Varcarolis chapter 3 Exam Questions
and verified Answers 2026
A patient's history shows drinking 4 to 6 L of fluid and eating more than 6,000 calories
per day. Which part of the central nervous system is most likely dysfunctional for this
patient?
a. Amygdala
b. Parietal lobe
c. Hippocampus
d. Hypothalamus - ANSWER-d. Hypothalamus
The nurse prepares to assess a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder for
disturbances in circadian rhythms. Which question should the nurse ask this patient?
a. "Have you ever seen or heard things that others do not?"
b. "What are your worst and best times of the day?"
c. "How would you describe your thinking?"
d. "Do you think your memory is failing?" - ANSWER-b. "What are your worst and best
times of the day?"
The nurse administers a medication that potentiates the action of ã-aminobutyric acid
(GABA). Which effect would be expected?
a. Reduced anxiety
b. Improved memory
c. More organized thinking
d. Fewer sensory perceptual alterations - ANSWER-a. Reduced anxiety
1. A patient asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced."
Select the nurse's best response.
a. "How do you feel about having imbalanced neurotransmitters?"
b. "Neurotransmitters protect us from harmful effects of free radicals."
c. "Neurotransmitters are substances we consume that influence memory and mood."
d. "Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between brain cells." -
ANSWER-d. "Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between
brain cells."
2. The parent of an adolescent diagnosed with schizophrenia asks the nurse, "My
child's doctor ordered a PET. What kind of test is that?" Select the nurse's best reply.
a. "This test uses a magnetic field and gamma waves to identify problem areas in the
brain. Does your teenager have any metal implants?"
b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a special type of scan that shows
blood flow and activity in the brain."
c. "A PET scan passes an electrical current through the brain and shows brain-wave
activity. It can help diagnose seizures."
, d. "It's a special x-ray that shows structures of the brain and whether there has ever
been a brain injury." - ANSWER-b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a
special type of scan that shows blood flow and activity in the brain."
3. A patient with a long history of hypertension and diabetes now develops confusion.
The health care provider wants to make a differential diagnosis between Alzheimer's
disease and multiple infarcts. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse expect to
prepare the patient for first?
a. Skull x-rays
b. CT scan
c. PET
d. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) - ANSWER-b. CT scan
A nurse would anticipate that treatment for a patient with memory difficulties might
include medications designed to
a. inhibit GABA.
b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
c. reduce serotonin metabolism.
d. increase dopamine activity. - ANSWER-b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
A patient has disorganized thinking associated with schizophrenia. Neuroimaging would
likely show dysfunction in which part of the brain?
a. Hippocampus
b. Frontal lobe
c. Cerebellum
d. Brainstem - ANSWER-
The nurse should assess a patient taking a drug with anticholinergic properties for
inhibited function of the
a. parasympathetic nervous system.
b. sympathetic nervous system.
c. reticular activating system.
d. medulla oblongata. - ANSWER-a. parasympathetic nervous system.
The therapeutic action of neurotransmitter inhibitors that block reuptake cause
a. decreased concentration of the blocked neurotransmitter in the central nervous
system.
b. increased concentration of the blocked neurotransmitter in the synaptic gap.
c. destruction of receptor sites specific to the blocked neurotransmitter.
d. limbic system stimulation. - ANSWER-b. increased concentration of the blocked
neurotransmitter in the synaptic gap.
A patient taking medication for mental illness develops restlessness and an
uncontrollable need to be in motion. Which drug action causes these symptoms to
develop?
a. Anticholinergic effects
and verified Answers 2026
A patient's history shows drinking 4 to 6 L of fluid and eating more than 6,000 calories
per day. Which part of the central nervous system is most likely dysfunctional for this
patient?
a. Amygdala
b. Parietal lobe
c. Hippocampus
d. Hypothalamus - ANSWER-d. Hypothalamus
The nurse prepares to assess a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder for
disturbances in circadian rhythms. Which question should the nurse ask this patient?
a. "Have you ever seen or heard things that others do not?"
b. "What are your worst and best times of the day?"
c. "How would you describe your thinking?"
d. "Do you think your memory is failing?" - ANSWER-b. "What are your worst and best
times of the day?"
The nurse administers a medication that potentiates the action of ã-aminobutyric acid
(GABA). Which effect would be expected?
a. Reduced anxiety
b. Improved memory
c. More organized thinking
d. Fewer sensory perceptual alterations - ANSWER-a. Reduced anxiety
1. A patient asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced."
Select the nurse's best response.
a. "How do you feel about having imbalanced neurotransmitters?"
b. "Neurotransmitters protect us from harmful effects of free radicals."
c. "Neurotransmitters are substances we consume that influence memory and mood."
d. "Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between brain cells." -
ANSWER-d. "Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between
brain cells."
2. The parent of an adolescent diagnosed with schizophrenia asks the nurse, "My
child's doctor ordered a PET. What kind of test is that?" Select the nurse's best reply.
a. "This test uses a magnetic field and gamma waves to identify problem areas in the
brain. Does your teenager have any metal implants?"
b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a special type of scan that shows
blood flow and activity in the brain."
c. "A PET scan passes an electrical current through the brain and shows brain-wave
activity. It can help diagnose seizures."
, d. "It's a special x-ray that shows structures of the brain and whether there has ever
been a brain injury." - ANSWER-b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a
special type of scan that shows blood flow and activity in the brain."
3. A patient with a long history of hypertension and diabetes now develops confusion.
The health care provider wants to make a differential diagnosis between Alzheimer's
disease and multiple infarcts. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse expect to
prepare the patient for first?
a. Skull x-rays
b. CT scan
c. PET
d. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) - ANSWER-b. CT scan
A nurse would anticipate that treatment for a patient with memory difficulties might
include medications designed to
a. inhibit GABA.
b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
c. reduce serotonin metabolism.
d. increase dopamine activity. - ANSWER-b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
A patient has disorganized thinking associated with schizophrenia. Neuroimaging would
likely show dysfunction in which part of the brain?
a. Hippocampus
b. Frontal lobe
c. Cerebellum
d. Brainstem - ANSWER-
The nurse should assess a patient taking a drug with anticholinergic properties for
inhibited function of the
a. parasympathetic nervous system.
b. sympathetic nervous system.
c. reticular activating system.
d. medulla oblongata. - ANSWER-a. parasympathetic nervous system.
The therapeutic action of neurotransmitter inhibitors that block reuptake cause
a. decreased concentration of the blocked neurotransmitter in the central nervous
system.
b. increased concentration of the blocked neurotransmitter in the synaptic gap.
c. destruction of receptor sites specific to the blocked neurotransmitter.
d. limbic system stimulation. - ANSWER-b. increased concentration of the blocked
neurotransmitter in the synaptic gap.
A patient taking medication for mental illness develops restlessness and an
uncontrollable need to be in motion. Which drug action causes these symptoms to
develop?
a. Anticholinergic effects
