HESI Mental Health Test Bank
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_bc10eu
1. A client with depression remains in bed most of the C
day, and declines activities. Which nursing
problem has the greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity.
B. Social isolation.
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs.
D. Low self-esteem
2. The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipo- B
lar disorder and notices that the client
discontinued antipsychotic medication for several
days. Which medication should also be
discontinued?
a. Lithium. (Lithotabs)
b. Benzotropine (Cogentin).
c. Alprazolam (Xanax).
d. Magnesium (Milk of Magnesia)
3. The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the B
prescribed abstinence therapy using
disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the
client acknowledge understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first
dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anony-
mous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user.
4. A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the D
mental health unit after abruptly stopping his
prescription for ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago.
, HESI Mental Health Test Bank
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Which question is most important for the
RN to ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to
enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not
hear?
5. A female client requests that her husband be allowed A
to stay in the room during the admission
assessment. When interviewing the client, the RN
notes a discrepancy between the client's
verbal and nonverbal communication. What action
does the RN take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal
messages.
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepan-
cy.
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the
client's verbal messages.
D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and
interpret them as one.
6. A male client approaches the RN with an angry expres- D
sion on his face and raises his voice,
saying "My roommate is the most selfish, self-cen-
tered, angry person I have ever met. If he
loses his temper one more time with me, I am going
to punch him out!" The RN recognizes that
the client is using which defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
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B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting.
7. A mental health worker is caring for a client with es- A
calating 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 loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
8. A client on the mental health unit is becoming more C
agitated, shouting at the staff, and pacing in
the hallway. When the PRN medication is offered, the
client refuses the medication and defiantly
sits on the floor in the middle of the unit hallway. What
nursing intervention should the RN
implement first?
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff
members.
C. Take other clients in the area to the client lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the
patient.
9. A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking A
lithium carbonate five days ago is
complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him
attempting to drink water from the
bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the
, HESI Mental Health Test Bank
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RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to re-
lieve the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common
side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not
allowed.
10. During an annual physical by the occupational RN D
working in a corporate clinic, a male
employee tells the RN that is high-stress job is causing
trouble in his personal life. He further
explains that he often gets so angry while driving to
and from work that he has considered
"getting even" with other drivers. How should the RN
respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major con-
frontation."
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impul-
sively."
C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could result in
an unsafe situation."
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make
you feel angry."
11. A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is B
beginning desensitization with the therapist,
and the RN is reinforcing the process. Which interven-
tion has the highest priority for this client's
plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts and
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_bc10eu
1. A client with depression remains in bed most of the C
day, and declines activities. Which nursing
problem has the greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity.
B. Social isolation.
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs.
D. Low self-esteem
2. The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipo- B
lar disorder and notices that the client
discontinued antipsychotic medication for several
days. Which medication should also be
discontinued?
a. Lithium. (Lithotabs)
b. Benzotropine (Cogentin).
c. Alprazolam (Xanax).
d. Magnesium (Milk of Magnesia)
3. The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the B
prescribed abstinence therapy using
disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the
client acknowledge understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first
dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anony-
mous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user.
4. A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the D
mental health unit after abruptly stopping his
prescription for ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago.
, HESI Mental Health Test Bank
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_bc10eu
Which question is most important for the
RN to ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to
enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not
hear?
5. A female client requests that her husband be allowed A
to stay in the room during the admission
assessment. When interviewing the client, the RN
notes a discrepancy between the client's
verbal and nonverbal communication. What action
does the RN take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal
messages.
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepan-
cy.
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the
client's verbal messages.
D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and
interpret them as one.
6. A male client approaches the RN with an angry expres- D
sion on his face and raises his voice,
saying "My roommate is the most selfish, self-cen-
tered, angry person I have ever met. If he
loses his temper one more time with me, I am going
to punch him out!" The RN recognizes that
the client is using which defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
, HESI Mental Health Test Bank
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_bc10eu
B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting.
7. A mental health worker is caring for a client with es- A
calating 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 loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
8. A client on the mental health unit is becoming more C
agitated, shouting at the staff, and pacing in
the hallway. When the PRN medication is offered, the
client refuses the medication and defiantly
sits on the floor in the middle of the unit hallway. What
nursing intervention should the RN
implement first?
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff
members.
C. Take other clients in the area to the client lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the
patient.
9. A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking A
lithium carbonate five days ago is
complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him
attempting to drink water from the
bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the
, HESI Mental Health Test Bank
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_bc10eu
RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to re-
lieve the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common
side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not
allowed.
10. During an annual physical by the occupational RN D
working in a corporate clinic, a male
employee tells the RN that is high-stress job is causing
trouble in his personal life. He further
explains that he often gets so angry while driving to
and from work that he has considered
"getting even" with other drivers. How should the RN
respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major con-
frontation."
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impul-
sively."
C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could result in
an unsafe situation."
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make
you feel angry."
11. A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is B
beginning desensitization with the therapist,
and the RN is reinforcing the process. Which interven-
tion has the highest priority for this client's
plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts and
