RNSG 2213 HESI Study Guide
Questions with Correct Solutions
2025-2026 Updated.
Discuss why a nurse experiencing countertransference feelings, focused on one patient, was not
granted a reassignment to another patient. What is the standard of practice that would justify
denying the nurse's request? - Answer RELATIONSHIP SHOULD NOT BE TERMINATED
Nurse should be supportively assisted by other staff members to identify his/her feelings and
behaviors and recognize occurrence
Can often be improved through feedback
What are the characteristics of a family with healthy boundaries? - Answer Balanced:
responsibility, relationships, boundaries (what belongs to each person)
Age-appropriate autonomy, boundaries
Open communication
Discuss why it is important for parents to rear their children so that they are allowed to express
their own values and beliefs instead of being reprimanded when the views of the children differ
from those of their parents. - Answer People with a poorly differentiated "self" depend too
heavily on the acceptance and approval of others
A person with a well-differentiated "self" recognizes his realistic dependence on others, but can
stay calm and clear headed enough in the face of conflict, criticism, and rejection
Do the majority of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) cause anticholinergic side
effects? - Answer No. Anticholinergic drugs work by blocking effects effects of acetylcholine.
SSRIs have Less ability to block muscarinic and histamine receptors.
A patient is being discharged with an SSRI that rarely causes anticholinergic side effects. What
should the patient be taught before discharge? - Answer May increase the risk of suicidal
thinking and behaviors
Caution on discontinuing abruptly - can induce discontinuation syndrome
,Discontinue all SSRI's for 2 to 5 weeks before starting an MAOI
Polypharmacy and the slowing of the normal metabolic process is why SSRI's are of greatest
concern for older adults --> aggravated side effects and adverse events
What are the risks and adverse effects associated with ECT? - Answer Retrograde amnesia
Concentration/attention problems
General confusion
Nausea, headaches, muscle aches or spasms, and vomiting
Give the rationale why a nurse would not use humor as a nursing intervention for anhedonia -
Answer Patient is depressed and unable to feel happiness, so cracking a joke is not going to
help and may come across as belittling
Which are the symptoms associated with pseudo-Parkinsonism? - Answer tremor, reduced
accessory movements (arms swinging when walking), gait impairment, reduced facial
expressiveness (mask facies), slowing of motor behavior (bradykinesia)
Which classification of drugs are high-risk for pseudo-Parkinsonism? - Answer First
generations antipsychotics
What is the treatment for pseudo-Parkinsonism? - Answer Lower antipsychotic dose
Treat EPS with Congentine, Artane, Benedyrl
Which classification of drugs are high-risk for tardive dyskinesia? - Answer First generations
antipsychotics
What are the symptoms associated with tardive dyskinesia? - Answer Starts in oral and facial
muscles and progresses to include fingers, toes,neck trunk or pelvis
Involuntary rhythmic movements- late signs are may be irreversible.
Persistent EPS
Grimacing
Lip smacking
Eye blinking
Chorea- quick rapid movements, purposeless and irregular
Athetoid- slow, complex, and sepentive
Neck and shoulder movements, hip jerks and rocks or twisting and pelvic thrusts
, What is/are the treatments for tardive dyskinesia? - Answer Valbenazine
What is diurnal variation? - Answer Symptoms of depression often worse in the mornings,
improve throughout day
When is the patient, with diurnal variation, more likely to respond to a nursing intervention? -
Answer when they are feeling better, toward the afternoon
Which classification of antipsychotic medications are LEAST likely to cause obesity? - Answer
3rd generation (Abilify)
Compare and contrast the following adverse effects associated with psychotropic drugs:
agranulocytosis, cholinergic side effects, Serotonin Syndrome, and Neuroleptic Syndromes -
Answer agranulocytosis = flu-like symptoms
cholinergic = hot and dry
serotonin = restless, unstable vitals, GI upset, delirium, seizures
NMS = rigid, posturing, cogwheeling, dysphasia
Which classification of drugs are more at risk for causing the following adverse effects:
agranulocytosis, cholinergic side effects, Serotonin Syndrome, and Neuroleptic Syndromes -
Answer Agranulocytosis: clozapine(Clozaril)
Cholinergic:
-low potency 1st gen antipsychotics (Thorazine, Mellaril)
-some 2nd gen antipsychotics (Clozaril, Zyprexa)
-TCAs
-Tegretol
Serotonin Syndrome: antidepressants
Neuroleptic: antipsychotics
Which of the following adverse effects is the Abnormal Involuntary Scale (AMIS) use to assess:
tardive dyskinesia, pseudo-parkinsonism, Tourette's Syndrome, and ECT? - Answer tardive
dyskinesia
pseudo-parkinsonism(?)
Questions with Correct Solutions
2025-2026 Updated.
Discuss why a nurse experiencing countertransference feelings, focused on one patient, was not
granted a reassignment to another patient. What is the standard of practice that would justify
denying the nurse's request? - Answer RELATIONSHIP SHOULD NOT BE TERMINATED
Nurse should be supportively assisted by other staff members to identify his/her feelings and
behaviors and recognize occurrence
Can often be improved through feedback
What are the characteristics of a family with healthy boundaries? - Answer Balanced:
responsibility, relationships, boundaries (what belongs to each person)
Age-appropriate autonomy, boundaries
Open communication
Discuss why it is important for parents to rear their children so that they are allowed to express
their own values and beliefs instead of being reprimanded when the views of the children differ
from those of their parents. - Answer People with a poorly differentiated "self" depend too
heavily on the acceptance and approval of others
A person with a well-differentiated "self" recognizes his realistic dependence on others, but can
stay calm and clear headed enough in the face of conflict, criticism, and rejection
Do the majority of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) cause anticholinergic side
effects? - Answer No. Anticholinergic drugs work by blocking effects effects of acetylcholine.
SSRIs have Less ability to block muscarinic and histamine receptors.
A patient is being discharged with an SSRI that rarely causes anticholinergic side effects. What
should the patient be taught before discharge? - Answer May increase the risk of suicidal
thinking and behaviors
Caution on discontinuing abruptly - can induce discontinuation syndrome
,Discontinue all SSRI's for 2 to 5 weeks before starting an MAOI
Polypharmacy and the slowing of the normal metabolic process is why SSRI's are of greatest
concern for older adults --> aggravated side effects and adverse events
What are the risks and adverse effects associated with ECT? - Answer Retrograde amnesia
Concentration/attention problems
General confusion
Nausea, headaches, muscle aches or spasms, and vomiting
Give the rationale why a nurse would not use humor as a nursing intervention for anhedonia -
Answer Patient is depressed and unable to feel happiness, so cracking a joke is not going to
help and may come across as belittling
Which are the symptoms associated with pseudo-Parkinsonism? - Answer tremor, reduced
accessory movements (arms swinging when walking), gait impairment, reduced facial
expressiveness (mask facies), slowing of motor behavior (bradykinesia)
Which classification of drugs are high-risk for pseudo-Parkinsonism? - Answer First
generations antipsychotics
What is the treatment for pseudo-Parkinsonism? - Answer Lower antipsychotic dose
Treat EPS with Congentine, Artane, Benedyrl
Which classification of drugs are high-risk for tardive dyskinesia? - Answer First generations
antipsychotics
What are the symptoms associated with tardive dyskinesia? - Answer Starts in oral and facial
muscles and progresses to include fingers, toes,neck trunk or pelvis
Involuntary rhythmic movements- late signs are may be irreversible.
Persistent EPS
Grimacing
Lip smacking
Eye blinking
Chorea- quick rapid movements, purposeless and irregular
Athetoid- slow, complex, and sepentive
Neck and shoulder movements, hip jerks and rocks or twisting and pelvic thrusts
, What is/are the treatments for tardive dyskinesia? - Answer Valbenazine
What is diurnal variation? - Answer Symptoms of depression often worse in the mornings,
improve throughout day
When is the patient, with diurnal variation, more likely to respond to a nursing intervention? -
Answer when they are feeling better, toward the afternoon
Which classification of antipsychotic medications are LEAST likely to cause obesity? - Answer
3rd generation (Abilify)
Compare and contrast the following adverse effects associated with psychotropic drugs:
agranulocytosis, cholinergic side effects, Serotonin Syndrome, and Neuroleptic Syndromes -
Answer agranulocytosis = flu-like symptoms
cholinergic = hot and dry
serotonin = restless, unstable vitals, GI upset, delirium, seizures
NMS = rigid, posturing, cogwheeling, dysphasia
Which classification of drugs are more at risk for causing the following adverse effects:
agranulocytosis, cholinergic side effects, Serotonin Syndrome, and Neuroleptic Syndromes -
Answer Agranulocytosis: clozapine(Clozaril)
Cholinergic:
-low potency 1st gen antipsychotics (Thorazine, Mellaril)
-some 2nd gen antipsychotics (Clozaril, Zyprexa)
-TCAs
-Tegretol
Serotonin Syndrome: antidepressants
Neuroleptic: antipsychotics
Which of the following adverse effects is the Abnormal Involuntary Scale (AMIS) use to assess:
tardive dyskinesia, pseudo-parkinsonism, Tourette's Syndrome, and ECT? - Answer tardive
dyskinesia
pseudo-parkinsonism(?)
