ATI RN
ATI Proctored Mental Health Questions
Question 1 of 5
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia had an exacerbation related to medication non-adherence and was hospitalized for 5 days. The patient's thoughts are now more organized and discharge is planne The patient's family says, "It's too soon for discharge. We will just go through all this again." The nurse should
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: explain that the patient will continue to improve if the medication is taken regularly. This is the best course of action because educating the family about the importance of medication adherence can help them understand the patient's need for ongoing treatment. This approach promotes shared decision-making and empowers the family to support the patient's recovery. Choice A is incorrect because transferring the patient to a long-term care facility is premature and may not be necessary if the patient's condition improves with medication adherence. Choice B is incorrect as involving hospital security and forcibly removing the family is not an appropriate or therapeutic response to their concerns. Choice D is also incorrect as contacting the health care provider to meet with the family may not address the underlying issue of medication adherence and may not effectively educate the family about the importance of continued treatment.
Question 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 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).