CSAMS PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY REVIEW
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
Antipsychotic medications are thought to decrease psychotic symptoms
by:
a. Blocking reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin
b. Blocking the action of dopamine in the brain
c. Inhibiting production of the enzyme MAO
d. Depressing the CNS - ANS... -b
Part of the nurse's ongoing assessment of the client taking antipsychotic
medications is to observe for extrapyramidal symptoms. Which of the
following are examples of extrapyramidal symptoms?
a. Muscular weakness, rigidity, tremors, facial spasms
b. Dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, orthostatic hypotension
c. Amenorrhea, gynecomastia, retrograde ejaculation
d. Elevated blood pressure, severe occipital headache, stiff neck - ANS...
-a
A client who is prescribed haloperidol is observed to be staring at the
ceiling and says he cannot move his eyes. The nurse notices that he also
appears to have muscle spasms in his legs and hands. What is the most
appropriate action for the nurse to take at this point?
a. Conduct an AIMS test.
b. Administer prn benztropine (Cogentin).
c. Withhold the next dose of antipsychotic medication.
d. Contact the physician. - ANS... -b
,A client reports to the nurse that she has been on her antidepressant
medication (fluoxetine) for almost 2 weeks and does not feel much
better. Which of these actions by the nurse demonstrates the best clinical
judgment?
a. Educate the client that this medication may not be fully effective for
up to 4 weeks.
b. Hold the next dose and contact the physician to recommend an
alternative antidepressant.
c. Check the client's vital signs and check labs for therapeutic blood
levels.
d. Assess whether the client is aware of mood swings or history of
bipolar disorder in her family. - ANS... -a
A client who was recently prescribed an MAOI tells the nurse that he
drinks 3 to 4 cups of coffee with each meal. Which of these actions by
the nurse demonstrates the best clinical judgment?
a. Instruct the client that he only needs to avoid foods high in tyramine;
coffee consumption is not an issue with this medication.
b. Inform the client that foods or beverages with high caffeine content
increase the risk for serious hypertension and arrhythmias.
c. Inform the client that caffeine interferes with the effectiveness of this
medication.
d. Instruct the client that red wines are a better beverage choice because
they do not contain tyramine. - ANS... -b
A young adult client has been prescribed an SSRI antidepressant, which
she has been taking for 1 week. She reports that she feels like she is
getting worse and feels like nothing is going to help. Which of these
actions by the nurse is a priority?
a. Educate the client that SSRIs have a lag period before full therapeutic
effectiveness is apparent.
, b. Ask the client to describe why she thinks she is depressed.
c. Contact the physician to recommend a different medication.
d. Conduct a suicide risk assessment. - ANS... -d
A licensed practical nurse who is administering medications reports to
the RN in charge that he forgot to give the last scheduled dose of
bupropion to a client. He asks the RN if he should give the client two
doses at the next scheduled time. Which of these responses by the nurse
demonstrates the best clinical judgment?
a. "Yes, that would be fine. Just make sure the client stays in bed since
this is a sedating medication."
b. "No. Doses of this medication should not be doubled since that poses
an increased risk for seizures."
c. "Yes, as long as the client has not changed his sodium intake
recently."
d. "No, doses should not be doubled because there is an increased risk of
tolerance and addiction." - ANS... -b
A nursing student questions an instructor regarding the order for
fluvoxamine (Luvox), 300 mg daily, for a client diagnosed with OCD.
Which instructor reply is most accurate?
a. "The dosage of fluvoxamine (Luvox) is outside the therapeutic range
and needs to be questioned."
b. "The dose of fluvoxamine (Luvox) is low due to the side effect of
daytime drowsiness and nighttime insomnia."
c. "High doses of tricyclic medications will be required for effective
treatment of OCD."
d. "SSRI doses, more than what is effective for treating depression, may
be required for OCD." - ANS... -d
A depressed client states, "I have a chemical imbalance in my brain. I
have no control over my behavior. Medications are my only hope to feel
normal again." Which response by the nurse is best?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
Antipsychotic medications are thought to decrease psychotic symptoms
by:
a. Blocking reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin
b. Blocking the action of dopamine in the brain
c. Inhibiting production of the enzyme MAO
d. Depressing the CNS - ANS... -b
Part of the nurse's ongoing assessment of the client taking antipsychotic
medications is to observe for extrapyramidal symptoms. Which of the
following are examples of extrapyramidal symptoms?
a. Muscular weakness, rigidity, tremors, facial spasms
b. Dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, orthostatic hypotension
c. Amenorrhea, gynecomastia, retrograde ejaculation
d. Elevated blood pressure, severe occipital headache, stiff neck - ANS...
-a
A client who is prescribed haloperidol is observed to be staring at the
ceiling and says he cannot move his eyes. The nurse notices that he also
appears to have muscle spasms in his legs and hands. What is the most
appropriate action for the nurse to take at this point?
a. Conduct an AIMS test.
b. Administer prn benztropine (Cogentin).
c. Withhold the next dose of antipsychotic medication.
d. Contact the physician. - ANS... -b
,A client reports to the nurse that she has been on her antidepressant
medication (fluoxetine) for almost 2 weeks and does not feel much
better. Which of these actions by the nurse demonstrates the best clinical
judgment?
a. Educate the client that this medication may not be fully effective for
up to 4 weeks.
b. Hold the next dose and contact the physician to recommend an
alternative antidepressant.
c. Check the client's vital signs and check labs for therapeutic blood
levels.
d. Assess whether the client is aware of mood swings or history of
bipolar disorder in her family. - ANS... -a
A client who was recently prescribed an MAOI tells the nurse that he
drinks 3 to 4 cups of coffee with each meal. Which of these actions by
the nurse demonstrates the best clinical judgment?
a. Instruct the client that he only needs to avoid foods high in tyramine;
coffee consumption is not an issue with this medication.
b. Inform the client that foods or beverages with high caffeine content
increase the risk for serious hypertension and arrhythmias.
c. Inform the client that caffeine interferes with the effectiveness of this
medication.
d. Instruct the client that red wines are a better beverage choice because
they do not contain tyramine. - ANS... -b
A young adult client has been prescribed an SSRI antidepressant, which
she has been taking for 1 week. She reports that she feels like she is
getting worse and feels like nothing is going to help. Which of these
actions by the nurse is a priority?
a. Educate the client that SSRIs have a lag period before full therapeutic
effectiveness is apparent.
, b. Ask the client to describe why she thinks she is depressed.
c. Contact the physician to recommend a different medication.
d. Conduct a suicide risk assessment. - ANS... -d
A licensed practical nurse who is administering medications reports to
the RN in charge that he forgot to give the last scheduled dose of
bupropion to a client. He asks the RN if he should give the client two
doses at the next scheduled time. Which of these responses by the nurse
demonstrates the best clinical judgment?
a. "Yes, that would be fine. Just make sure the client stays in bed since
this is a sedating medication."
b. "No. Doses of this medication should not be doubled since that poses
an increased risk for seizures."
c. "Yes, as long as the client has not changed his sodium intake
recently."
d. "No, doses should not be doubled because there is an increased risk of
tolerance and addiction." - ANS... -b
A nursing student questions an instructor regarding the order for
fluvoxamine (Luvox), 300 mg daily, for a client diagnosed with OCD.
Which instructor reply is most accurate?
a. "The dosage of fluvoxamine (Luvox) is outside the therapeutic range
and needs to be questioned."
b. "The dose of fluvoxamine (Luvox) is low due to the side effect of
daytime drowsiness and nighttime insomnia."
c. "High doses of tricyclic medications will be required for effective
treatment of OCD."
d. "SSRI doses, more than what is effective for treating depression, may
be required for OCD." - ANS... -d
A depressed client states, "I have a chemical imbalance in my brain. I
have no control over my behavior. Medications are my only hope to feel
normal again." Which response by the nurse is best?
