ATI RN
ATI Proctored Mental Health Questions
Question 1 of 9
A nurse is pulled from a medical/surgical floor to the psychiatric unit. Which of the following clients would the nurse manager assign to this nurse? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because a nurse with a background in medical/surgical care would likely have experience managing chronically depressed clients, who may require a more general medical approach. Choices B, C, and D involve more specialized psychiatric care, such as managing active psychosis, paranoid thinking, or personality disorders, which may require specific psychiatric training and interventions beyond the nurse's medical/surgical expertise. Therefore, assigning a nurse to care for a chronically depressed client aligns with their skill set and minimizes the risk of inadequate care or potential harm to clients with more acute psychiatric needs.
Question 2 of 9
While caring for an 88-year-old client suspected of having dementia, the nurse assesses the client for a common delusional thought. Which of the following would the nurse interpret as a common delusion?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: My roommate keeps stealing my clothes. This delusion is common in dementia patients, involving paranoia and mistrust. It is plausible and related to daily life, making it more likely in dementia. Choices A, B, and C are grandiose and persecutory delusions, which are less common in dementia and more characteristic of other mental health conditions.
Question 3 of 9
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 9
What term refers to the pain that has a slower onset, is diffuse, radiates, and is marked by somatic pain from organs in any body activity?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Visceral pain refers to pain originating from internal organs. It has a slower onset, is diffuse, and often radiates. Somatic pain refers to pain originating from the skin, muscles, or bones, not internal organs. Acute pain is sudden and short-lived, not slow onset. Chronic pain is persistent and long-lasting, not necessarily marked by somatic pain from internal organs. Superficial pain is pain originating from the surface of the body, not internal organs. Therefore, the correct answer is D (visceral pain) as it aligns with the characteristics described in the question.
Question 5 of 9
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 6 of 9
A nurse is pulled from a medical/surgical floor to the psychiatric unit. Which of the following clients would the nurse manager assign to this nurse? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because a nurse with a background in medical/surgical care would likely have experience managing chronically depressed clients, who may require a more general medical approach. Choices B, C, and D involve more specialized psychiatric care, such as managing active psychosis, paranoid thinking, or personality disorders, which may require specific psychiatric training and interventions beyond the nurse's medical/surgical expertise. Therefore, assigning a nurse to care for a chronically depressed client aligns with their skill set and minimizes the risk of inadequate care or potential harm to clients with more acute psychiatric needs.
Question 7 of 9
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 8 of 9
Josie, a 27-year-old patient, complains that most of the staff do not like her. She says she can tell that you are a caring person. Josie is unsure of what she wants to do with her life and her 'mixed-up feelings' about relationships. When you tell her that you will be on vacation next week, she becomes very angry. Two hours later, she is found using a curling iron to burn her underarms and explains that it 'makes the numbness stop.' Given this presentation, which personality disorder would you suspect?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Borderline Personality Disorder. Josie's intense fear of abandonment, unstable self-image, impulsivity, and self-harming behavior are classic symptoms of borderline personality disorder. Her sudden anger when you mention your vacation and her self-harming behavior to cope with emotional distress are indicative of this disorder. A: Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is characterized by a preoccupation with orderliness and control, not by self-harm or intense emotional instability like Josie's case. C: Antisocial personality disorder involves a disregard for others' rights and feelings, which does not align with Josie's fear of abandonment and self-harm behavior. D: Schizotypal personality disorder features odd beliefs and behaviors, social isolation, and paranoia, not the impulsive, self-destructive behavior seen in Josie.
Question 9 of 9
A nurse working at the clinic is teaching a group of clients who are pregnant on the use of nonpharmacological pain management. Which of the following statements by the nurse is an appropriate description of the use of hypnosis during labor?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationale for correct answer (B): Hypnosis promotes increased control of pain perception by helping the individual focus on positive suggestions and imagery, reducing the perception of pain during contractions. By using hypnosis, the pregnant individual can learn to manage and cope with labor pain more effectively. Summary of incorrect choices: A: Biofeedback is a separate technique from hypnosis, focusing on monitoring and controlling physiological responses. C: Therapeutic touch is a different nonpharmacological pain management technique that involves the use of touch to promote relaxation, not specifically related to hypnosis. D: While hypnosis can provide guidance and suggestions, its primary focus is on enhancing control over pain perception rather than solely minimizing pain.