ATI Mental Health/ATI Leadership Exams

RunBabyRN · Jan 31, 2014

Go through the practice tests, and review the sections it tells you to review. Really, that's the best thing you can do.

Have you figured out how to take ATI tests yet? The things they're looking for? There's a technique to it.

tsm007 · Jan 31, 2014

I just took ATI Mental Health last week and did really well so I'd be glad to share my tips for ATI. I'm going to try to make my suggestions broad and offer some testing strategies.

With mental health, think safety. When you are looking at your answers decide which answer will be the safest for the patient and go with it.

Example - suicidal behavior which action will keep the patient the safest? This can be true with aggressive patients etc. Which answer keeps people safe.

Another strategy I use for ATI (and not just the mental health one), if I am stumped and there are two answers and they both are similar for example you have 4 answers and two of them were say - lack of appetite and upset stomach and the third answer was headache I would pick headache (this is not even knowing what the question is at all) because those two answers are so similar. Now, that strategy doesn't always work, but if you are totally stumped and making a random guess it is a better guess than just grabbing at straws. Plus a lot of times if you have 3 good answers and 2 of them are similar then I'd pick the 3rd one that isn't similar.

Another strategy, if you see an answer on your test and you've never heard of it before even if it looks really good don't pick it. I find myself sometimes reading a question thinking heck I don't know that looks right, but I just don't remember reading it. I have stopped picking that answer. I think of it is as a trap.

ATI has a lot of priority questions so know you're priority assessments and interventions. If they asked which was most important I use ABC MASLOW strategy or with psych SAFETY, but again know your diseases and priority assessment. Do not try and memorize everything, you won’t remember it all, but remember the priority assessments and interventions.

If there are two answers and both look ok pick the one you are 100% sure is right. I know there was some that I Knew one was right and I thought another one was right too. Go only with the one you are 100% sure is right even if the other answer looks better.

Okay those are my best tips for ATI. Hope that helps.

msg88 · Jan 31, 2014

I haven't really just got into the groove of ATI! I'm so much more focused on my school exams it's probably went over my head. So I'm not sure about the technique, would you care to explain ? But yes I've been doing those practice tests, and I'll try to review the sections I miss. Thanks!

msg88 · Jan 31, 2014

I just took ATI Mental Health last week and did really well so I'd be glad to share my tips for ATI. I'm going to try to make my suggestions broad and offer some testing strategies.
With mental health, think safety. When you are looking at your answers decide which answer will be the safest for the patient and go with it.
Example - suicidal behavior which action will keep the patient the safest? This can be true with aggressive patients etc. Which answer keeps people safe.
Another strategy I use for ATI (and not just the mental health one), if I am stumped and there are two answers and they both are similar for example you have 4 answers and two of them were say - lack of appetite and upset stomach and the third answer was headache I would pick headache (this is not even knowing what the question is at all) because those two answers are so similar. Now, that strategy doesn't always work, but if you are totally stumped and making a random guess it is a better guess than just grabbing at straws. Plus a lot of times if you have 3 good answers and 2 of them are similar then I'd pick the 3rd one that isn't similar.
Another strategy, if you see an answer on your test and you've never heard of it before even if it looks really good don't pick it. I find myself sometimes reading a question thinking heck I don't know that looks right, but I just don't remember reading it. I have stopped picking that answer. I think of it is as a trap.
ATI has a lot of priority questions so know you're priority assessments and interventions. If they asked which was most important I use ABC MASLOW strategy or with psych SAFETY, but again know your diseases and priority assessment. Do not try and memorize everything, you won’t remember it all, but remember the priority assessments and interventions.
If there are two answers and both look ok pick the one you are 100% sure is right. I know there was some that I Knew one was right and I thought another one was right too. Go only with the one you are 100% sure is right even if the other answer looks better.
Okay those are my best tips for ATI. Hope that helps.

Thank you for the tips you have provided, I really appreciate it! While I've been doing my practice ATI exams on their site, I've noticed it's more safety questions when it comes to the mental health.

Pink Magnolia, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2014

Thank you for the tips you have provided, I really appreciate it! While I've been doing my practice ATI exams on their site, I've noticed it's more safety questions when it comes to the mental health.

"Like" her lol:) She was very helpful!!!

futurenurse.jc · Mar 10, 2017

Did you read the book?