HESI PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
SCRIPT 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED ANSWERS
⩥ When planning care for the client undergoing electroconvulsive
therapy (ECT), which equipment should the nurse make available?
(Select all that apply.)
A.Oxygen
B.Suction equipment
C.Continuous passive range-of-motion (CPM) machine
D.Crash cart
E.Chest tube drainage system. Answer: ANS: A, B, D
Because aspiration is a potential complication, emergency equipment
such as oxygen, suction, and a crash cart should be available (A, B, and
D). The client is only unconscious for a short period; therefore, there is
no need for a CPM machine (C). ECT does not put the client at risk for a
pneumothorax; therefore, a chest tube drainage system is not needed (E).
⩥ A nurse working in the emergency department of a children's hospital
admits a child whose injuries could have been the result of abuse. Which
statement most accurately describes the nurse's responsibility in cases of
suspected child abuse?
,A.Obtain objective data such as radiographs before reporting suspicions.
B.Confirm suspicions of abuse with the health care provider.
C.Report any case of suspected child abuse.
D.Document injuries to confirm suspected abuse.. Answer: ANS: C
It is the nurse's legal responsibility to report all suspected cases of child
abuse (C), and notifying the nurse manager or charge nurse starts the
legal reporting process. (A, B, and D) delay the first step in reporting the
abuse.
⩥ A child is brought to the emergency department with a broken arm.
Because of other injuries, the nurse suspects that the child may be a
victim of abuse. When the nurse tries to give the child an injection, the
child's mother becomes very loud and shouts, "I won't leave my son!
Don't you touch him! You'll hurt my child!" What is the best
interpretation of the mother's statements?
A.She is regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
B.She is sublimating her anger.
C.She is projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
D.She is suppressing her fear.. Answer: ANS: C
, Projection is attributing one's own thoughts, impulses, or behaviors onto
another; it is the mother who is probably harming the child, and she is
attributing her actions to the nurse (C). The mother may be immature,
but (A) is not the best description of her behavior. (B) is substituting a
socially acceptable feeling for an unacceptable one. These are not
socially acceptable feelings. The mother may be suppressing her fear (D)
by displaying anger, but such an interpretation cannot be concluded from
the data presented.
⩥ A client who has been admitted to the psychiatric unit tells the nurse,
"My problems are so bad. No one can help me." Which response would
be best for the nurse to make?
A."How can I help you? Tell me more about your problems."
B."Things probably aren't as bad as they seem right now."
C."Let's talk about what is right with your life."
D."I hear your misery, but things will get better soon.". Answer: ANS: A
Offering self shows empathy and caring (A) and gives the client the
opportunity to talk while the nurse listens. (B) dismisses the client's
perception that things are really bad and potentially stops further
communication with the client. (C) avoids the client's problems and
promotes denial. "I hear your misery" (D) is an example of reflective
dialogue and would be the best choice if it were not for the rest of the
sentence, "but things will get better soon," which offers false
reassurance.
SCRIPT 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED ANSWERS
⩥ When planning care for the client undergoing electroconvulsive
therapy (ECT), which equipment should the nurse make available?
(Select all that apply.)
A.Oxygen
B.Suction equipment
C.Continuous passive range-of-motion (CPM) machine
D.Crash cart
E.Chest tube drainage system. Answer: ANS: A, B, D
Because aspiration is a potential complication, emergency equipment
such as oxygen, suction, and a crash cart should be available (A, B, and
D). The client is only unconscious for a short period; therefore, there is
no need for a CPM machine (C). ECT does not put the client at risk for a
pneumothorax; therefore, a chest tube drainage system is not needed (E).
⩥ A nurse working in the emergency department of a children's hospital
admits a child whose injuries could have been the result of abuse. Which
statement most accurately describes the nurse's responsibility in cases of
suspected child abuse?
,A.Obtain objective data such as radiographs before reporting suspicions.
B.Confirm suspicions of abuse with the health care provider.
C.Report any case of suspected child abuse.
D.Document injuries to confirm suspected abuse.. Answer: ANS: C
It is the nurse's legal responsibility to report all suspected cases of child
abuse (C), and notifying the nurse manager or charge nurse starts the
legal reporting process. (A, B, and D) delay the first step in reporting the
abuse.
⩥ A child is brought to the emergency department with a broken arm.
Because of other injuries, the nurse suspects that the child may be a
victim of abuse. When the nurse tries to give the child an injection, the
child's mother becomes very loud and shouts, "I won't leave my son!
Don't you touch him! You'll hurt my child!" What is the best
interpretation of the mother's statements?
A.She is regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
B.She is sublimating her anger.
C.She is projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
D.She is suppressing her fear.. Answer: ANS: C
, Projection is attributing one's own thoughts, impulses, or behaviors onto
another; it is the mother who is probably harming the child, and she is
attributing her actions to the nurse (C). The mother may be immature,
but (A) is not the best description of her behavior. (B) is substituting a
socially acceptable feeling for an unacceptable one. These are not
socially acceptable feelings. The mother may be suppressing her fear (D)
by displaying anger, but such an interpretation cannot be concluded from
the data presented.
⩥ A client who has been admitted to the psychiatric unit tells the nurse,
"My problems are so bad. No one can help me." Which response would
be best for the nurse to make?
A."How can I help you? Tell me more about your problems."
B."Things probably aren't as bad as they seem right now."
C."Let's talk about what is right with your life."
D."I hear your misery, but things will get better soon.". Answer: ANS: A
Offering self shows empathy and caring (A) and gives the client the
opportunity to talk while the nurse listens. (B) dismisses the client's
perception that things are really bad and potentially stops further
communication with the client. (C) avoids the client's problems and
promotes denial. "I hear your misery" (D) is an example of reflective
dialogue and would be the best choice if it were not for the rest of the
sentence, "but things will get better soon," which offers false
reassurance.
