ATI RN
Proctored ATI Mental Health Questions
Question 1 of 9
Which technique will best communicate to a patient that the nurse is interested in listening?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Restating a feeling or thought the patient has expressed. This technique, known as reflective listening, shows active listening and empathy towards the patient. By restating the patient's feelings or thoughts, the nurse demonstrates understanding and encourages further communication. This approach validates the patient's emotions and promotes a therapeutic relationship. Choice B (Asking a direct question) may come off as interrogative and can feel less empathetic. Choice C (Making a judgment) can be perceived as dismissive or critical, hindering open communication. Choice D (Saying "I understand what you're saying") may seem insincere unless followed by specific examples of understanding.
Question 2 of 9
Which technique will best communicate to a patient that the nurse is interested in listening?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Restating a feeling or thought the patient has expressed. This technique, known as reflective listening, shows active listening and empathy towards the patient. By restating the patient's feelings or thoughts, the nurse demonstrates understanding and encourages further communication. This approach validates the patient's emotions and promotes a therapeutic relationship. Choice B (Asking a direct question) may come off as interrogative and can feel less empathetic. Choice C (Making a judgment) can be perceived as dismissive or critical, hindering open communication. Choice D (Saying "I understand what you're saying") may seem insincere unless followed by specific examples of understanding.
Question 3 of 9
April, a 10-year-old admitted to inpatient pediatric care, has been getting more and more wound up and is losing self-control in the day room. Time-out does not appear to be an effective tool for April to engage in self-reflection. April's mother admits to putting her in time-out up to 20 times a day. The nurse recognizes that:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the scenario indicates that time-out is no longer effective for April. The fact that April's mother puts her in time-out up to 20 times a day suggests overuse, leading to desensitization. This renders time-out ineffective as a therapeutic tool. April's increasing agitation and lack of self-control despite time-outs indicate the need for a different approach. Choices A and C are incorrect because they assume time-out is still effective, which contradicts the scenario. Choice D is incorrect as seclusion and restraint should only be considered as a last resort due to ethical and safety concerns.
Question 4 of 9
Which factor isn't likely to attract a patient to complementary and alternative medicine?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because the statement that complementary and alternative medicine is always less expensive than conventional medical treatment is not true. Cost is often a significant factor in healthcare decisions, but it is not the only factor that attracts patients to complementary and alternative medicine. Patients may be drawn to these practices due to a desire for more personalized care (B), a perception of lower risk compared to pharmaceuticals (C), or dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of traditional medicine (D). However, cost alone is not a primary factor in choosing complementary and alternative medicine.
Question 5 of 9
The nurse assigned to ACT should explain the program's treatment goal as
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because it accurately describes the treatment goal of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs. ACT aims to provide intensive treatment and support for mentally ill individuals to help them live successfully in the community. This involves a comprehensive approach that includes medication management, therapy, and other services tailored to each individual's needs. Choice A is incorrect because ACT is not solely focused on maintaining abstinence from alcohol and other substances of abuse. Choice B is incorrect as it describes a different type of program for mentally ill patients in need of stabilization, not necessarily those in the community. Choice C is incorrect as it specifically mentions incarcerated inmates, which is not a focus of ACT programs designed for community living.
Question 6 of 9
The impulse control spectrum can begin in childhood and continue on into adulthood, often morphing into criminal behaviors. Working with patients diagnosed with these disorders, the best examples of expressed emotion by the nursing staff are:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Low to prevent emotional reactions. When working with patients with impulse control disorders, it is crucial for nursing staff to maintain low expressed emotion levels to prevent triggering emotional reactions in the patients. High emotional expression can exacerbate the patients' symptoms and lead to escalated behaviors. Matching the patient's emotions (B) can also be risky as it may inadvertently validate or reinforce maladaptive behaviors. Being flat (C) without any emotional output can be perceived as cold and uncaring, hindering the therapeutic relationship. High expression (D) may overwhelm the patient and hinder therapeutic progress. Therefore, maintaining low emotional reactions is the most effective approach to support patients with impulse control disorders.
Question 7 of 9
A group of nursing students are reviewing information related to drug therapy for mood disorders. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify which agent as the gold standard for treating bipolar disorder?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Lithium. Lithium is considered the gold standard for treating bipolar disorder due to its proven efficacy in reducing manic episodes and preventing relapse. It has been used for decades and has a well-established track record. Additionally, lithium has a unique mechanism of action in stabilizing mood by modulating neurotransmitters. Carbamazepine, valproate, and lamotrigine are also used in treating bipolar disorder, but they are not considered the gold standard like lithium. Carbamazepine and valproate are typically used as alternative options or in combination with other medications, while lamotrigine is often used for bipolar depression rather than mania.
Question 8 of 9
Walking down the aisle of a local grocery store, a nurse encounters a client the nurse has recently cared for on an inpatient psychiatric setting. Which is the appropriate reaction by the nurse?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because making eye contact and responding if the client engages maintains professionalism and acknowledges the client's presence without compromising confidentiality. It shows respect and empathy, which are important in nursing practice. A: Inquiring about the client's well-being can breach confidentiality and may not be appropriate in a public setting. B: Ignoring the client can be seen as rude and may harm the therapeutic relationship. C: Talking to the client without using names may still breach confidentiality and does not fully acknowledge the client's presence.
Question 9 of 9
A nurse is assessing a client brought to the hospital psychiatric emergency services by a law enforcement officer. The client has disorganized, incoherent speech with loose associations and religious content. You should recognize the signs and symptoms as being consistent with which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Schizophrenia. The client's symptoms of disorganized, incoherent speech with loose associations and religious content are classic features of schizophrenia, specifically the positive symptoms. Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by disturbances in thinking, emotions, and behavior. It typically presents in late adolescence or early adulthood. On the other hand, the other choices are incorrect because Alzheimer's disease primarily affects memory and cognitive function, substance intoxication would manifest with different symptoms depending on the substance, and depression typically presents with persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in daily activities.