1|Page
Mental Health/Psych HESI Review
2026| Latest Questions And Answers
With Rationales
At the first meeting of a group at a daycare center for older adults, the nurse asks
one of the members what kinds of things the client would like to do with the
group. The older adult shrugs and says, "You tell me. You're the leader." What
would be the best response for the nurse to make?
A."Yes, I am the leader today. Would you like to be the leader tomorrow?"
B."Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to accomplish?"
C."Yes, I have been assigned to lead this group. I will be here for the next 6
weeks."
D. "Yes, I am the leader. You seem angry about not being the leader yourself." -
correct-answer -ANS: B
Anxiety over participation in a group and testing of the leader characteristically
occur in the initial phase of group dynamics. (B) provides information and
refocuses the group to defining its function. (A) is manipulative bargaining. (C)
does not focus the group on its purpose or task. (D) is interpreting the client's
feelings and is almost challenging.
,2|Page
A client who is being treated with lithium carbonate for manic depression begins
to develop diarrhea, vomiting, and drowsiness. Which action should the nurse
take?
A. Notify the health care provider immediately and force fluids.
B. Prior to giving the next dose, notify the health care provider of these
symptoms.
C. Record the symptoms and continue with medication as prescribed.
D. Hold the medication and refuse to administer additional doses. - correct-
answer -ANS: B
Although these are expected symptoms, the health care provider should be
notified prior to the next administration of the drug (B). Early side effects of
lithium carbonate (occurring with serum lithium levels below 2 mEq/L) generally
follow a progressive pattern, beginning with diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, and
muscular weakness (C). At higher levels, ataxia, tinnitus, blurred vision, and large
dilute urine output may occur. (A) will lower the lithium level. (D) is not
warranted.
A woman brings her 48-year-old husband to the outpatient psychiatric unit and
tells the nurse that he has been sleepwalking, cannot remember who he is, and
exhibits multiple personalities. These behaviors are often associated with which
condition?
A. Dissociative disorder
B. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
,3|Page
C. Panic disorder
D. Posttraumatic stress syndrome - correct-answer -ANS: A
Sleepwalking, amnesia, and multiple personalities are examples of detaching
emotional conflict from one's consciousness (A). (B) is characterized by persistent,
recurrent intrusive thoughts or urges (obsessions) that are unwilled and cannot be
ignored and provoke impulsive acts (compulsions), such as constant and repeated
hand washing. (C) is an acute attack of anxiety characterized by personality
disorganization. (D) is reexperiencing a psychologically terrifying or distressing
event that is outside the usual range of human experience such as war or rape.
During a home visit, a client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices that tell the
client to walk in the middle of the street. The nurse records several statements
made by the client. Based on which statement should the nurse determine that
the client needs hospitalization?
A."Sometimes I take an extra one of my pills when I hear the voices."
B."The voices are louder when I forget to take my medication. "
C."No matter what I do, I cannot make the voices go away. "
D."I just try to tell the voices to stop when they bother me. " - correct-answer -
ANS: C
Hospitalization is needed if the client continues to hear voices telling the client to
do things that can cause self-harm (C). (A or B) do not require hospitalization
unless symptoms become severe. The client should continue symptom
management strategies (D) to prevent hospitalization.
, 4|Page
An adult client who lives in a residential facility is mentally retarded and has a
history of bipolar disorder. During the past week, the client has refused to wear
clothes and frequently exposes their body to other residents. Which intervention
should the nurse implement?
A. Establish a one-to-one relationship to discuss the behavior.
B. Redirect the client to physically demanding activities.
C. Encourage the client to verbalize thoughts when acting out.
D. Restrict social interactions with other residents in the facility. - correct-answer -
ANS: B
The client is exhibiting manic behavior related to bipolar disorder, and the nurse
should redirect the client to activities that are physically demanding (B) so that
energy can be expended in a socially acceptable manner. Psychotic clients are not
capable of (A). When exhibiting acting-out behavior, the client is distracted and (C)
is difficult. (D) is likely to increase manic behaviors, such as mood swings and
acting-out behaviors.
A client on the psychiatric unit seeks out a particular nurse and imitates her
mannerisms. Which defense mechanism does the nurse recognize in this client?
A.Sublimation
B.Identification
Mental Health/Psych HESI Review
2026| Latest Questions And Answers
With Rationales
At the first meeting of a group at a daycare center for older adults, the nurse asks
one of the members what kinds of things the client would like to do with the
group. The older adult shrugs and says, "You tell me. You're the leader." What
would be the best response for the nurse to make?
A."Yes, I am the leader today. Would you like to be the leader tomorrow?"
B."Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to accomplish?"
C."Yes, I have been assigned to lead this group. I will be here for the next 6
weeks."
D. "Yes, I am the leader. You seem angry about not being the leader yourself." -
correct-answer -ANS: B
Anxiety over participation in a group and testing of the leader characteristically
occur in the initial phase of group dynamics. (B) provides information and
refocuses the group to defining its function. (A) is manipulative bargaining. (C)
does not focus the group on its purpose or task. (D) is interpreting the client's
feelings and is almost challenging.
,2|Page
A client who is being treated with lithium carbonate for manic depression begins
to develop diarrhea, vomiting, and drowsiness. Which action should the nurse
take?
A. Notify the health care provider immediately and force fluids.
B. Prior to giving the next dose, notify the health care provider of these
symptoms.
C. Record the symptoms and continue with medication as prescribed.
D. Hold the medication and refuse to administer additional doses. - correct-
answer -ANS: B
Although these are expected symptoms, the health care provider should be
notified prior to the next administration of the drug (B). Early side effects of
lithium carbonate (occurring with serum lithium levels below 2 mEq/L) generally
follow a progressive pattern, beginning with diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, and
muscular weakness (C). At higher levels, ataxia, tinnitus, blurred vision, and large
dilute urine output may occur. (A) will lower the lithium level. (D) is not
warranted.
A woman brings her 48-year-old husband to the outpatient psychiatric unit and
tells the nurse that he has been sleepwalking, cannot remember who he is, and
exhibits multiple personalities. These behaviors are often associated with which
condition?
A. Dissociative disorder
B. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
,3|Page
C. Panic disorder
D. Posttraumatic stress syndrome - correct-answer -ANS: A
Sleepwalking, amnesia, and multiple personalities are examples of detaching
emotional conflict from one's consciousness (A). (B) is characterized by persistent,
recurrent intrusive thoughts or urges (obsessions) that are unwilled and cannot be
ignored and provoke impulsive acts (compulsions), such as constant and repeated
hand washing. (C) is an acute attack of anxiety characterized by personality
disorganization. (D) is reexperiencing a psychologically terrifying or distressing
event that is outside the usual range of human experience such as war or rape.
During a home visit, a client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices that tell the
client to walk in the middle of the street. The nurse records several statements
made by the client. Based on which statement should the nurse determine that
the client needs hospitalization?
A."Sometimes I take an extra one of my pills when I hear the voices."
B."The voices are louder when I forget to take my medication. "
C."No matter what I do, I cannot make the voices go away. "
D."I just try to tell the voices to stop when they bother me. " - correct-answer -
ANS: C
Hospitalization is needed if the client continues to hear voices telling the client to
do things that can cause self-harm (C). (A or B) do not require hospitalization
unless symptoms become severe. The client should continue symptom
management strategies (D) to prevent hospitalization.
, 4|Page
An adult client who lives in a residential facility is mentally retarded and has a
history of bipolar disorder. During the past week, the client has refused to wear
clothes and frequently exposes their body to other residents. Which intervention
should the nurse implement?
A. Establish a one-to-one relationship to discuss the behavior.
B. Redirect the client to physically demanding activities.
C. Encourage the client to verbalize thoughts when acting out.
D. Restrict social interactions with other residents in the facility. - correct-answer -
ANS: B
The client is exhibiting manic behavior related to bipolar disorder, and the nurse
should redirect the client to activities that are physically demanding (B) so that
energy can be expended in a socially acceptable manner. Psychotic clients are not
capable of (A). When exhibiting acting-out behavior, the client is distracted and (C)
is difficult. (D) is likely to increase manic behaviors, such as mood swings and
acting-out behaviors.
A client on the psychiatric unit seeks out a particular nurse and imitates her
mannerisms. Which defense mechanism does the nurse recognize in this client?
A.Sublimation
B.Identification
