ATI RN
ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. For which of the following findings should the nurse anticipate administration of lorazepam?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Hypertension. Lorazepam is commonly used to manage symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, including hypertension. Alcohol withdrawal often leads to increased sympathetic activity, resulting in elevated blood pressure. Lorazepam helps to decrease anxiety, agitation, and autonomic hyperactivity associated with alcohol withdrawal, thus helping to lower blood pressure. Bradycardia (
A), stupor (
B), and being afebrile (
C) are not typically indications for lorazepam administration in alcohol withdrawal. Bradycardia and stupor may indicate severe alcohol intoxication, while afebrile status is not directly related to the need for lorazepam in alcohol withdrawal.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is assessing a newly admitted client who has schizophrenia and takes thioridazine. Which of the following findings should the nurse document as an adverse effect of this medication?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Contractions of the jaw. Thioridazine is an antipsychotic medication that can cause extrapyramidal side effects, such as jaw contractions known as trismus or dystonia. This is a common adverse effect that the nurse should document. Anhedonia (
A) is a symptom of schizophrenia, not an adverse effect of thioridazine. Waxy flexibility (
B) is a symptom of catatonia, not a side effect of thioridazine. Incongruent affect (
D) is a symptom related to the client's emotional expression, not a side effect of the medication.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is assessing a client who has histrionic personality disorder. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Attention seeking. In histrionic personality disorder, individuals seek attention and approval excessively. This behavior is a key characteristic of the disorder. The other choices are incorrect because:
A) Lack of remorse is more associated with antisocial personality disorder;
C) Splitting of staff is a characteristic of borderline personality disorder;
D) Identity disturbance is commonly seen in borderline personality disorder as well.
Therefore, the most relevant finding for histrionic personality disorder is attention seeking.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is reviewing laboratory findings for a client who is taking valproic acid. Which of the following results should the nurse report to the provider?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: ALT 65 units/L. Elevated ALT levels indicate possible liver damage, a known side effect of valproic acid. The nurse should report this to the provider for further evaluation and management. Platelets at 250,000/mm³ (
A), AST at 45 units/L (
B), and WBC at 9,000/mm³ (
C) are within normal ranges and not directly associated with valproic acid toxicity.
Therefore, they do not require immediate reporting.
Question 5 of 5
A school nurse is caring for an adolescent client whose teacher reports changes in school performance and withdrawal from interaction with classmates. Which of the following interventions is the nurse’s priority at this time?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Ask the adolescent if he is considering hurting himself. This is the priority intervention because it addresses the immediate safety and well-being of the adolescent. By directly asking about self-harm or suicide ideation, the nurse can assess the level of risk and intervene appropriately if necessary. Contacting the parents (
A) can be important but not the priority in ensuring the adolescent’s immediate safety. Joining support groups (
B) may be beneficial in the long term but does not address the current risk. Determining when the behavior change began (
D) is relevant but not as urgent as assessing for suicidal ideation.