the II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
mother who is probably harming the child and she is attributing her actions to the nurse (C). The
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mother may be immature, but (A) is not the best description of her behavior. (B) is substituting a
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socially acceptable feeling for an unacceptable one. These are not socially acceptable feelings.
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The mother may be suppressing her fear (D) by displaying anger, but such an interpretation
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cannot be concluded from the data presented.
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A 38-year-old female client is admitted with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. When her tray
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is brought to her, she refuses to eat and tells the nurse, "I know you are trying to poison me with
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that food." Which response would be most appropriate for the nurse to make?
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A. "I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else."
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, B. "You're not being poisoned. Why do you think someone is trying to poison you?"
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C. "No one on this unit has ever died from poisoning. You're safe here."
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D. "I will talk to your healthcare provider about the possibility of changing your diet."
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A. "I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else."
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(A) is the best choice cited. The nurse does not argue with the client nor demand that she eat, but
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offers support by agreeing to "be there if needed", e. g., to warm the food. (B and C) are arguing
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with the client's delusions, and (B) asks "why" which is usually not a good question for a psychotic
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client. (D) has nothing to do with the actual problem; i. e., the problem is not the diet (she thinks
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any food given to her is poisoned).
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A 25-year-old female client has been particularly restless and the nurse finds her trying to leave
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the psychiatric unit. She tells the nurse, "Please let me go! I must leave because the secret police
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are after me." Which response is best for the nurse to make?
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A. "No one is after you, you're safe here."
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B. "You'll feel better after you have rested."
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C. "I know you must feel lonely and frightened."
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D. "Come with me to your room and I will sit with you."
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D. "Come with me to your room and I will sit with you."
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(D) is the best response because it offers support without judgment or demands. (A) is arguing
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with the client's delusion. (B) is offering false reassurance. (C) is a violation of therapeutic
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communication in that the nurse is telling the client how she feels (frightened and lonely), rather
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than allowing the client to describe her own feelings. Hallucinating and/or delusional clients are
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not capable of discussing their feelings, particularly when they perceive a crisis.
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A 45-year-old male client tells the nurse that he used to believe that he was Jesus Christ, but now
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he knows he is not. Which response is best for the nurse to make?
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A. "Did you really believe you were Jesus Christ?"
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B. "I think you're getting well."
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C. "Others have had similar thoughts when under stress."
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D. "Why did you think you were Jesus Christ?"
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EXAM EVOLVE HESI QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED LATEST EDITION
At the first meeting of a group of older adults at a daycare center for the elderly, the nurse asks
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
one of the members what kinds of things she would like to do with the group. The older woman
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shrugs her shoulders and says, "You tell me, you're the leader." What is the best response for the
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nurse to make?
II! II! II!
A. "Yes, I am the leader today. Would you like to be the leader tomorrow?"
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B. "Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to accomplish during this time?"
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C. "Yes, I have been assigned to be the leader of this group. I will be here for the next six weeks."
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D. "Yes, I am the leader. You seem angry about not being the leader yourself."
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B. "Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to accomplish during this time?"
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Anxiety over participation in a group and testing of the leader characteristically occur in the initial
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phase of group dynamics.
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(B) provides information and focuses the group back to defining its function.
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(A) is manipulative bargaining.
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Although (C) provides information, it does not focus the group on its purpose or task. II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
(D) is interpreting the client's feelings and is almost challenging.
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Over a period of several weeks, one male participant of a socialization group at a community day
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
care center for the elderly monopolizes most of the group's time and interrupts others when they
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
are talking. What is the best action for the nurse to take in this situation?
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
A. Talk to the client outside the group about his behavior during group meetings.
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B. Remind the client to allow others in the group a chance to talk.
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C. Allow the group to handle the problem.
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D. Ask the client to join another group.
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,C. Allow the group to handle the problem.
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After several weeks, the group is in the working phase and the group members should be allowed
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to determine the direction of the group. The nurse should ignore the client's comments and allow
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the group to handle the situation (C). A good leader should not have separate meetings with
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group members (A), as such behavior is manipulative on the part of the leader. (B) is dictatorial
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and is not in keeping with good leadership skills. (D) is avoiding the problem. Remember, identify
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what phase the group is in--initial, working, or termination--this will help determine
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
communication style.
II! II!
An 86-year-old female client with Alzheimer's disease is wandering the busy halls of the extended
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
care facility and asks the nurse, "Where should I stand for the parade?" Which response is best
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for the nurse to provide?
II! II! II! II! II!
A. "Anywhere you want to stand as long as you do not get hurt by those in the parade."
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B. "You are confused because of all the activity in the hall. There is no parade."
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C. "Let's go back to the activity room and see what is going on in there."
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D. "Remember I told you that this is a nursing home and I am your nurse."
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C. "Let's go back to the activity room and see what is going on in there."
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It is common for those with Alzheimer's disease to use the wrong words. Redirecting the client
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
(using an accepting non-judgmental dialogue) to a safer place and familiar activities (C) is most
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helpful because clients experience short-term memory loss. (A) dismisses the client's attempt to
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
find order and does not help her relate to her surroundings. (B) dismisses the client and may
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
increase her anxiety level because it merely labels the client's behavior and offers no solution. It is
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
very frustrating for those with Alzheimer's disease to "remember," and scolding them (D) may
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
hurt their feelings.
II! II! II!
Physical examination of a 6-year-old reveals several bite marks in various locations on his body. X-
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
ray examination reveals healed fractures of the ribs. The mother tells the nurse that her child is
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
always having accidents. Which initial response by the nurse is most appropriate?
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
A. "I need to inform the healthcare provider about your child's tendency to be accident prone."
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B. "Tell me more specifically about your child's accidents."
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,C. "I must report these injuries to the authorities because they do not seem accidental."
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D. "Boys this age always seem to require more supervision and can be quite accident prone."
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B. "Tell me more specifically about your child's accidents."
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(B) seeks more information using an open ended, non-threatening statement. (A) could be
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
appropriate, but it is not the best answer because the nurse is being somewhat sarcastic and is
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also avoiding the situation by referring it to the healthcare provider for resolution. Although it is
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true that suspected cases of child abuse must be reported, (C) is virtually an attack and is jumping
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to conclusions before conclusive data has been obtained. (D) is a cliché and dismisses the
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
seriousness of the situation.
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A child is brought to the emergency room with a broken arm. Because of other injuries, the nurse
II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
suspects the child may be a victim of abuse. When the nurse tries to give the child an injection,
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the child's mother becomes very loud and shouts, "I won't leave my son! Don't you touch him!
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You'll hurt my child!" What is the best interpretation of the mother's statements? The mother is
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A. regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
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B. sublimating her anger.
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C. projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
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D. suppressing her fear.
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C. projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
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Projection is attributing one's own thoughts, impulses, or behaviors onto another--it is the II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II! II!
mother who is probably harming the child and she is attributing her actions to the nurse (C). The
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mother may be immature, but (A) is not the best description of her behavior. (B) is substituting a
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socially acceptable feeling for an unacceptable one. These are not socially acceptable feelings.
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The mother may be suppressing her fear (D) by displaying anger, but such an interpretation
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cannot be concluded from the data presented.
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A 38-year-old female client is admitted with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. When her tray
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is brought to her, she refuses to eat and tells the nurse, "I know you are trying to poison me with
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that food." Which response would be most appropriate for the nurse to make?
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A. "I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else."
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, B. "You're not being poisoned. Why do you think someone is trying to poison you?"
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C. "No one on this unit has ever died from poisoning. You're safe here."
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D. "I will talk to your healthcare provider about the possibility of changing your diet."
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A. "I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else."
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(A) is the best choice cited. The nurse does not argue with the client nor demand that she eat, but
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offers support by agreeing to "be there if needed", e. g., to warm the food. (B and C) are arguing
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with the client's delusions, and (B) asks "why" which is usually not a good question for a psychotic
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client. (D) has nothing to do with the actual problem; i. e., the problem is not the diet (she thinks
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any food given to her is poisoned).
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A 25-year-old female client has been particularly restless and the nurse finds her trying to leave
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the psychiatric unit. She tells the nurse, "Please let me go! I must leave because the secret police
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are after me." Which response is best for the nurse to make?
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A. "No one is after you, you're safe here."
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B. "You'll feel better after you have rested."
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C. "I know you must feel lonely and frightened."
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D. "Come with me to your room and I will sit with you."
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D. "Come with me to your room and I will sit with you."
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(D) is the best response because it offers support without judgment or demands. (A) is arguing
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with the client's delusion. (B) is offering false reassurance. (C) is a violation of therapeutic
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communication in that the nurse is telling the client how she feels (frightened and lonely), rather
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than allowing the client to describe her own feelings. Hallucinating and/or delusional clients are
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not capable of discussing their feelings, particularly when they perceive a crisis.
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A 45-year-old male client tells the nurse that he used to believe that he was Jesus Christ, but now
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he knows he is not. Which response is best for the nurse to make?
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A. "Did you really believe you were Jesus Christ?"
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B. "I think you're getting well."
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C. "Others have had similar thoughts when under stress."
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D. "Why did you think you were Jesus Christ?"
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