ATI RN
ATI Proctored Mental Health Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse caring for a withdrawn, suspicious patient recognizes development of feelings of anger toward the patient. The nurse should
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because discussing the anger with a clinician during a supervisory session allows the nurse to process and understand their emotions in a professional setting. This approach promotes self-awareness, reflection, and potential strategies for managing emotions constructively. Choice A (suppressing anger) can lead to unresolved feelings impacting patient care. Choice B (expressing anger openly) can harm the therapeutic relationship. Choice C (asking to reassign the patient) avoids addressing the underlying issue and may not be feasible in all situations.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is reviewing information about the various types of outpatient mental health care programs. The nurse demonstrates understanding of these types when identifying which of the following as involved in providing the most intensive outpatient nursing care?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Partial hospitalization programs. Partial hospitalization programs provide the most intensive outpatient nursing care among the options listed. This is because these programs offer structured, comprehensive services during the day while allowing patients to return home at night, providing a higher level of care compared to traditional outpatient programs. The other choices - crisis intervention programs, outpatient detoxification programs, and rehabilitation programs - do not typically offer the same level of intensity and comprehensive care as partial hospitalization programs.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is performing an admission assessment. The patient complains that it has been taking larger and larger amounts of medication to get the desired effect. Based on this information, the nurse interprets this as suggesting which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Tolerance. Tolerance refers to the body's reduced response to a drug over time, necessitating higher doses to achieve the same effect. In this scenario, the patient needing larger amounts of medication to achieve the desired effect indicates tolerance development. Desensitization (A) refers to reduced response due to receptor downregulation. Therapeutic index (C) is the ratio of a drug's effective dose to its toxic dose. Toxicity (D) is the harmful effects of a drug at excessive doses.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is using a genogram as an intervention strategy based on the understanding of which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because a genogram is a visual representation of a family's medical history and relationships over several generations. This tool helps the nurse and the family understand patterns of behavior, health issues, and dynamics across generations. Other choices are incorrect because genograms do not primarily focus on problem-solving methods (A), provide subjective yet factual perspectives (C), or identify family beliefs about mental illness (D).
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is assessing a group of patients on an inpatient psychiatric unit. The patient's history for which of the following would the nurse identify as the strongest indicator of risk for violence?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, violent behavior. This is the strongest indicator of risk for violence because past behavior is a significant predictor of future behavior. Patients with a history of violent behavior are more likely to exhibit violent tendencies in the future. Assessing for this history allows the nurse to implement appropriate interventions to prevent harm to self or others. Incorrect Choices: A: Panic disorder - Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent panic attacks and is not directly associated with an increased risk of violence. B: Problematic anxiety - While anxiety can contribute to agitation and irritability, it is not as strong of an indicator for violence compared to a history of violent behavior. C: Somatoform disorder - Somatoform disorder involves physical symptoms with no identifiable medical cause and is not typically associated with an increased risk of violence.