FREE Mental Health Nursing Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which nursing intervention should be prioritized when a client with generalized anxiety disorder values their mood at 3/10, their anxiety at 8/10, and says, "I'm thinking about suicide."

Accepted Answer

Ask the patient, “Do you have a plan to commit suicide?”

Answer

Call the physician to obtain a PRN order for an anxiolytic medication.

Answer

Encourage the patient to participate in group activities

Answer

Teach the client relaxation techniques.

Question 2

Which educational requirement is crucial when buspirone (BuSpar) 5 mg tid is first prescribed to a patient?

Accepted Answer

Encourage the patient to take the medication continually as prescribed because onset of action is delayed 2 to 3 weeks.

Answer

Encourage the patient to monitor for signs and symptoms of anxiety to determine need for additional buspirone (BuSpar) PRN.

Answer

Encourage the patient to be compliant with monthly lab tests to monitor for medication toxicity.

Answer

Encourage the patient to avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication because of the additive central nervous system depressant effects.

Question 3

In the mental health clinic, a nurse is evaluating a client. The client has a lengthy history of being an introvert with few close friends. Schizophrenia has been identified as the father of this client. What stage of schizophrenia does the nurse think this client is experiencing?

Accepted Answer

Phase I—schizoid personality.

Answer

Phase IV—residual phase

Answer

Phase III—schizophrenia.

Answer

Phase II—prodromal phase.

Question 4

The nurse is evaluating a patient with schizophrenia who is disorganized. Which signs should the nurse anticipate the patient displaying?

Accepted Answer

Markedly regressive, primitive behavior, and extremely poor contact with reality. Affect is flat or grossly inappropriate. Personal appearance is neglected, and social impairment is extreme.

Answer

The patient is exhibiting delusions of persecution or grandeur. Auditory hallucinations related to a persecutory theme are present. The client is tense, suspicious, and guarded, and may be argumentative, hostile, and aggressive.

Answer

The patient has a history of active psychotic symptoms, but prominent psychotic symptoms are currently not exhibited.

Answer

Marked abnormalities in motor behavior manifested in extreme psychomotor retardation with pronounced decreases in spontaneous movements and activity. Waxy flexibility is exhibited.

Question 5

An admission assessment is being done by the nurse on a patient who has paranoid schizophrenia. Which should the nurse take into account in order to get the most accurate evaluation information?

Accepted Answer

Much data will need to be gained by reviewing old records and talking with family members and significant others.

Answer

Assessment of this client will be simple because of the commonly occurring nature of the disease process of schizophrenia.

Answer

The nurse will refer to the client’s global assessment of functioning score to determine client problems and nursing interventions.

Answer

This client will be able to make a significant contribution to history data collection.

Question 6

A patient who has been diagnosed with a thinking disorder and is taking clozapine (Clozaril) 25 mg QD is having his or her lab results reviewed by the nurse. RBC 4.7 million/mcL, WBC 2000/mcL, and TSH 1.3 mc-IU levels are recorded. Considering these values, which would the nurse anticipate the doctor to prescribe?

Accepted Answer

“Discontinue clozapine (Clozaril).”

Answer

“Ferrous sulfate (Feosol) 100 mg tid.”

Answer

“Discontinue clozapine (Clozaril) and start levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid) 150 mcg QD.”

Answer

“Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid) 150 mcg QD.”

Question 7

The patient has had schizophrenia for a very long time, and it has been treated with haloperidol (Haldol). The nurse observes persistent restlessness and fidgeting during an entrance exam brought on by a worsening of the condition. Which drug would the nurse anticipate the doctor to recommend for this patient?

Accepted Answer

Benztropine mesylate (Cogentin)

Answer

Fluphenazine decanoate (Prolixin Decanoate).

Answer

Clozapine (Clozaril).

Answer

Haloperidol (Haldol).