NSG 354 CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
▶ EPS. Answer: Physical symptoms, including tremor, slurred speech,
akathesia, dystonia, distress, paranoia, and bradyphrenia, that are primarily
associated
▶ akathisia. Answer: internal restlessness/external restless
pacing/fidgeting
-movement offers temporary relief
-highest risk for suicidality
▶ acute dystonia. Answer: severe spasms of musc of tongue, head and
neck, fixed upward deviation of eyes and severe back spasms that arch
trunk forward and thrust head and lower limb back
(oculogyric crisis, torticollis, glossospasm, opisthotonus)
▶ pseudoparkinsonism. Answer: stiffening of musc act in the face, body,
arms and legs; salivation; shuffling gait; tremor; bradykinesia
(lead pipe, cogwheeling, mask-like face, postural deficits, chorea, athetosis,
tics)
▶ tardive dyskinesia. Answer: involuntary tonic musc spasms of face and
jaw; protruding and rolling tongue, blowing and smacking
-offending med and anticholinergics need to be stopped
-affects 20%-30% of patients who have been treated for months or years
with neuroleptic medications. Patients who are older, are heavy smokers,
or have DM are at higher risk of developing
▶ Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. Answer: greatly inc musc rigidity,
elevated temp, alt LOC, and autonomic dysfunction (dysrhythmia, BP
fluctuation, resp fail)
▶ NMS tx. Answer: bromocriptine or dantrolene
▶ first-gen antipsychotics. Answer: target pos symptoms of schizophrenia
-chlorpromazine
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
▶ EPS. Answer: Physical symptoms, including tremor, slurred speech,
akathesia, dystonia, distress, paranoia, and bradyphrenia, that are primarily
associated
▶ akathisia. Answer: internal restlessness/external restless
pacing/fidgeting
-movement offers temporary relief
-highest risk for suicidality
▶ acute dystonia. Answer: severe spasms of musc of tongue, head and
neck, fixed upward deviation of eyes and severe back spasms that arch
trunk forward and thrust head and lower limb back
(oculogyric crisis, torticollis, glossospasm, opisthotonus)
▶ pseudoparkinsonism. Answer: stiffening of musc act in the face, body,
arms and legs; salivation; shuffling gait; tremor; bradykinesia
(lead pipe, cogwheeling, mask-like face, postural deficits, chorea, athetosis,
tics)
▶ tardive dyskinesia. Answer: involuntary tonic musc spasms of face and
jaw; protruding and rolling tongue, blowing and smacking
-offending med and anticholinergics need to be stopped
-affects 20%-30% of patients who have been treated for months or years
with neuroleptic medications. Patients who are older, are heavy smokers,
or have DM are at higher risk of developing
▶ Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome. Answer: greatly inc musc rigidity,
elevated temp, alt LOC, and autonomic dysfunction (dysrhythmia, BP
fluctuation, resp fail)
▶ NMS tx. Answer: bromocriptine or dantrolene
▶ first-gen antipsychotics. Answer: target pos symptoms of schizophrenia
-chlorpromazine
