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Mental Health Practice HESI Questions and Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
A client taking haloperidol develops muscle stiffness, fever, and confusion. What is the nurse’s priority action?
- Encourage fluids.
- Provide rest in a dark room.
- Administer acetaminophen only.
✔✔B. Notify the provider of suspected neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
A client with major depressive disorder states, “Nothing will ever get better for me.” What is the nurse’s best response?
- “Don’t say that, things will improve soon.”
- “You should try to think more positively.”
- “Why would you feel that way?”
✔✔B. “You seem to feel hopeless right now.”
A nurse notices a client pacing, clenching fists, and glaring. What is the nurse’s priority intervention? 1 / 4
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- Ask the client to stop the behavior.
- Begin lengthy conversation.
- Offer group therapy.
✔✔B. Ensure the safety of the environment.
A client with schizophrenia hears voices telling them to harm themselves. What is the nurse’s first action?
- Distract the client with music.
- Tell the client the voices are not real.
- Reassure the client that others don’t hear voices.
✔✔B. Ask directly about intent to act on the voices.
A client with generalized anxiety disorder reports constant worry. Which intervention should the nurse teach?
- Increase caffeine to stay alert.
- Avoid all social interaction.
- Suppress worries completely. 2 / 4
✔✔B. Practice deep breathing exercises.
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A nurse observes a client with schizophrenia who suddenly stops speaking and stares blankly.How should this be documented?
- Tangential speech
- Loose associations
- Flight of ideas
✔✔B. Thought blocking
A client with depression is placed on sertraline. Which statement shows the need for further teaching?
- “I should take my medication every day.”
- “It may take weeks to improve my mood.”
- “I might feel nauseous at first.”
✔✔B. “I can stop taking it once I feel better.”
A client prescribed lithium develops diarrhea, tremors, and confusion. What is the priority action?
- Offer electrolyte replacement.
✔✔B. Withhold the dose and notify the provider. 3 / 4
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- Encourage additional fluids.
- Continue the medication as prescribed.
A client with PTSD reports nightmares and flashbacks. What is the nurse’s best response?
- “You should avoid talking about your trauma.”
- “Nightmares are not part of PTSD.”
- “You must ignore the flashbacks.”
✔✔B. “Tell me about the nightmares you have been experiencing.”
A nurse cares for a client with schizophrenia who states, “The FBI has implanted a chip in my brain.” How should the nurse respond?
- “That is impossible.”
- “You are wrong about that.”
- “You should ignore those thoughts.”
✔✔B. “It must be very frightening to think that.”
A client suddenly begins crying during a group therapy session. What is the nurse’s best action?
- Ask the client to leave.
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