ATI RN
ATI Proctored Mental Health Questions
Question 1 of 5
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 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A nurse caring for a withdrawn, suspicious patient recognizes development of feelings of anger toward the patient.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 3 of 5
Which assessment finding presents the greatest risk for violent behavior directed at others?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B, history of spousal abuse, as it directly indicates a pattern of violent behavior towards others. This history suggests a higher likelihood of future violent actions. A: Severe agoraphobia does not inherently correlate with violence. C: Bizarre somatic delusions may lead to erratic behavior but not necessarily violence towards others. D: Verbalized hopelessness and powerlessness indicate a risk of self-harm rather than harm towards others.
Question 4 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 5 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.