NCLEX Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing 2

Question 1

A client taking phenelzine (an MAOI) asks which food is safe to eat. Which response is correct?

Accepted Answer

Fresh grilled chicken

Answer

Tyramine-rich foods like aged cheese, cured meats, and fermented products can trigger hypertensive crisis with MAOIs, while fresh chicken is safe.

Question 2

A client on lithium reports nausea, coarse tremor, and slurred speech. What is the nurse's priority action?

Accepted Answer

Hold the dose and obtain a lithium level

Answer

Coarse tremor, slurred speech, and GI symptoms indicate lithium toxicity, so the nurse should hold the medication and check the serum level.

Question 3

Which therapeutic serum lithium range is considered safe for maintenance therapy?

Accepted Answer

0.6-1.2 mEq/L

Answer

The maintenance therapeutic range for lithium is 0.6-1.2 mEq/L, with toxicity rising above 1.5 mEq/L.

Question 4

A client experiencing a panic attack is hyperventilating and feels they are 'going to die.' What is the nurse's best initial intervention?

Accepted Answer

Stay with the client and speak in short, calm directions

Answer

During a panic attack the nurse should remain present and use short, calm, simple directions to help the client regain control.

Question 5

A nurse is teaching about sertraline, an SSRI. Which symptom cluster should the client report immediately as possible serotonin syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Agitation, hyperthermia, and muscle rigidity

Answer

Serotonin syndrome presents with agitation, hyperthermia, autonomic instability, and muscle rigidity and requires immediate attention.

NCLEX Practice Test