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N310 UNIT 3 Questions and Answers
By what mechanism does lorazepam reduce anxiety?
a) Increasing serotonin levels
b) Blocking dopamine receptors
c) Depressing norepinephrine levels
d) Potentiating gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Ans: d
A patient started diazepam 5 mg twice daily 6 months ago. Now,
the patient requires 10 mg to achieve the same effect. What
phenomenon is responsible for this situation?a. Addiction
b. Tolerance
c. Dependence
d. Disinhibition
Ans: b
A patient diagnosed with agoraphobia took alprazolam 0.5 mg
three times daily for 3 months and then discontinued it. The next
day the patient called the nurse reporting insomnia, shakiness,
and sweating. What should be the focus of the nurse's assessment
questions?
a. Whether the patient may have also been drinking alcohol or
taking antihistamines.
b. The possibility that the patient has built up tolerance to
alprazolam and needs an increased dose.
c. The likelihood that the patient is having withdrawal symptoms
from abrupt discontinuation of the drug.
d. Whether the patient has progressed to panic attacks and needs
a nonbenzodiazepine medication.
Ans: c
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An emergency room patient was very anxious after a serious car
accident. Lorazepam 2 mg intramuscularly was administered. One
hour later, which finding indicates to the nurse that the
medication was effective?
a. Improved problem-solving skills
b. Increased alertness
c. Increased verbalization
d. Reduced environmental scanning
Ans: d
A patient has taken diazepam for 1 week for back spasms. The
patient reports "feeling sleepy all the time." Which response will
best address the patient's concern?
a. "The dosage probably needs to be decreased."
b. "Drowsiness indicates a paradoxical reaction to the drug."
c. "Tolerance to the sedative effect of the drug will develop
quickly."
d. "Sleepiness is an unavoidable side effect of nonbenzodiazepine
drugs."
Ans: c
A patient has taken clonazepam for years to manage panic attacks
but impulsively stopped the drug. Thirty hours later, the patient
comes to the emergency room in distress. What is the nurse's
priority action?
a. Begin seizure precautions.
b. Refer the patient for addiction counseling.
c. Institute a behavior modification program.
d. Prepare to administer flumazenil.
Ans: a
Which patient behavior should the nurse identify as the greatest
risk for overdose with a benzodiazepine?
a. Taking the drug with antacids
b. Taking the drug before meals
c. Combining the drug with alcohol
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d. Experiencing depression as well as anxiety
Ans: c
The nurse would expect to administer flumazenil for a patient
with which diagnosis?
a. Acute alcohol withdrawal
b. Benzodiazepine overdose
c. Benzodiazepine-resistant anxiety
d. Psychotic disorder
Ans: b
A patient received one dose of flumazenil. What is the nurse's
next action?
a. Carefully observe for benzodiazepine overdose symptoms.
b. Teach the patient about dietary restrictions.
c. Prevent injury during seizure activity.
d. Force 500 mL oral fluids over 2 hours.
Ans: a
The nurse would expect a patient with which comorbid diagnosis
to have a magnified response to the usual dose of a
benzodiazepine drug?
a. Rheumatoid arthritis
b. Migraine headache
c. Hepatic cirrhosis
d. Osteoporosis
Ans: c
A patient in the emergency room has status epilepticus. The nurse
should anticipate administration of what medication?
a. Diazepam (Valium)
b. Buspirone (BuSpar)
c. Clorazepate (Tranxene)
d. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
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N310 UNIT 3 Questions and Answers
By what mechanism does lorazepam reduce anxiety?
a) Increasing serotonin levels
b) Blocking dopamine receptors
c) Depressing norepinephrine levels
d) Potentiating gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Ans: d
A patient started diazepam 5 mg twice daily 6 months ago. Now,
the patient requires 10 mg to achieve the same effect. What
phenomenon is responsible for this situation?a. Addiction
b. Tolerance
c. Dependence
d. Disinhibition
Ans: b
A patient diagnosed with agoraphobia took alprazolam 0.5 mg
three times daily for 3 months and then discontinued it. The next
day the patient called the nurse reporting insomnia, shakiness,
and sweating. What should be the focus of the nurse's assessment
questions?
a. Whether the patient may have also been drinking alcohol or
taking antihistamines.
b. The possibility that the patient has built up tolerance to
alprazolam and needs an increased dose.
c. The likelihood that the patient is having withdrawal symptoms
from abrupt discontinuation of the drug.
d. Whether the patient has progressed to panic attacks and needs
a nonbenzodiazepine medication.
Ans: c
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
An emergency room patient was very anxious after a serious car
accident. Lorazepam 2 mg intramuscularly was administered. One
hour later, which finding indicates to the nurse that the
medication was effective?
a. Improved problem-solving skills
b. Increased alertness
c. Increased verbalization
d. Reduced environmental scanning
Ans: d
A patient has taken diazepam for 1 week for back spasms. The
patient reports "feeling sleepy all the time." Which response will
best address the patient's concern?
a. "The dosage probably needs to be decreased."
b. "Drowsiness indicates a paradoxical reaction to the drug."
c. "Tolerance to the sedative effect of the drug will develop
quickly."
d. "Sleepiness is an unavoidable side effect of nonbenzodiazepine
drugs."
Ans: c
A patient has taken clonazepam for years to manage panic attacks
but impulsively stopped the drug. Thirty hours later, the patient
comes to the emergency room in distress. What is the nurse's
priority action?
a. Begin seizure precautions.
b. Refer the patient for addiction counseling.
c. Institute a behavior modification program.
d. Prepare to administer flumazenil.
Ans: a
Which patient behavior should the nurse identify as the greatest
risk for overdose with a benzodiazepine?
a. Taking the drug with antacids
b. Taking the drug before meals
c. Combining the drug with alcohol
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, 3 | Page
d. Experiencing depression as well as anxiety
Ans: c
The nurse would expect to administer flumazenil for a patient
with which diagnosis?
a. Acute alcohol withdrawal
b. Benzodiazepine overdose
c. Benzodiazepine-resistant anxiety
d. Psychotic disorder
Ans: b
A patient received one dose of flumazenil. What is the nurse's
next action?
a. Carefully observe for benzodiazepine overdose symptoms.
b. Teach the patient about dietary restrictions.
c. Prevent injury during seizure activity.
d. Force 500 mL oral fluids over 2 hours.
Ans: a
The nurse would expect a patient with which comorbid diagnosis
to have a magnified response to the usual dose of a
benzodiazepine drug?
a. Rheumatoid arthritis
b. Migraine headache
c. Hepatic cirrhosis
d. Osteoporosis
Ans: c
A patient in the emergency room has status epilepticus. The nurse
should anticipate administration of what medication?
a. Diazepam (Valium)
b. Buspirone (BuSpar)
c. Clorazepate (Tranxene)
d. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
© 2025 All rights reserved
