ATI RN
Behavioral Health Nurse Certification Questions
Question 1 of 5
When a nurse assesses an older adult patient, answers seem vague or unrelated to the questions. The patient also leans forward and frowns, listening intently to the nurse. An appropriate question for the nurse to ask would be:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient’s behavior—leaning forward, frowning, and giving vague answers while listening intently—suggests possible hearing difficulty. Option A directly addresses this by asking about hearing, which could explain the issue and allow adjustments (e.g., speaking louder). Option B is too vague to pinpoint the problem, Option C assumes an emotional state without evidence, and Option D suggests distractions or hallucinations, which don’t fit the observed focus on the nurse.
Question 2 of 5
A patient reported to the nurse that on his way to the clinic, a policeman in a patrol car turned on his lights and pulled him over. When asked what he did next, the patient stated, 'I pulled over, of course.' Which of the following was the nurse trying to assess?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Judgment refers to the ability to interpret one's environment and situation correctly and to adapt one's behavior and decisions accordingly. Insight is the ability to understand the true nature of one's situation and accept some personal responsibility. Self-concept is the way one views oneself in terms of personal worth and dignity. The nurse assesses the client's ability to concentrate by asking the client to perform certain cognitive tasks. To assess a client's self-concept, the nurse can ask the client to describe himself or herself and what characteristics he or she likes and what he or she would change.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse reviews results of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) recorded in a patient record. While considering the usefulness of these data, the nurse is mindful that the MMPI has which limitation?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Both intelligence tests and personality tests are frequently criticized as being culturally biased. It is important to consider the client's culture and environment when evaluating the importance of scores or projections from any of these tests. Objective personality tests compare the client's answers with standard answers or criteria and obtain a score or scores. The MMPI provides scores on 10 clinical scales such as hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, and paranoia; four special scales such as anxiety and alcoholism; three validity scales to evaluate the truth and accuracy of responses.
Question 4 of 5
Which of the following clients would most likely be mandated outpatient treatment?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Mandatory outpatient treatment is sometimes also called conditional release or outpatient commitment. Court-ordered outpatient treatment is most common among persons with severe and persistent mental illness who have had frequent and multiple contacts with mental health, social welfare, and criminal justice agencies. This supports the notion that clients are given several opportunities to voluntarily comply with outpatient treatment recommendations and that court-ordered treatment is considered when those attempts have been repeatedly unsuccessful.
Question 5 of 5
Disclosure of client information beyond the interdisciplinary team without consent of the client is a breach of
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.