PN Mental Health
See correct answers immediately with detailed explanations after each question.
Answer all questions, then review your results with feedback at the end.
Timed simulation that mimics real exam conditions. No feedback until completion.
Below are sample questions from this exam to help you understand the content and format.
Q1: A nurse is caring for a client in the emergency department.
Answer Choices:
💡 Stay with the client: Clients with bipolar disorder, especially if in a manic or agitated state, may be at risk for impulsive or unsafe behavior. Close supervision is critical for safety.
💡 Place the client near the nurses' station: This allows for frequent monitoring, early intervention for escalating behavior, and promotes a safer environment.
💡 Offer finger foods: If the client is experiencing mania, they may be unable to sit still long enough for full meals. Nutrient-dense finger foods help maintain nutrition during periods of hyperactivity.
💡 Caffeinated beverages should be avoided as they can worsen agitation, anxiety, and insomnia in clients with bipolar disorder.
💡 Weighing weekly is routine but not a priority 💡 intervention in the emergency setting unless there are specific weight-related concerns (e.g., lithium toxicity, fluid imbalance).
Q2: A nurse working in a mental health facility is admitting a client.
❤️ Cardiac status — The client has hypokalemia (K+ 2.9 mEq/L), tachycardia (122/min), and a weak, thready pulse, all of which indicate potentially life-threatening cardiac instability.
Electrolyte imbalances—especially low potassium—can lead to arrhythmias and must be treated immediately.
❤️ Emotional state — Once the client is medically stabilized, it is appropriate to address the emotional and psychological triggers contributing to the eating disorder, especially since the client reports overwhelming stress and expresses a loss of control in their life.
Q3: A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with a client who has several new prescriptions for psychotropic medications. The client tells the nurse that she has always had trouble following a medication regimen. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
Answer Choices:
🤝 This response demonstrates therapeutic communication and promotes collaboration, respecting the client’s autonomy while addressing the barrier. It focuses on creating a realistic, individualized plan that supports medication adherence, which is especially important with psychotropic medications.
🤝 Telling the client to “work hard” is judgmental and not supportive.
🤝Dismissing past struggles with "you'll do fine" invalidates the client’s experience.
🤝Asking "why" can feel confrontational and may put the client on the defensive.
Q4: A nurse is assisting with a conflict-resolution group for adolescent clients in a community clinic facility. Which of the following clients should the nurse identify as being the highest risk for a suicide attempt?
Answer Choices:
🔴 A history of a previous suicide attempt is the strongest predictor of a future attempt.
This client is at the highest risk and requires close monitoring, follow-up, and support.
Past behavior is a key warning sign in suicide risk assessments.
🔴 Family involvement with guns may increase access to lethal means, but without other risk factors, it’s not as significant as a prior attempt.
🔴 Anxiety about school is common in adolescence and not an immediate high-risk indicator.
🔴 Recent grief, even with religious beliefs, is a concern, but again, not as high-risk as someone with a known suicide history.
Q5: A nurse is preparing to administer phenytoin 75 mg PO. Available is phenytoin suspension 25 mg/S mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer Choices:
🧪 To solve this dosage calculation, use the formula:
🧪 First, calculate how many mg are in 1 mL:
🧪 Step 2: Calculate mL to give
75 mg÷5 mg/mL=15 mL
🧪 Answer: 15 mL
