Test Bank for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Actual Exam (2025) comprehensive
questions and verified answers ( detailed & elaborated) 2025-2026 TEST
What is the significance of understanding neurotransmitter functions in
nursing?
It aids in assessing and managing patients' psychological and physiological
responses to medications.
What are the concerns associated with benzodiazepines?
Tolerance, high levels of abuse, and recent connections to dementia.
What type of medication is fluoxetine and what is its primary use?
Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat major
depressive disorder.
What are the common side effects associated with fluoxetine?
Fluoxetine has few anticholinergic and sedating side effects.
What symptoms indicate a manic episode in a patient?
Aggression, agitation, talkativeness, and irritability.
What classification of medication is most likely prescribed for a manic
episode?
Mood stabilizer.
What medication is commonly used to treat mania?
Lithium and selected anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, valproic acid, and
lamotrigine.
What side effect should be assessed in a patient prescribed a muscarinic-
receptor blocker?
Dry mouth.
What are some atropine-like side effects of muscarinic-receptor blockade?
Dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation.
What should a nurse teach a patient starting first-generation antipsychotic
medication regarding muscle stiffness?
Report muscle stiffness, as it may indicate dystonia.
What is a common side effect of first-generation antipsychotic medications?
,Dystonia, often heralded by sensations of muscle stiffness.
Which medication is associated with anticholinergic side effects?
Fluphenazine.
What are the side effects of fluphenazine?
Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and urinary retention.
What fluid balance issues are associated with lithium therapy?
Polydipsia, polyuria, and edema.
What is buspirone primarily used for?
Anxiety reduction without major side effects.
What teaching should be prioritized for a patient taking clozapine?
Monitoring for agranulocytosis and other serious side effects.
What type of medication is clozapine?
An antipsychotic medication.
What is the primary action of antipsychotic medications?
To block dopamine receptors in the brain.
What is the role of the nurse in planning care for a patient with major
depressive disorder?
Provide education about medications, including SSRIs like fluoxetine.
What is the expected outcome of prescribing mood stabilizers for manic
episodes?
Reduction of manic symptoms and stabilization of mood.
What should a nurse assess for in patients taking first-generation
antipsychotics?
Signs of movement disorders and dystonia.
What is the significance of dopamine blockade in antipsychotic treatment?
It can lead to side effects such as muscle stiffness and movement disorders.
What are the implications of prescribing risperidone?
Monitoring for movement disorders, orthostatic hypotension, and sedation
What is the expected recovery outcome for a patient with serious and
persistent mental illness within 3 months?
The patient will report a sense of well-being.
What does the goal of recovery in mental health nursing emphasize?
,Managing symptoms, reducing psychosocial disability, and improving role
performance.
What is the most caring comment a nurse can make to a patient hospitalized
for depression and suicidal ideation?
"Let's discuss healthy means of coping when you have suicidal feelings."
What should a nurse's communication demonstrate when caring for a patient?
Caring and a commitment to work with the patient.
How should a nurse respond to an off-going nurse's criticism of a patient
wearing heavy makeup?
"Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report objective."
What does advocacy in nursing involve when dealing with patient self-
expression?
Accepting patients' needs for self-expression and teaching skills for well-being.
What is an example of the nursing technique 'attending'?
"I'd like to sit with you for a while, so you may feel more comfortable talking with me."
What does attending demonstrate in the nurse-patient relationship?
The nurse's commitment to the relationship and reduces feelings of isolation.
What type of comments should nurses avoid when discussing patient care?
Generalizations, probing, and false reassurances.
What is the focus of the nursing process in the context of outcomes
identification?
To identify expected outcomes for patient care.
What is the significance of the nurse's role in a psychiatric hospital?
To provide compassionate care and support to patients.
What is the primary goal of recovery in mental health nursing?
To empower individuals with mental illness to achieve a sense of meaning and
satisfaction in life.
What is a non-therapeutic response a nurse should avoid when interacting
with a patient?
"You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
What does the nursing process implementation involve?
Carrying out the planned interventions and communicating effectively with patients.
What is a key aspect of the nurse's communication style in psychiatric mental
health nursing?
, It should be therapeutic and supportive.
How should nurses approach the topic of a patient's mental health concerns?
With empathy and a focus on coping strategies.
What is an important consideration when discussing a patient's appearance in
a psychiatric setting?
Respect for the patient's self-expression.
What is the role of humor in shift reports among nurses?
It can be appropriate if it does not compromise respect for patients.
What should nurses strive to create in their interactions with patients?
A safe and supportive environment.
What is the importance of the shift-change report in nursing?
To communicate patient information and ensure continuity of care.
What is a common misconception about patients in psychiatric settings?
That they should conform to typical societal behaviors.
What should be the focus of a nurse's assessment for a patient with major
depressive disorder?
Understanding the patient's feelings and experiences.
What is the significance of the NCLEX in nursing education?
It assesses the knowledge and skills necessary for safe and effective nursing
practice.
What characteristic of a website's address most alerts a nurse that the site
may have biased information?
An address ending in '.com' indicates a commercial site, which may have biased
information.
What does an address ending in '.gov' signify?
It indicates that the site is maintained by a government entity.
What does an address ending in '.org' imply about the website?
It indicates that the site is nonproprietary; it may or may not have reliable information
but does not profit from its activities.
What is the significance of an address ending in '.net'?
It can have multiple meanings and does not specifically indicate the nature of the
site.
What is the best appraisal of a nurse's decision to change practice based on
one descriptive research study?
questions and verified answers ( detailed & elaborated) 2025-2026 TEST
What is the significance of understanding neurotransmitter functions in
nursing?
It aids in assessing and managing patients' psychological and physiological
responses to medications.
What are the concerns associated with benzodiazepines?
Tolerance, high levels of abuse, and recent connections to dementia.
What type of medication is fluoxetine and what is its primary use?
Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat major
depressive disorder.
What are the common side effects associated with fluoxetine?
Fluoxetine has few anticholinergic and sedating side effects.
What symptoms indicate a manic episode in a patient?
Aggression, agitation, talkativeness, and irritability.
What classification of medication is most likely prescribed for a manic
episode?
Mood stabilizer.
What medication is commonly used to treat mania?
Lithium and selected anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, valproic acid, and
lamotrigine.
What side effect should be assessed in a patient prescribed a muscarinic-
receptor blocker?
Dry mouth.
What are some atropine-like side effects of muscarinic-receptor blockade?
Dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation.
What should a nurse teach a patient starting first-generation antipsychotic
medication regarding muscle stiffness?
Report muscle stiffness, as it may indicate dystonia.
What is a common side effect of first-generation antipsychotic medications?
,Dystonia, often heralded by sensations of muscle stiffness.
Which medication is associated with anticholinergic side effects?
Fluphenazine.
What are the side effects of fluphenazine?
Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and urinary retention.
What fluid balance issues are associated with lithium therapy?
Polydipsia, polyuria, and edema.
What is buspirone primarily used for?
Anxiety reduction without major side effects.
What teaching should be prioritized for a patient taking clozapine?
Monitoring for agranulocytosis and other serious side effects.
What type of medication is clozapine?
An antipsychotic medication.
What is the primary action of antipsychotic medications?
To block dopamine receptors in the brain.
What is the role of the nurse in planning care for a patient with major
depressive disorder?
Provide education about medications, including SSRIs like fluoxetine.
What is the expected outcome of prescribing mood stabilizers for manic
episodes?
Reduction of manic symptoms and stabilization of mood.
What should a nurse assess for in patients taking first-generation
antipsychotics?
Signs of movement disorders and dystonia.
What is the significance of dopamine blockade in antipsychotic treatment?
It can lead to side effects such as muscle stiffness and movement disorders.
What are the implications of prescribing risperidone?
Monitoring for movement disorders, orthostatic hypotension, and sedation
What is the expected recovery outcome for a patient with serious and
persistent mental illness within 3 months?
The patient will report a sense of well-being.
What does the goal of recovery in mental health nursing emphasize?
,Managing symptoms, reducing psychosocial disability, and improving role
performance.
What is the most caring comment a nurse can make to a patient hospitalized
for depression and suicidal ideation?
"Let's discuss healthy means of coping when you have suicidal feelings."
What should a nurse's communication demonstrate when caring for a patient?
Caring and a commitment to work with the patient.
How should a nurse respond to an off-going nurse's criticism of a patient
wearing heavy makeup?
"Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report objective."
What does advocacy in nursing involve when dealing with patient self-
expression?
Accepting patients' needs for self-expression and teaching skills for well-being.
What is an example of the nursing technique 'attending'?
"I'd like to sit with you for a while, so you may feel more comfortable talking with me."
What does attending demonstrate in the nurse-patient relationship?
The nurse's commitment to the relationship and reduces feelings of isolation.
What type of comments should nurses avoid when discussing patient care?
Generalizations, probing, and false reassurances.
What is the focus of the nursing process in the context of outcomes
identification?
To identify expected outcomes for patient care.
What is the significance of the nurse's role in a psychiatric hospital?
To provide compassionate care and support to patients.
What is the primary goal of recovery in mental health nursing?
To empower individuals with mental illness to achieve a sense of meaning and
satisfaction in life.
What is a non-therapeutic response a nurse should avoid when interacting
with a patient?
"You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
What does the nursing process implementation involve?
Carrying out the planned interventions and communicating effectively with patients.
What is a key aspect of the nurse's communication style in psychiatric mental
health nursing?
, It should be therapeutic and supportive.
How should nurses approach the topic of a patient's mental health concerns?
With empathy and a focus on coping strategies.
What is an important consideration when discussing a patient's appearance in
a psychiatric setting?
Respect for the patient's self-expression.
What is the role of humor in shift reports among nurses?
It can be appropriate if it does not compromise respect for patients.
What should nurses strive to create in their interactions with patients?
A safe and supportive environment.
What is the importance of the shift-change report in nursing?
To communicate patient information and ensure continuity of care.
What is a common misconception about patients in psychiatric settings?
That they should conform to typical societal behaviors.
What should be the focus of a nurse's assessment for a patient with major
depressive disorder?
Understanding the patient's feelings and experiences.
What is the significance of the NCLEX in nursing education?
It assesses the knowledge and skills necessary for safe and effective nursing
practice.
What characteristic of a website's address most alerts a nurse that the site
may have biased information?
An address ending in '.com' indicates a commercial site, which may have biased
information.
What does an address ending in '.gov' signify?
It indicates that the site is maintained by a government entity.
What does an address ending in '.org' imply about the website?
It indicates that the site is nonproprietary; it may or may not have reliable information
but does not profit from its activities.
What is the significance of an address ending in '.net'?
It can have multiple meanings and does not specifically indicate the nature of the
site.
What is the best appraisal of a nurse's decision to change practice based on
one descriptive research study?
