Nursing MCQ Flashcards
7 cards from real Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Nursing MCQ flashcards as text
A patient with bipolar I disorder is prescribed lithium. Which laboratory value requires the most immediate intervention?
Answer: Serum lithium level of 1.8 mEq/L
A serum lithium level of 1.8 mEq/L is above the therapeutic range (0.6–1.2 mEq/L) and indicates toxicity requiring immediate intervention.
A PMHNP is evaluating a patient who reports 'hearing voices telling me to hurt myself.' What is the priority intervention?
Answer: Assess the nature, frequency, and command quality of the hallucinations
A thorough assessment of command hallucinations—including content, frequency, and the patient's intent to act—is the priority before determining next steps.
Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most strongly associated with the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
Answer: Dopamine excess in the mesolimbic pathway
Hyperactivity of dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway is the primary mechanism underlying positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.
A patient on clozapine develops a fever, sore throat, and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of 400 cells/mm³. What is the appropriate action?
Answer: Discontinue clozapine immediately and notify the prescriber
An ANC below 500 cells/mm³ indicates severe neutropenia (agranulocytosis), requiring immediate discontinuation of clozapine to prevent fatal infection.
A patient with PTSD is treated with Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy. What is the core mechanism of this treatment?
Answer: Reducing avoidance by systematically confronting trauma-related stimuli
PE works through extinction learning by having patients repeatedly confront avoided trauma cues, reducing fear responses over time.
A PMHNP prescribes an SSRI for a 16-year-old with major depressive disorder. Which FDA-mandated action is required?
Answer: Provide a black box warning about increased suicidal ideation risk in children and adolescents
The FDA requires clinicians to counsel patients and families about the black box warning for increased suicidality risk with antidepressants in those under 25.
Which statement best describes the ethical principle of autonomy in psychiatric nursing practice?
Answer: The patient has the right to make informed decisions about their own care
Autonomy means respecting the patient's right to self-determination and informed decision-making in their own healthcare.