ATI MENTAL HEALTH CMS ACTUAL EXAM WITH QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2025/2026 EDITION
A nurse is admitting a client in the emergency department for an intentional overdose of opioids. The
client state, "I feel so alone. No one can help me." Which of the following responses by the nurse is
therapeutic?
A. "Let's finish your admission and then talk about your feelings."
B. "How come you feel that no one can help you when you are receiving help now?"
C. "Why do you feel that no one can help you?"
D. "I would like to sit and talk with you." - (answer)D
A nurse is caring for a client whose adolescent child died in a motor-vehicle crash. The client is crying
inconsolably. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Suggest that the client call the facility's chaplain.
B. Provide a quiet place for the client to be alone.
C. Stay with the client and allow the client to cry.
D. Express sympathy for the client's loss. - (answer)C
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of colon cancer. Shortly after the client receives
the diagnosis, the nurse enters the client's room and the client begins yelling, "I have received terrible
care here and no one cares about me." The nurse should recognize that the client is demonstrating
which of the following defense mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Displacement
C. Reaction formation
D. Projection - (answer)B
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. The client states, "My internal organs have turned
to stone." The nurse should document this finding as which of the following types of delusions?
,ATI MENTAL HEALTH CMS ACTUAL EXAM WITH QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2025/2026 EDITION
A. Somatic
B. Reference
C. Persecutory
D. Grandiose - (answer)A
A nurse is caring for a client who is brought to the clinic by her adult son who states that his father
recently died. The client repeatedly yells at her son stating, "Quit lying about your father!" The nurse
should recognize that the client is demonstrating which of the following defense mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Identification
C. Introjection
D. Sublimation - (answer)A
A nurse is caring for a client who has major depressive disorder and recently started taking an
antidepressant. The nurse should identify which of the following client statements as the priority?
A. "I hate being so helpless. I can't even manage my own finances anymore."
B. "At group therapy today I wanted to leave. I didn't feeling like being with other people."
C. "I have it all figured out. Everything is going to be okay now."
D. "I don't feel like showering. I'd rather just stay in bed today." - (answer)C
A nurse is administering an oral sedative to a client who is receiving care following an involuntary
admission. The client states, "I'm not taking any more medication." Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A. Administer the medication by another route.
, ATI MENTAL HEALTH CMS ACTUAL EXAM WITH QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2025/2026 EDITION
B. Refer the client's refusal to the facility's ethics committee.
C. Inform the client that, due to her involuntary admission, she cannot refuse a sedative.
D. Document the client's refusal of the medication in the medical record. - (answer)D
A nurse enters a client's room and observes that the client is agitated and pacing rapidly. The client
looks at the nurse and says, "Back off. Leave me alone." Which of the following statements should the
nurse make?
A. "I demand that you calm down now. Your behavior is unacceptable."
B. "I will close the door to provide privacy, and you can tell me what is bothering you."
C. "I will give you space if you calm down. Tell me what is causing you to feel so tense."
D. "I will leave you alone for a few minutes while you try to control yourself." - (answer)C
A nurse is providing support for the parents of a child who has a new diagnosis of a terminal brain
tumor. The nurse should expect the parents to experience which of the following stages of grief first?
A. Denial
B. Bargaining
C. Anger
D. Depression - (answer)A
A nurse in a mental health facility is reviewing confidentiality requirements with a newly licensed nurse.
Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the
information?
A. "I am legally required to notify a client's employer about a substance use disorder."
B. "If a client is involuntarily committed, I can discuss information with the client's next of kin."
C. "I can discuss a client's treatment with others as long as they are employees of the facility."
ANSWERS 2025/2026 EDITION
A nurse is admitting a client in the emergency department for an intentional overdose of opioids. The
client state, "I feel so alone. No one can help me." Which of the following responses by the nurse is
therapeutic?
A. "Let's finish your admission and then talk about your feelings."
B. "How come you feel that no one can help you when you are receiving help now?"
C. "Why do you feel that no one can help you?"
D. "I would like to sit and talk with you." - (answer)D
A nurse is caring for a client whose adolescent child died in a motor-vehicle crash. The client is crying
inconsolably. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Suggest that the client call the facility's chaplain.
B. Provide a quiet place for the client to be alone.
C. Stay with the client and allow the client to cry.
D. Express sympathy for the client's loss. - (answer)C
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of colon cancer. Shortly after the client receives
the diagnosis, the nurse enters the client's room and the client begins yelling, "I have received terrible
care here and no one cares about me." The nurse should recognize that the client is demonstrating
which of the following defense mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Displacement
C. Reaction formation
D. Projection - (answer)B
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. The client states, "My internal organs have turned
to stone." The nurse should document this finding as which of the following types of delusions?
,ATI MENTAL HEALTH CMS ACTUAL EXAM WITH QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2025/2026 EDITION
A. Somatic
B. Reference
C. Persecutory
D. Grandiose - (answer)A
A nurse is caring for a client who is brought to the clinic by her adult son who states that his father
recently died. The client repeatedly yells at her son stating, "Quit lying about your father!" The nurse
should recognize that the client is demonstrating which of the following defense mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Identification
C. Introjection
D. Sublimation - (answer)A
A nurse is caring for a client who has major depressive disorder and recently started taking an
antidepressant. The nurse should identify which of the following client statements as the priority?
A. "I hate being so helpless. I can't even manage my own finances anymore."
B. "At group therapy today I wanted to leave. I didn't feeling like being with other people."
C. "I have it all figured out. Everything is going to be okay now."
D. "I don't feel like showering. I'd rather just stay in bed today." - (answer)C
A nurse is administering an oral sedative to a client who is receiving care following an involuntary
admission. The client states, "I'm not taking any more medication." Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A. Administer the medication by another route.
, ATI MENTAL HEALTH CMS ACTUAL EXAM WITH QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2025/2026 EDITION
B. Refer the client's refusal to the facility's ethics committee.
C. Inform the client that, due to her involuntary admission, she cannot refuse a sedative.
D. Document the client's refusal of the medication in the medical record. - (answer)D
A nurse enters a client's room and observes that the client is agitated and pacing rapidly. The client
looks at the nurse and says, "Back off. Leave me alone." Which of the following statements should the
nurse make?
A. "I demand that you calm down now. Your behavior is unacceptable."
B. "I will close the door to provide privacy, and you can tell me what is bothering you."
C. "I will give you space if you calm down. Tell me what is causing you to feel so tense."
D. "I will leave you alone for a few minutes while you try to control yourself." - (answer)C
A nurse is providing support for the parents of a child who has a new diagnosis of a terminal brain
tumor. The nurse should expect the parents to experience which of the following stages of grief first?
A. Denial
B. Bargaining
C. Anger
D. Depression - (answer)A
A nurse in a mental health facility is reviewing confidentiality requirements with a newly licensed nurse.
Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the
information?
A. "I am legally required to notify a client's employer about a substance use disorder."
B. "If a client is involuntarily committed, I can discuss information with the client's next of kin."
C. "I can discuss a client's treatment with others as long as they are employees of the facility."
