HESI Psychiatric Mental Health Practice Test 2026-2027 and Free Sample Questions

A nurse is assessing a patient with depression. The patient states, I have been giving away my belongings, and soon none of this will matter anymore. Which action should the nurse take first?

A nurse is assessing a patient during a manic episode of bipolar disorder. Which group of findings is most consistent with mania?

A nurse is caring for a hospitalized patient with anorexia nervosa who is severely underweight. Which intervention is a priority during the early phase of treatment?

A nurse is caring for a patient who has been taking a first generation antipsychotic. The patient develops muscle rigidity, a high fever of 105 degrees Fahrenheit, altered mental status, and an unstable blood pressure. Which complication should the nurse suspect?

A nurse is teaching a patient who is starting phenelzine, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Which dietary instruction is essential to prevent a hypertensive crisis?

A nurse is caring for a patient admitted with alcohol use disorder who stopped drinking 48 hours ago. The patient is now tremulous, diaphoretic, hypertensive, and reports seeing insects on the wall. Which medication class is most commonly used to manage these withdrawal symptoms?

A nurse is assessing a patient with schizophrenia. The patient reports hearing voices telling them they are worthless. This experience is an example of which symptom?

A nurse is caring for a patient experiencing a severe panic attack. The patient is hyperventilating, trembling, and unable to focus on what the nurse is saying. Which nursing action is most appropriate?

A nurse is caring for a patient who takes lithium for bipolar disorder. The patient reports coarse hand tremors, vomiting, diarrhea, and confusion. The lithium level is 2.1 mEq per L. Which action should the nurse take?

A nurse is caring for a patient on an inpatient psychiatric unit who becomes increasingly agitated, pacing and shouting at other patients. Which initial nursing action is most appropriate?

A nurse is interviewing a patient who was recently treated for a substance use disorder. The patient states, I do not have a problem with drinking, I can stop whenever I want. Which defense mechanism is the patient most likely using?

A nurse is caring for a veteran with post traumatic stress disorder. Which patient statement reflects a common symptom of this disorder?

A nurse is teaching a patient who is starting a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor for depression. Which statement should the nurse include in the teaching?

A nurse is caring for a patient taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor who was recently started on another serotonergic medication. The patient now has agitation, sweating, tremor, muscle twitching, and a temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Which complication should the nurse suspect?

A nurse is caring for a patient with obsessive compulsive disorder who performs a lengthy hand washing ritual many times each day. During early treatment, which nursing approach is most appropriate?

A nurse is caring for an older hospitalized patient who was alert yesterday but is now disoriented, has fluctuating attention, and is experiencing visual hallucinations that began suddenly. Which condition is the patient most likely experiencing?

A nurse is caring for a patient who was voluntarily admitted to a psychiatric unit. The patient now states a wish to leave the hospital against medical advice. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?

A nurse is caring for a patient with borderline personality disorder who praises one nurse as wonderful while calling another nurse uncaring. Which nursing approach is most effective in addressing this behavior?

A nurse is providing crisis intervention for a patient who is overwhelmed after a sudden job loss. Which goal is the primary focus of crisis intervention?