HESI Exit Exam Mental Health Practice
Questions
80 Multiple-Choice Questions for Exam Preparation
Topics: Therapeutic Communication, Psychiatric Disorders, Crisis
Intervention, Safety
May 31, 2025
Instructions
This document contains 80 multiple-choice questions designed to prepare you for the Mental
Health section of the HESI Exit Exam, formatted in NCLEX-style with a focus on clinical
judgment. Each question includes four answer choices (AD), with the correct answer clearly
indicated. Topics cover therapeutic communication, common psychiatric disorders, crisis in-
tervention, and safety. Use this practice test to evaluate your knowledge and clinical decision-
making skills. Good luck!
Practice Questions
A client with major depressive disorder says, I dont see the point in living anymore. What is
the nurses priority response?
A) You have so much to live for.
A) B) Can you tell me more about how youre feeling?
C) Lets focus on something positive.
D) Everyone feels this way sometimes.
Correct Answer: B
A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices commanding them to hurt others. What
should the nurse do first?
A) Administer an antipsychotic medication.
B) B) Notify the healthcare provider.
C) Ask the client to ignore the voices.
D) Engage the client in a group activity.
Correct Answer: B
1
, A client with bipolar disorder in a manic phase is shouting and refusing to sit down. What
should the nurse do next?
A) Restrain the client to ensure safety.
C) B) Offer a quiet space to reduce stimulation.
C) Encourage the client to join a group discussion.
D) Administer a sedative immediately.
Correct Answer: B
A client with generalized anxiety disorder reports palpitations and sweating. What should the
nurse do first?
A) Administer a benzodiazepine.
D) B) Teach slow, deep breathing techniques.
C) Apply oxygen via nasal cannula.
D) Notify the healthcare provider.
Correct Answer: B
A client with depression has not showered or eaten for 3 days. What should the nurse do next?
A) Force the client to shower and eat.
B) Encourage small, manageable self-care tasks.
E)
C) Leave the client alone to rest.
D) Administer an antidepressant immediately.
Correct Answer: B
A client with borderline personality disorder yells, Youre the worst nurse ever! What is the
nurses best response?
A) Im sorry you feel that way; lets talk about it.
F) B) You need to calm down right now.
C) Im doing my best to help you.
D) Lets discuss this when youre not upset.
Correct Answer: A
A client in the ED expresses a plan to commit suicide by hanging. What should the nurse do
first?
A) Initiate one-to-one observation.
G) B) Administer an antidepressant.
C) Encourage the client to call a family member.
D) Document the plan and monitor.
Correct Answer: A
2
, A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder is repeatedly checking the door lock. What should
the nurse do next?
A) Stop the client from checking the lock.
H) B) Develop a plan to limit checking behaviors.
C) Encourage the client to check the lock more.
D) Administer an anxiolytic medication.
Correct Answer: B
A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is having a flashback. What should the
nurse do first?
A) Administer a sedative.
I) B) Reorient the client to the present.
C) Ask the client to describe the flashback.
D) Leave the client alone to calm down.
Correct Answer: B
A client with social anxiety disorder says, Im too nervous to attend group therapy. What should
the nurse do next?
A) Force the client to attend the session.
J) B) Explore the clients fears about the group.
C) Exclude the client from group therapy.
D) Administer an anxiolytic before the session.
Correct Answer: B
A client with alcohol use disorder is admitted with tremors and disorientation. What should the
nurse do first?
A) Administer IV fluids.
K) B) Assess for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
C) Encourage a high-protein diet.
D) Monitor vital signs for 24 hours.
Correct Answer: B
A client with anorexia nervosa refuses breakfast. What should the nurse do next?
A) Force the client to eat the meal.
B) Discuss the clients feelings about eating.
L)
C) Offer a high-calorie shake instead.
D) Remove the tray and try again later.
Correct Answer: B
3
Questions
80 Multiple-Choice Questions for Exam Preparation
Topics: Therapeutic Communication, Psychiatric Disorders, Crisis
Intervention, Safety
May 31, 2025
Instructions
This document contains 80 multiple-choice questions designed to prepare you for the Mental
Health section of the HESI Exit Exam, formatted in NCLEX-style with a focus on clinical
judgment. Each question includes four answer choices (AD), with the correct answer clearly
indicated. Topics cover therapeutic communication, common psychiatric disorders, crisis in-
tervention, and safety. Use this practice test to evaluate your knowledge and clinical decision-
making skills. Good luck!
Practice Questions
A client with major depressive disorder says, I dont see the point in living anymore. What is
the nurses priority response?
A) You have so much to live for.
A) B) Can you tell me more about how youre feeling?
C) Lets focus on something positive.
D) Everyone feels this way sometimes.
Correct Answer: B
A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices commanding them to hurt others. What
should the nurse do first?
A) Administer an antipsychotic medication.
B) B) Notify the healthcare provider.
C) Ask the client to ignore the voices.
D) Engage the client in a group activity.
Correct Answer: B
1
, A client with bipolar disorder in a manic phase is shouting and refusing to sit down. What
should the nurse do next?
A) Restrain the client to ensure safety.
C) B) Offer a quiet space to reduce stimulation.
C) Encourage the client to join a group discussion.
D) Administer a sedative immediately.
Correct Answer: B
A client with generalized anxiety disorder reports palpitations and sweating. What should the
nurse do first?
A) Administer a benzodiazepine.
D) B) Teach slow, deep breathing techniques.
C) Apply oxygen via nasal cannula.
D) Notify the healthcare provider.
Correct Answer: B
A client with depression has not showered or eaten for 3 days. What should the nurse do next?
A) Force the client to shower and eat.
B) Encourage small, manageable self-care tasks.
E)
C) Leave the client alone to rest.
D) Administer an antidepressant immediately.
Correct Answer: B
A client with borderline personality disorder yells, Youre the worst nurse ever! What is the
nurses best response?
A) Im sorry you feel that way; lets talk about it.
F) B) You need to calm down right now.
C) Im doing my best to help you.
D) Lets discuss this when youre not upset.
Correct Answer: A
A client in the ED expresses a plan to commit suicide by hanging. What should the nurse do
first?
A) Initiate one-to-one observation.
G) B) Administer an antidepressant.
C) Encourage the client to call a family member.
D) Document the plan and monitor.
Correct Answer: A
2
, A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder is repeatedly checking the door lock. What should
the nurse do next?
A) Stop the client from checking the lock.
H) B) Develop a plan to limit checking behaviors.
C) Encourage the client to check the lock more.
D) Administer an anxiolytic medication.
Correct Answer: B
A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is having a flashback. What should the
nurse do first?
A) Administer a sedative.
I) B) Reorient the client to the present.
C) Ask the client to describe the flashback.
D) Leave the client alone to calm down.
Correct Answer: B
A client with social anxiety disorder says, Im too nervous to attend group therapy. What should
the nurse do next?
A) Force the client to attend the session.
J) B) Explore the clients fears about the group.
C) Exclude the client from group therapy.
D) Administer an anxiolytic before the session.
Correct Answer: B
A client with alcohol use disorder is admitted with tremors and disorientation. What should the
nurse do first?
A) Administer IV fluids.
K) B) Assess for alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
C) Encourage a high-protein diet.
D) Monitor vital signs for 24 hours.
Correct Answer: B
A client with anorexia nervosa refuses breakfast. What should the nurse do next?
A) Force the client to eat the meal.
B) Discuss the clients feelings about eating.
L)
C) Offer a high-calorie shake instead.
D) Remove the tray and try again later.
Correct Answer: B
3
