ATI RN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ASWERS – PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR
PSYCHIATRIC NURSING (2025 STUDY GUIDE)
All Answers are in RED
Major Keywords for study: ATI mental health nursing exam, RN psychiatric nursing questions, ATI proctored mental health, NCLEX mental health review,
therapeutic communication, nursing care for depression and anxiety, psychotropic medications, schizophrenia nursing care, ATI RN practice questions, mental
health disorders in nursing.
A charge 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 assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by 7."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
Asking the client to repeat a list of objects is appropriate to assess immediate, rather than remote, memory.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse is planning 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. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
Assisting with systematic desensitization therapy is a cognitive and behavioral.
Teaching appropriate coping mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching.
Assessing for comorbid health conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
D. Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a psychobiological intervention.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
,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. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
A. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
B. Assessment is the priority action when taking the nursing process approach. Identifying the client's
perception of her mental health status provides important information about the client's psychosocial history.
C. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
D. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse is told during change-of-shift report that a client is stuporous. When assessing the client, which of
the following is an expected finding?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rib.
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.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rib.
A. A client who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful stimuli to elicit a response.
B. <7 on GCS indicates comatose, not stuporous, level of consciousness.
C. Abnormal posturing = comatose.
D. Stuporous /= alert.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse is planning 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?
(SATA)
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 assists nurses in planning care.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A, B, D, E.
The DSM-5 is used as a diagnostic tool, establishes diagnostic criteria, used by nurses to plan, implement, and
evaluate care, and identifies expected findings for mental health disorders.
It does not indicate pharmacological treatment.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
Which of the following is an example of a client who requires emergency admission to a mental health
facility?
A. A client with schizophrenia who has frequent hallucinations.
B. A client with symptoms of depression who attempted suicide a year ago.
C. A client with borderline personality disorder who assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod.
D. A client with bipolar disorder who paces quickly down the sidewalk while talking to himself.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
C. A client with borderline personality disorder who assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod.
Hallucinations, depression, and/or pacing does not constitute clear reason for emergency commitment.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
A client tells a student nurse, "Don't tell anyone, but I hid a sharp knife under my mattress in order to
protect myself from my roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening me." Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the client daily, using therapeutic
communication to convince him to admit to holding the knife.
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client and his roommate closely.
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to health care staff because it concerns the health and safety
of the client and others.
D. Report the incident, but do not inform the client of the intention to do so.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to health care staff because it concerns the health and safety of the
client and others.
The information cannot be kept confidential and the client must be informed that this will be reported to the
health care staff.
• This is a serious safety issue that must be reported to the staff. Using the principle of veracity, the student tells
this client truthfully what must be done regarding the issue.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
, A nurse decides to put a client who has psychosis in seclusion overnight because the unit is very short-
staffed, and the client frequently fights with other clients. This is an example of:
A. beneficence.
B. a tort.
C. a facility policy.
D. justice.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
B. a tort.
Beneficence: doing good for a client.
Tort: a civil wrong that violates a client's civil rights.
If a policy, the facility would be in violation of federal and state statute, and the nurse could be held responsible.
Justice: action involving the fair and equal treatment of clients.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
A nurse is caring for a client in restraints. Which of the following statements are appropriate
documentation? (SATA)
A. " Client ate most of his breakfast."
B. "Client was offered 8oz of water every hr."
C. "Client shouted at assistive personnel."
D. "Client received chlorpromazine (Thorazine) 15mg by mouth at 1000."
E. "Client acted out after lunch."
B, C, D: Objective data is correct, not subjective.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
A nurse hears a newly licensed nurse discussing a client's hallucinations in the hallway with another
nurse. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the nurse manager.
B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior.
C. Provide an in-service program about confidentiality.
D. Complete an incident report.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior.
The nurse should notify the nurse manager, provide in-service, and complete an incident report, but these
actions are not the first to take.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
A charge nurse is conducting a class on therapeutic communication to a group of newly licensed nurses.
Which of the following responses by the newly licensed nurse requires additional teaching regarding
ASWERS – PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR
PSYCHIATRIC NURSING (2025 STUDY GUIDE)
All Answers are in RED
Major Keywords for study: ATI mental health nursing exam, RN psychiatric nursing questions, ATI proctored mental health, NCLEX mental health review,
therapeutic communication, nursing care for depression and anxiety, psychotropic medications, schizophrenia nursing care, ATI RN practice questions, mental
health disorders in nursing.
A charge 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 assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by 7."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
Asking the client to repeat a list of objects is appropriate to assess immediate, rather than remote, memory.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse is planning 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. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
Assisting with systematic desensitization therapy is a cognitive and behavioral.
Teaching appropriate coping mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching.
Assessing for comorbid health conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
D. Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a psychobiological intervention.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
,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. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
A. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
B. Assessment is the priority action when taking the nursing process approach. Identifying the client's
perception of her mental health status provides important information about the client's psychosocial history.
C. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
D. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse is told during change-of-shift report that a client is stuporous. When assessing the client, which of
the following is an expected finding?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rib.
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.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rib.
A. A client who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful stimuli to elicit a response.
B. <7 on GCS indicates comatose, not stuporous, level of consciousness.
C. Abnormal posturing = comatose.
D. Stuporous /= alert.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse is planning 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?
(SATA)
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 assists nurses in planning care.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A, B, D, E.
The DSM-5 is used as a diagnostic tool, establishes diagnostic criteria, used by nurses to plan, implement, and
evaluate care, and identifies expected findings for mental health disorders.
It does not indicate pharmacological treatment.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
Which of the following is an example of a client who requires emergency admission to a mental health
facility?
A. A client with schizophrenia who has frequent hallucinations.
B. A client with symptoms of depression who attempted suicide a year ago.
C. A client with borderline personality disorder who assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod.
D. A client with bipolar disorder who paces quickly down the sidewalk while talking to himself.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
C. A client with borderline personality disorder who assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod.
Hallucinations, depression, and/or pacing does not constitute clear reason for emergency commitment.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
A client tells a student nurse, "Don't tell anyone, but I hid a sharp knife under my mattress in order to
protect myself from my roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening me." Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the client daily, using therapeutic
communication to convince him to admit to holding the knife.
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client and his roommate closely.
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to health care staff because it concerns the health and safety
of the client and others.
D. Report the incident, but do not inform the client of the intention to do so.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to health care staff because it concerns the health and safety of the
client and others.
The information cannot be kept confidential and the client must be informed that this will be reported to the
health care staff.
• This is a serious safety issue that must be reported to the staff. Using the principle of veracity, the student tells
this client truthfully what must be done regarding the issue.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
, A nurse decides to put a client who has psychosis in seclusion overnight because the unit is very short-
staffed, and the client frequently fights with other clients. This is an example of:
A. beneficence.
B. a tort.
C. a facility policy.
D. justice.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
B. a tort.
Beneficence: doing good for a client.
Tort: a civil wrong that violates a client's civil rights.
If a policy, the facility would be in violation of federal and state statute, and the nurse could be held responsible.
Justice: action involving the fair and equal treatment of clients.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
A nurse is caring for a client in restraints. Which of the following statements are appropriate
documentation? (SATA)
A. " Client ate most of his breakfast."
B. "Client was offered 8oz of water every hr."
C. "Client shouted at assistive personnel."
D. "Client received chlorpromazine (Thorazine) 15mg by mouth at 1000."
E. "Client acted out after lunch."
B, C, D: Objective data is correct, not subjective.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
A nurse hears a newly licensed nurse discussing a client's hallucinations in the hallway with another
nurse. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the nurse manager.
B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior.
C. Provide an in-service program about confidentiality.
D. Complete an incident report.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior.
The nurse should notify the nurse manager, provide in-service, and complete an incident report, but these
actions are not the first to take.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Exercises
A charge nurse is conducting a class on therapeutic communication to a group of newly licensed nurses.
Which of the following responses by the newly licensed nurse requires additional teaching regarding
