HESI Mental Health Exam
– Practice Questions,
Answers & Rationales
(Psychiatric Nursing
Review 2026) | Graded A+
| Guaranteed success|
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, HESI Mental Health
Nursing Practice Exam –
Questions, Answers &
Rationales
(Comprehensive Review
2026–2027) | Graded A+ |
Guaranteed success|
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,While interviewing a client, the nurse takes notes to assist A
with accurate documentation later. Which statement is
most accurate regarding note-taking during an interview?
A. The nurse' ability to directly observe the client's
nonverbal communication is limited
with note taking.
B. Taking notes during an interview is a legal obligation of
the examining nurse.
C. The client's comfort level is increased when the nurse
breaks eye contact to take note to take note.
D. The interview process is enhanced with note taking and
allows the client speak at normal pace.
An adolescent male receives a prescription for an B
antidepressant drug because he is exhibiting a depressed
affect. While the client is taking the antidepressant, which
comparison of the client's behavior before and after taking
the drug is most important for the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite.
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity.
D. The interactions he has with others.
A nurse is providing education about strategies for a safety BCD
plan for a female client who is a victim of intimate partner
violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety
plan? Select all that apply.
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify
violence.
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the
main exit.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and
children
While sitting in the dayroom of the mental health unit, a B
male adolescent avoids eye contact, looks at the floor, and
talks softly when interacting verbally with the nurse. The
two trade places, and the nurse demonstrate the client's
behavior. What is the main goal of this therapeutic
techniques?
A. Discuss the client's feeling when he responds.
B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
C. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client.
D. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions.)
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day, C
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.
The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipolar B
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).
, A female client requests that her husband be allowed to A
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 discrepancy.
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.
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression B
on his face and raises his voice, saying "My roommate is
the most selfish, self-centered, 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.
B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting.
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 RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve
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.
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 anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user.
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental D
health unit after abruptly stopping his prescription for
ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago. 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?
During an annual physical by the occupational RN working D
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
confrontation."
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impulsively."
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."
– Practice Questions,
Answers & Rationales
(Psychiatric Nursing
Review 2026) | Graded A+
| Guaranteed success|
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, HESI Mental Health
Nursing Practice Exam –
Questions, Answers &
Rationales
(Comprehensive Review
2026–2027) | Graded A+ |
Guaranteed success|
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,While interviewing a client, the nurse takes notes to assist A
with accurate documentation later. Which statement is
most accurate regarding note-taking during an interview?
A. The nurse' ability to directly observe the client's
nonverbal communication is limited
with note taking.
B. Taking notes during an interview is a legal obligation of
the examining nurse.
C. The client's comfort level is increased when the nurse
breaks eye contact to take note to take note.
D. The interview process is enhanced with note taking and
allows the client speak at normal pace.
An adolescent male receives a prescription for an B
antidepressant drug because he is exhibiting a depressed
affect. While the client is taking the antidepressant, which
comparison of the client's behavior before and after taking
the drug is most important for the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite.
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity.
D. The interactions he has with others.
A nurse is providing education about strategies for a safety BCD
plan for a female client who is a victim of intimate partner
violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety
plan? Select all that apply.
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify
violence.
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the
main exit.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and
children
While sitting in the dayroom of the mental health unit, a B
male adolescent avoids eye contact, looks at the floor, and
talks softly when interacting verbally with the nurse. The
two trade places, and the nurse demonstrate the client's
behavior. What is the main goal of this therapeutic
techniques?
A. Discuss the client's feeling when he responds.
B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
C. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client.
D. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions.)
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day, C
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.
The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipolar B
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).
, A female client requests that her husband be allowed to A
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 discrepancy.
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.
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression B
on his face and raises his voice, saying "My roommate is
the most selfish, self-centered, 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.
B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting.
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 RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve
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.
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 anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user.
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental D
health unit after abruptly stopping his prescription for
ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago. 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?
During an annual physical by the occupational RN working D
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
confrontation."
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impulsively."
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."
