ATI RN
ATI 2019 Mental Health Proctored Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which statement shows a nurse has empathy for a patient who made a suicide attempt?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because it directly acknowledges the patient's emotions and perspective without judgment. It shows understanding and validation of the patient's feelings, indicating empathy. Choice B focuses on the nurse's feelings, not the patient's. Choice C offers a solution without addressing the patient's emotional state. Choice D minimizes the seriousness of the patient's situation and lacks empathy. Overall, choice A demonstrates the most empathetic response by recognizing and empathizing with the patient's emotional distress.
Question 2 of 5
A psychiatric-mental health nurse is teaching a class about social factors associated with mental illness at a community health center. When describing the influence of poverty and effects of the downward economic spiral on mental health, which population would the nurse identify as being the most at risk?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Homeless individuals. Homeless individuals are the most at risk due to the severe impact of poverty and the downward economic spiral on their mental health. Homelessness often results from poverty, leading to chronic stress, lack of access to basic needs, social isolation, and increased vulnerability to mental health issues. Homeless individuals face multiple stressors that can exacerbate existing mental health conditions or lead to the development of new ones. Older adults (A) may face financial challenges but are not necessarily homeless. Individuals with physical disabilities (B) may encounter economic difficulties but are not automatically homeless. Single-parent families (C) may struggle financially, but homelessness is not exclusive to this group.
Question 3 of 5
Based on assessment data, the nurse formulates the nursing diagnosis for a patient as sleep pattern disturbance. After teaching the patient how to relax before bedtime, the nurse determines that the teaching was effective by which outcome?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because feeling rested upon awakening indicates improved sleep quality, reflecting effective teaching on relaxation techniques. Choice A does not directly measure the effectiveness of the teaching intervention. Choice C indicates reliance on medication rather than improved sleep hygiene. Choice D, sleeping for short intervals, does not necessarily signify improved sleep quality.
Question 4 of 5
While caring for a family, the nurse determines that first-order changes have occurred with which of the following?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because first-order changes refer to small, incremental adjustments within the system. In this scenario, the parent returning to work while the children are all in school signifies a gradual shift in the family dynamic. The other choices involve significant and more disruptive changes like a daughter leaving for college, a son getting married and moving out, and the death of a family member, which are considered second-order changes that lead to more substantial shifts in the family system.
Question 5 of 5
A patient has come to the clinic to discuss the stress she is experiencing because of failing two exams at school. Initially, she described her failures as 'the worst thing that has ever happened to me,' and she stated, 'There is absolutely nothing I can do to pass this course now.' In response to the nurse's questions, the nurse finds out there are three more equally weighted exams scheduled for the course in question. The nurse and patient collaborate and decide to use interventions to facilitate emotion-focused coping. Which additional comment from the patient would the nurse identify as providing support for this decision?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the patient's statement shows a shift in perspective from hopelessness to a willingness to collaborate and problem-solve. By acknowledging the possibility of working together to find a solution, the patient demonstrates openness to coping strategies. Choice A displays frustration without a willingness to participate actively. Choice B reinforces hopelessness and a defeatist attitude. Choice D reinforces negative self-perception without any indication of openness to change. In summary, choice C aligns with emotion-focused coping by showing a willingness to explore solutions collaboratively.