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ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam 2025/2026 | Actual Exam Complete 140 Questions With Detailed Answers | 100% Accuracy | NCLEX® Preparation | Graded A+ Introduction This comprehensive resource contains 140 actual exam questions and verified answers from the ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam 2025/2026. Covers all essential topics including therapeutic communication, psychiatric disorders, medications, and crisis intervention - specifically updated to reflect the 2025/2026 test blueprint.Answer Format All correct answers are clearly marked in bold and green with detailed rationales for each question.
ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam Questions (1–140)
- A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing acute alcohol
withdrawal. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
a) Bradycardia and hypothermia
b) Tremors and diaphoresis
c) Hypotension and bradypnea
d) Dry skin and constricted pupils
b) Tremors and diaphoresis
Rationale: Acute alcohol withdrawal is characterized by autonomic hyperactivity, including tremors, diaphoresis, tachycardia, and anxiety, typically occurring within 6–24 hours after the last drink.
- A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, “The voices tell me to hurt
myself.” What is the nurse’s priority response?
a) Ignore the voices and change the subject.
b) Ask the client what the voices are saying in detail.
c) Assess the client’s risk for self-harm.
d) Administer an antipsychotic medication immediately.
c) Assess the client’s risk for self-harm
Rationale: The priority is to ensure the client’s safety by assessing the risk of self-harm due to command hallucinations, which are a significant safety concern in schizophrenia. 1 / 4
- A nurse is providing teaching to a client prescribed fluoxetine for
depression. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
a) Take the medication in the morning to avoid insomnia.
b) Stop the medication if side effects occur.
c) Take the medication with grapefruit juice to enhance absorption.
d) Expect immediate improvement in symptoms.
a) Take the medication in the morning to avoid insomnia
Rationale: Fluoxetine, an SSRI, can cause insomnia and should be taken in the morning to minimize sleep disturbances. It may take weeks for therapeutic effects, and grapefruit juice should be avoided due to drug interactions.
- A client with bipolar disorder is experiencing mania. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse prioritize?
a) Encourage the client to engage in high-energy activities.
b) Provide a low-stimulus environment.
c) Allow the client to skip meals to focus on tasks.
d) Administer a stimulant to enhance focus.
b) Provide a low-stimulus environment
Rationale: A low-stimulus environment helps reduce agitation and overstimulation in clients experiencing mania, promoting safety and calming behavior.
- A nurse is using therapeutic communication with a client who is
- “You need to talk more to feel better.”
- “It sounds like you’re feeling very isolated right now.”
- “Why don’t you try joining a group activity?”
- “Everything will be fine if you just cheer up.”
withdrawn. Which response demonstrates active listening?
b) It sounds like you’re feeling very isolated right now
Rationale: Reflecting the client’s feelings demonstrates active listening and encourages further communication by validating their emotional state.
- A client with anorexia nervosa refuses to eat meals. What is the
nurse’s best initial response?
a) Insist the client eat all meals to gain weight.
b) Explore the client’s reasons for refusing to eat.
c) Leave the client alone to avoid confrontation.
d) Administer a sedative to reduce anxiety.
b) Explore the client’s reasons for refusing to eat
Rationale: Exploring the client’s reasons for refusing to eat uses therapeutic communication to understand underlying fears or beliefs, promoting trust and collaboration.
- A nurse is caring for a client receiving lithium for bipolar disorder.
Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor closely? 2 / 4
a) Blood glucose
b) Serum sodium
c) Serum potassium
d) Hemoglobin
b) Serum sodium
Rationale: Lithium can cause hyponatremia, and monitoring serum sodium levels is critical to prevent toxicity and ensure safe therapeutic levels.
- A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reports
nightmares. Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?
a) Encourage the client to avoid sleep to prevent nightmares.
b) Teach the client relaxation techniques before bedtime.
c) Administer a benzodiazepine at bedtime.
d) Instruct the client to journal nightmares immediately upon waking.
b) Teach the client relaxation techniques before bedtime
Rationale: Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, can reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality, helping to manage PTSD-related nightmares.
- A nurse is assessing a client with major depressive disorder. Which of
the following symptoms is most concerning?
a) Lack of interest in hobbies
b) Expressing thoughts of suicide
c) Increased appetite
d) Sleeping 10 hours per day
b) Expressing thoughts of suicide
Rationale: Suicidal ideation is a medical emergency requiring immediate assessment and intervention to ensure the client’s safety.
- A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends hours
washing their hands. What is the nurse’s best approach?
a) Allow unlimited time for handwashing to reduce anxiety.
b) Set time limits for handwashing and provide distractions.
c) Prevent the client from washing their hands entirely.
d) Administer an antipsychotic to stop the behavior.
b) Set time limits for handwashing and provide distractions
Rationale: Setting limits on compulsive behaviors while offering distractions helps reduce anxiety and gradually decreases the behavior without causing distress.
- A nurse is caring for a client prescribed haloperidol for
schizophrenia. Which side effect should the nurse monitor for?
a) Hyperglycemia
b) Extrapyramidal symptoms
c) Hypothyroidism 3 / 4
d) Increased appetite
b) Extrapyramidal symptoms
Rationale: Haloperidol, a typical antipsychotic, can cause extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) such as tremors, rigidity, and dystonia, which require close monitoring.
- A client with generalized anxiety disorder reports feeling
overwhelmed. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
a) Administer a benzodiazepine immediately.
b) Teach the client deep breathing exercises.
c) Encourage the client to avoid all stressors.
d) Refer the client to a psychiatrist.
b) Teach the client deep breathing exercises
Rationale: Deep breathing is a non-invasive, immediate intervention to help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation in clients with generalized anxiety disorder.
- A nurse is conducting a mental status exam. Which question assesses
- “What is the name of the current president?”
- “Can you count backward from 100 by 7s?”
- “What did you eat for breakfast today?”
- “Can you interpret this proverb?”
a client’s orientation?
a) What is the name of the current president?
Rationale: Asking about the current president assesses orientation to time and person, a key component of the mental status exam.
- A client with borderline personality disorder is splitting staff. What is
the nurse’s best response?
a) Ignore the behavior to avoid reinforcement.
b) Assign a consistent primary nurse to the client.
c) Allow the client to choose their preferred staff.
d) Confront the client about their behavior.
b) Assign a consistent primary nurse to the client
Rationale: Assigning a consistent primary nurse promotes stability and reduces splitting by fostering a therapeutic relationship.
- A nurse is teaching a client about benzodiazepines for anxiety. Which
- “I should avoid alcohol while taking this medication.”
- “I can stop taking the medication once I feel better.”
- “This medication may cause drowsiness.”
- “I should take it as prescribed by my doctor.”
statement indicates a need for further teaching?
b) I can stop taking the medication once I feel better
Rationale: Benzodiazepines should not be stopped abruptly due to the risk of withdrawal symptoms; this statement indicates a misunderstanding requiring further education.
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