HESI RN Mental Health NGN 2025/26 – 120 Verified Questions
with Detailed Answers
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 loud voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client. - AnswerA. Is attempting to
physically restrain the patient.
A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking extra antianxiety
medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN should
plan one-on-one observation of the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore." - AnswerD. "I don't want to walk.
Nothing matters anymore."
The RN is performing intake interviews at a psychiatric clinic. A female client with a
known history of drug abuse reports that she had a heart attack four years ago. Useof
which substance places the client at highest risk for myocardial infarction?
A. Benzodiazepine
B. Alcohol
C. Methamphetamine
D. Marijuana - AnswerC. Methamphetamine
A male client comes to the emergency center because he has an erection that will not
resolve. The client reports that he is taking trazodone (Desyrel) for insomnia. Which
information is most important for the nurse ask the client?
A. When was the last time you drank alcoholic beverage?
B. Have you taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
C. Are you having any other sexual dysfunctions or problems?
D. Do you have a history of angina or high blood pressure? - AnswerB. Have you
taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
A female client admitted to the mental health unit starts to shout and scream at the RN.
What is the best approach for the RN to take?
A. Stay quietly with the patient
B. Tell her that she is out of control.
C. Distract her by offering her finger foods.
D. Ignore the client's acting out behavior. - AnswerA. Stay quietly with the patient
,When developing a plan of care for a client admitted to the psychiatric unit following
aspiration of a caustic material related to a suicide attempt, which nursing problem has
the highest priority?
A. Impaired comfort.
B. Risk for injury.
C. Ineffective breathing pattern.
D. Ineffective coping. - AnswerC. Ineffective breathing pattern.
A female client on a psychiatric unit is sweating profusely while she vigorously does
push-ups and then runs the length of the corridor several times before crashing into
furniture in the sitting room. Picking herself up, she begins to toss chairs aside, looking
for a red one to sit in. When another client objects to the disturbance, the client shouts,
"I am the boss here. I do what I want." Which nursing problem best supports these
observations?
A. Deficient diversional activity related to excess energy level.
B. Risk for other related violence related to disruptive behavior.
C. Risk for activity intolerance related to hyperactivity.
D. Disturbed personal identity related to grandiosity. - AnswerB. Risk for other related
violence related to disruptive behavior.
A RN is preparing the physical environment to interview a new client for admission to
the mental health unit. Which environmental setting facilitates the best outcome of the
interview?
A. Dim the lights in the room to help the patient feel calm.
B. Sit within two feet of the client to enhance level of safety and security.
C. Reduce the noise level in the room by turning off the television and radio.
D. Position table between the client and the RN for extra personal space. - AnswerC.
Reduce the noise level in the room by turning off the television and radio.
The RN is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client who
is a victim of intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety
plan? (Select all that apply)
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection.
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
C. Take a self-defense course that retaliates the abuser with injury.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
E. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit. - AnswerB.
Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
E. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit.
The RN is admitting a male client who takes lithium carbonate (Eskalith) twice a day.
Which information should the RN report to the HCP immediately?
A. Short term memory loss.
B. Five pound weight gain
C. Decreased affect.
, D. Nausea and vomiting. - AnswerD. Nausea and vomiting.
A homeless client who reports feeling sad and depressed tells the mental health nurse
that in the past 2 days she has only had 4 hours of sleep. Which action is most
important for the RN to implement within the first 24 hours after treatment is initiated?
A. Allow the client to rest and sleep.
B. Ensure client attend groups addressing coping skills for dealing with depression.
C. Begin planning for the clients discharge.
D. Encourage verbalization of feelings. - AnswerA. Allow the client to rest and sleep.
A RN is teaching a client about initiation of a prescribed abstinence therapy using
Disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the client acknowledge understanding?
A. Admit to others that he is a substance abuser.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Completely sustain from heroin or cocaine use. - AnswerB. Remain alcohol free for
12 hours prior to first dose.
Which client statement suggests the RN that the client is using a defense mechanism of
projection to deal with anxiety related to admission to a psychiatricunit?
A. At least I hit the wall instead of hitting the psychiatric aide.
B. I am here because the police thought I was doing something wrong.
C. I want to be here because I know it is the best psychiatric facility.
D. Don't believe everything my family tells you, I am not crazy. - AnswerB. I am here
because the police thought I was doing something wrong.
The RN documents the mental status of a female client who has been hospitalized for
several days by court order. The client states" I don't need to be here," and tells the RN
that she believes that the T.V. talks to her. The RN should document these assessment
statements in which section of the mental status exam?
A. Insight and judgement.
B. Mood and affect.
C. Remote memory.
D. Level of concentration. - AnswerA. Insight and judgement.
An older ale client with schizophrenia is found smearing feces on the bathroom walls of
the chronic mental health unit where he resides. What action should the RN implement?
A. Explain that the feces belong in the toilet.
B. Show the client how to clean the walls.
C. Escort the client out of the bathroom.
D. Assist the client to clean the walls - AnswerC. Escort the client out of the bathroom.
A male client tells the RN that he does not want to take the atypical antipsychotic drug,
olanzapine (Zypexa), because of the side effects he experienced when he took the drug
for a year. Which experience is most likely related to takingolanzapine?
with Detailed Answers
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 loud voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client. - AnswerA. Is attempting to
physically restrain the patient.
A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking extra antianxiety
medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN should
plan one-on-one observation of the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore." - AnswerD. "I don't want to walk.
Nothing matters anymore."
The RN is performing intake interviews at a psychiatric clinic. A female client with a
known history of drug abuse reports that she had a heart attack four years ago. Useof
which substance places the client at highest risk for myocardial infarction?
A. Benzodiazepine
B. Alcohol
C. Methamphetamine
D. Marijuana - AnswerC. Methamphetamine
A male client comes to the emergency center because he has an erection that will not
resolve. The client reports that he is taking trazodone (Desyrel) for insomnia. Which
information is most important for the nurse ask the client?
A. When was the last time you drank alcoholic beverage?
B. Have you taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
C. Are you having any other sexual dysfunctions or problems?
D. Do you have a history of angina or high blood pressure? - AnswerB. Have you
taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
A female client admitted to the mental health unit starts to shout and scream at the RN.
What is the best approach for the RN to take?
A. Stay quietly with the patient
B. Tell her that she is out of control.
C. Distract her by offering her finger foods.
D. Ignore the client's acting out behavior. - AnswerA. Stay quietly with the patient
,When developing a plan of care for a client admitted to the psychiatric unit following
aspiration of a caustic material related to a suicide attempt, which nursing problem has
the highest priority?
A. Impaired comfort.
B. Risk for injury.
C. Ineffective breathing pattern.
D. Ineffective coping. - AnswerC. Ineffective breathing pattern.
A female client on a psychiatric unit is sweating profusely while she vigorously does
push-ups and then runs the length of the corridor several times before crashing into
furniture in the sitting room. Picking herself up, she begins to toss chairs aside, looking
for a red one to sit in. When another client objects to the disturbance, the client shouts,
"I am the boss here. I do what I want." Which nursing problem best supports these
observations?
A. Deficient diversional activity related to excess energy level.
B. Risk for other related violence related to disruptive behavior.
C. Risk for activity intolerance related to hyperactivity.
D. Disturbed personal identity related to grandiosity. - AnswerB. Risk for other related
violence related to disruptive behavior.
A RN is preparing the physical environment to interview a new client for admission to
the mental health unit. Which environmental setting facilitates the best outcome of the
interview?
A. Dim the lights in the room to help the patient feel calm.
B. Sit within two feet of the client to enhance level of safety and security.
C. Reduce the noise level in the room by turning off the television and radio.
D. Position table between the client and the RN for extra personal space. - AnswerC.
Reduce the noise level in the room by turning off the television and radio.
The RN is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client who
is a victim of intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety
plan? (Select all that apply)
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection.
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
C. Take a self-defense course that retaliates the abuser with injury.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
E. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit. - AnswerB.
Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
E. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit.
The RN is admitting a male client who takes lithium carbonate (Eskalith) twice a day.
Which information should the RN report to the HCP immediately?
A. Short term memory loss.
B. Five pound weight gain
C. Decreased affect.
, D. Nausea and vomiting. - AnswerD. Nausea and vomiting.
A homeless client who reports feeling sad and depressed tells the mental health nurse
that in the past 2 days she has only had 4 hours of sleep. Which action is most
important for the RN to implement within the first 24 hours after treatment is initiated?
A. Allow the client to rest and sleep.
B. Ensure client attend groups addressing coping skills for dealing with depression.
C. Begin planning for the clients discharge.
D. Encourage verbalization of feelings. - AnswerA. Allow the client to rest and sleep.
A RN is teaching a client about initiation of a prescribed abstinence therapy using
Disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the client acknowledge understanding?
A. Admit to others that he is a substance abuser.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Completely sustain from heroin or cocaine use. - AnswerB. Remain alcohol free for
12 hours prior to first dose.
Which client statement suggests the RN that the client is using a defense mechanism of
projection to deal with anxiety related to admission to a psychiatricunit?
A. At least I hit the wall instead of hitting the psychiatric aide.
B. I am here because the police thought I was doing something wrong.
C. I want to be here because I know it is the best psychiatric facility.
D. Don't believe everything my family tells you, I am not crazy. - AnswerB. I am here
because the police thought I was doing something wrong.
The RN documents the mental status of a female client who has been hospitalized for
several days by court order. The client states" I don't need to be here," and tells the RN
that she believes that the T.V. talks to her. The RN should document these assessment
statements in which section of the mental status exam?
A. Insight and judgement.
B. Mood and affect.
C. Remote memory.
D. Level of concentration. - AnswerA. Insight and judgement.
An older ale client with schizophrenia is found smearing feces on the bathroom walls of
the chronic mental health unit where he resides. What action should the RN implement?
A. Explain that the feces belong in the toilet.
B. Show the client how to clean the walls.
C. Escort the client out of the bathroom.
D. Assist the client to clean the walls - AnswerC. Escort the client out of the bathroom.
A male client tells the RN that he does not want to take the atypical antipsychotic drug,
olanzapine (Zypexa), because of the side effects he experienced when he took the drug
for a year. Which experience is most likely related to takingolanzapine?
