Mental Health/Psych HESI Review Questions (50 Q study with rationale)

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Mental Health/Psych HESI Review Questions (50 Q study with rationale)

• When planning care for the client undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which

equipment should the nurse make available? (Select all that apply.)

• Oxygen
• Suction equipment
• Continuous passive range-of-motion (CPM) machine
• Crash cart
• Chest tube drainage system

Correct Answer: A, B, D

• 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?

• Establish a one-to-one relationship to discuss the behavior.
• Redirect the client to physically demanding activities.
• Encourage the client to verbalize thoughts when acting out.
• Restrict social interactions with other residents in the facility.

Correct Answer: B

• 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?

• "Yes, I am the leader today. Would you like to be the leader tomorrow?"
• "Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to accomplish?"

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• "Yes, I have been assigned to lead this group. I will be here for the next 6 weeks."
• "Yes, I am the leader. You seem angry about not being the leader yourself."

Correct Answer: B

• Clients are preparing to leave the mental health unit for an outdoor smoke break. A client

on constant observation cannot leave and becomes agitated and demands to smoke a cigarette. Which action should the nurse take first?

• Remind the client to wear the nicotine (NicoDerm) patch.
• Determine if the client still needs constant observation.
• Encourage the client to attend the smoking cessation group.
• Explain that clients on constant observation cannot smoke.

Correct Answer: B

• 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?

• Notify the health care provider immediately and force fluids.
• Prior to giving the next dose, notify the health care provider of these symptoms.
• Record the symptoms and continue with medication as prescribed.
• Hold the medication and refuse to administer additional doses.

Correct Answer: B

• A 35-year-old client admitted to the psychiatric unit of an acute care hospital tells the

nurse that someone is trying to poison her. The client's delusions are most likely related to which factor?

• Authority issues in childhood
• Anger about being hospitalized
• Low self-esteem
• Phobia of food

Correct Answer: C

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• 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?

• Dissociative disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Panic disorder
• Posttraumatic stress syndrome

Correct Answer: A

• A client begins taking an atypical antipsychotic medication. The nurse must provide

informed consent and education about common medication side effects. Which client education will be most important?

• Maintain a balanced diet and adequate exercise.
• Be sure that the diet is adequate in salt intake.
• Monitor for any changes in sleep pattern.
• Report any unusual facial movements.

Correct Answer: A

• 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?

• "Sometimes I take an extra one of my pills when I hear the voices."
• "The voices are louder when I forget to take my medication."
• "No matter what I do, I cannot make the voices go away."
• "I just try to tell the voices to stop when they bother me."

Correct Answer: C

• 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?

• Sublimation

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• Identification
• Introjection
• Repression

Correct Answer: B

• 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?

• Obtain objective data such as radiographs before reporting suspicions.
• Confirm suspicions of abuse with the health care provider.
• Report any case of suspected child abuse.
• Document injuries to confirm suspected abuse.

Correct Answer: C

• 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?

• She is regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
• She is sublimating her anger.
• She is projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
• She is suppressing her fear.

Correct Answer: C

• 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?

• "How can I help you? Tell me more about your problems."
• "Things probably aren't as bad as they seem right now."
• "Let's talk about what is right with your life."
• "I hear your misery, but things will get better soon."