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 presents with pressured speech, decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, and increased goal-directed activity lasting 4 days without causing marked functional impairment. This presentation is most consistent with:
Answer: Bipolar II disorder, hypomanic episode
A hypomanic episode is defined by elevated mood lasting at least 4 days that does not cause marked impairment or require hospitalization, distinguishing it from mania.
The PMHNP is initiating bupropion in a patient with a history of anorexia nervosa. What is the primary contraindication?
Answer: Lowered seizure threshold in patients with eating disorders
Bupropion is contraindicated in eating disorders because electrolyte imbalances and low body weight significantly increase seizure risk.
A patient discloses they plan to harm a specific, identifiable third party. According to the Tarasoff duty-to-protect principle, the PMHNP is obligated to:
Answer: Warn the intended victim and notify law enforcement
Tarasoff establishes a legal and ethical duty to protect identifiable potential victims by warning them and/or notifying authorities when a credible threat exists.
Which rating scale is used specifically to assess extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) in patients taking antipsychotics?
Answer: Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS)
The Simpson-Angus Scale assesses drug-induced parkinsonism and other extrapyramidal side effects associated with antipsychotic use.
A patient with opioid use disorder is being considered for medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Which medication can be prescribed by a PMHNP in an office-based setting without a specialized DEA waiver?
Answer: Injectable naltrexone (Vivitrol)
Naltrexone (oral or injectable) does not require a DEA waiver and can be prescribed in any outpatient setting by a licensed prescriber for opioid use disorder.
A patient with GAD has not responded to two trials of SSRIs. Which medication class is FDA-approved as a second-line option for GAD?
Answer: SNRIs such as venlafaxine
SNRIs such as venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and duloxetine are FDA-approved for GAD and represent a first- or second-line alternative to SSRIs.
A patient experiencing acute dystonia after receiving haloperidol is best treated with:
Answer: Diphenhydramine IM or benztropine IM
Acute dystonia is treated with anticholinergic agents such as benztropine or antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, which rapidly reverse muscle spasms.