Psych HESI exam GRADED A+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED
2025-2026
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a medical diagnosis of
paranoid schizophrenia. During the admission procedure, the client looks up
and states, "No, it's not MY fault. You can't blame me. I didn't kill him, you did."
What action is best for the nurse to take?
Reassure the client by telling him that his fear of the admission procedure is to
be expected.
Tell the client that no one is accusing him of murder and remind him that the
hospital is a safe place.
Assess the content of the hallucinations by asking the client what he is
hearing.
Ignore the behavior and make no response at all to his delusional statements.
Assess the content of the hallucinations by asking the client what he is hearing.
Further assessment is indicated and the nurse should obtain information about what
the client believes the voices are telling him--they may be telling him to kill himself or
the nurse. The other actions are not indicated.
Which statement about contemporary mental health nursing practice is
accurate?
There is one approved theoretical framework for psychiatric nursing practice.
Psychiatric nursing has yet to be recognized as a core mental health
discipline.
Contemporary practice of psychiatric nursing is primarily focused on inpatient
care.
The psychiatric nursing client may be an individual, family, group,
organization, or community.
,The psychiatric nursing client may be an individual, family, group, organization, or
community.
Mental health nursing is not only concerned with one-on-one interactions. Mental
health stressors can impact and be reflected in the overall direction, activities,
behaviors, and responses involving families, groups, and entire communities. The
other statements are not consistent with mental health nursing.
The nurse is assessing a client who is admitted with a diagnosis of
depression. Which findings is characteristic of depression?
Grandiose ideation.
Self-destructive thoughts.
Suspiciousness of others.
A negative view of self and the future.
A negative view of self and the future.
Negative self-image and feelings of hopelessness about the future are specific
findings in depression. The other findings are not the underlying manifestations in
depression.
A male client with mental illness and substance dependency tells the mental
health nurse that he has started using illegal drugs again and wants to seek
treatment. Since he has a dual diagnosis, which person is best for the nurse to
refer this client to first?
The emergency room nurse.
His case manager.
The clinic healthcare provider.
His support group sponsor.
His case manager.
The case manager is responsible for coordinating community services. Since this
,client has a dual diagnosis, the nurse should refer the client to the case manager to
explore available treatment options. The other referrals are not indicated.
A client with bipolar disorder on the mental health unit becomes loud, and
shouts at one of the nurses, "You fat tub of lard! Get something done around
here!" What is the best initial action for the nurse to take?
Have the orderly escort the client to his room.
Tell the client his healthcare provider will be notified if he continues to be
verbally abusive.
Redirect the client's energy by asking him to tidy the recreation room.
Call the healthcare provider to obtain a prescription for a sedative.
Redirect the client's energy by asking him to tidy the recreation room.
Distracting the client, or redirecting his energy, prevents further escalation of the
inappropriate behavior. The other actions are not indicated at this time and could
escalate the abuse unnecessarily.
The wife of a male client recently diagnosed with schizophrenia asks the
nurse, "What exactly is schizophrenia? Is my husband all right?" Which
response is best for the nurse to provide to this family member?
It sounds like you're worried about your husband. Let's sit down and talk.
It is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes disorganized thinking.
Your husband will be just fine if he takes his medications regularly.
I think you should talk to your husband's psychologist about this question.
It is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes disorganized thinking.
The nurse should answer the client's question with factual information and explain
that schizophrenia is a chemical imbalance in the brain. The other responses do not
directly answer the question.
A client who is diagnosed with schizophrenia is admitted to the hospital. The
nurse assesses the client's mental status. Which assessment finding is
characteristic of a client with schizophrenia?
, Mood swings.
Extreme sadness.
Manipulative behavior.
Flat affect.
Flat affect.
Disinterest, and diminished or lack of facial expression is characteristic of
schizophrenia and is referred to as a flat affect. The other findings are not associated
with schizophrenia.
The nurse is leading a "current events group" with client who have chronic
psychiatric illnesses. One group member states, "Clara Barton was my nurse
during my last hospitalization. She was a very mean nurse and wasn't nice to
me." Which response is best for the nurse to make?
Clara Barton was not your nurse.
What did she do to you that was so mean?
I didn't know that Clara Barton was a nurse.
Clara Barton started the American Red Cross.
Clara Barton started the American Red Cross.
The historical fact that Clara Barton was a nurse during the Civil War is referencing
the concept of universality in this group therapy discussion. Stating the original role
of Clara Barton in nursing should be presented, which is the reality in nursing and
the American culture. The other responses are not indicated.
The nurse is planning the care for an adult client with acute depression. Which
intervention should the nurse implement to help the client deal with
depression?
Ensure that the client's day is filled with group activities.
Assist the client in exploring feelings of shame, anger, and guilt.
Allow the client to initiate and determine activities of daily living.
Encourage the client to explore the rationale for depression.
2025-2026
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a medical diagnosis of
paranoid schizophrenia. During the admission procedure, the client looks up
and states, "No, it's not MY fault. You can't blame me. I didn't kill him, you did."
What action is best for the nurse to take?
Reassure the client by telling him that his fear of the admission procedure is to
be expected.
Tell the client that no one is accusing him of murder and remind him that the
hospital is a safe place.
Assess the content of the hallucinations by asking the client what he is
hearing.
Ignore the behavior and make no response at all to his delusional statements.
Assess the content of the hallucinations by asking the client what he is hearing.
Further assessment is indicated and the nurse should obtain information about what
the client believes the voices are telling him--they may be telling him to kill himself or
the nurse. The other actions are not indicated.
Which statement about contemporary mental health nursing practice is
accurate?
There is one approved theoretical framework for psychiatric nursing practice.
Psychiatric nursing has yet to be recognized as a core mental health
discipline.
Contemporary practice of psychiatric nursing is primarily focused on inpatient
care.
The psychiatric nursing client may be an individual, family, group,
organization, or community.
,The psychiatric nursing client may be an individual, family, group, organization, or
community.
Mental health nursing is not only concerned with one-on-one interactions. Mental
health stressors can impact and be reflected in the overall direction, activities,
behaviors, and responses involving families, groups, and entire communities. The
other statements are not consistent with mental health nursing.
The nurse is assessing a client who is admitted with a diagnosis of
depression. Which findings is characteristic of depression?
Grandiose ideation.
Self-destructive thoughts.
Suspiciousness of others.
A negative view of self and the future.
A negative view of self and the future.
Negative self-image and feelings of hopelessness about the future are specific
findings in depression. The other findings are not the underlying manifestations in
depression.
A male client with mental illness and substance dependency tells the mental
health nurse that he has started using illegal drugs again and wants to seek
treatment. Since he has a dual diagnosis, which person is best for the nurse to
refer this client to first?
The emergency room nurse.
His case manager.
The clinic healthcare provider.
His support group sponsor.
His case manager.
The case manager is responsible for coordinating community services. Since this
,client has a dual diagnosis, the nurse should refer the client to the case manager to
explore available treatment options. The other referrals are not indicated.
A client with bipolar disorder on the mental health unit becomes loud, and
shouts at one of the nurses, "You fat tub of lard! Get something done around
here!" What is the best initial action for the nurse to take?
Have the orderly escort the client to his room.
Tell the client his healthcare provider will be notified if he continues to be
verbally abusive.
Redirect the client's energy by asking him to tidy the recreation room.
Call the healthcare provider to obtain a prescription for a sedative.
Redirect the client's energy by asking him to tidy the recreation room.
Distracting the client, or redirecting his energy, prevents further escalation of the
inappropriate behavior. The other actions are not indicated at this time and could
escalate the abuse unnecessarily.
The wife of a male client recently diagnosed with schizophrenia asks the
nurse, "What exactly is schizophrenia? Is my husband all right?" Which
response is best for the nurse to provide to this family member?
It sounds like you're worried about your husband. Let's sit down and talk.
It is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes disorganized thinking.
Your husband will be just fine if he takes his medications regularly.
I think you should talk to your husband's psychologist about this question.
It is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes disorganized thinking.
The nurse should answer the client's question with factual information and explain
that schizophrenia is a chemical imbalance in the brain. The other responses do not
directly answer the question.
A client who is diagnosed with schizophrenia is admitted to the hospital. The
nurse assesses the client's mental status. Which assessment finding is
characteristic of a client with schizophrenia?
, Mood swings.
Extreme sadness.
Manipulative behavior.
Flat affect.
Flat affect.
Disinterest, and diminished or lack of facial expression is characteristic of
schizophrenia and is referred to as a flat affect. The other findings are not associated
with schizophrenia.
The nurse is leading a "current events group" with client who have chronic
psychiatric illnesses. One group member states, "Clara Barton was my nurse
during my last hospitalization. She was a very mean nurse and wasn't nice to
me." Which response is best for the nurse to make?
Clara Barton was not your nurse.
What did she do to you that was so mean?
I didn't know that Clara Barton was a nurse.
Clara Barton started the American Red Cross.
Clara Barton started the American Red Cross.
The historical fact that Clara Barton was a nurse during the Civil War is referencing
the concept of universality in this group therapy discussion. Stating the original role
of Clara Barton in nursing should be presented, which is the reality in nursing and
the American culture. The other responses are not indicated.
The nurse is planning the care for an adult client with acute depression. Which
intervention should the nurse implement to help the client deal with
depression?
Ensure that the client's day is filled with group activities.
Assist the client in exploring feelings of shame, anger, and guilt.
Allow the client to initiate and determine activities of daily living.
Encourage the client to explore the rationale for depression.
