1
Exam 1: NSG552 / NSG 552 (Latest 2025
/ 2026 Update) Psychopharmacology |
Questions with Verified Answers | 100%
Correct | Grade A – Wilkes.
A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression is a
chemical disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on the
theory that depression primarily involves which of the following
neurotransmitters?
a. Cortisol and GABA
b. COMT and glutamate
c. Monamine and glycine
d. Serotonin and norepinephrine - (answers)d. Serotonin and norepinephrine
A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) that has resulted
in damage to the Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to
reinforce this diagnosis?
a. Observing the patient pick up a spoon
b. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
c. Monitoring the patients blood pressure
d. Comparing the patients grip strength in both - (answers)b. Asking the patient to
recite the alphabet
,2
The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are
always prescribed by the doctor. The nurses answer will be based on information
that the therapeutic action of psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
a. The temporal lobe; especially Wernickes area
b. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
d. The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to the psychotropic medications -
(answers)c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle
with understanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The
mentor would base a response on the understanding that it is:
a. Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on
behavioral interventions
b. A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently use
in their practice
c. Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain trauma
caused cognitive symptoms
d. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those
experiencing psychiatric disorders - (answers)d. Necessary for planning psychiatric
care for all patients especially those experiencing psychiatric disorders
A patient asks the nurse, My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her
chronic depression? Which response is supported by research data?
a. Too much stress has been proven to cause all kinds of cancer.
,3
b. There have been no research studies done on stress and disease yet.
c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
d. There appears to be little connection between stress and diseases of the body -
(answers)c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune
system.
A patient who has a parietal lobe injury is being evaluated for psychiatric
rehabilitation needs. Of the aspects of functioning listed, which will the nurse
identify as a focus of nursing intervention?
a. Expression of emotion
b. Detecting auditory stimuli
c. Receiving visual images
d. Processing associations - (answers)d. Processing associations
At admission, the nurse learns that some time ago the patient had an infarct in
the right cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find that
the patient:
a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech
b. Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
c. Has difficulty explaining how to go about using the telephone
d. Cannot use his right hand to shave himself or comb his own - (answers)b. Is
unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
, 4
A patient with chronic schizophrenia had a stroke involving the hippocampus. The
patient will be discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need to
individualize the patients medication teaching by:
a. Including the patients caregiver in the education b. Being careful to stress the
importance of taking the medication as prescribed
c. Providing the education at a time when the patient is emotionally calm and
relaxed
d. Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with
swallowing - (answers)a. Including the patients caregiver in the education
The physician tells the nurse, The medication Im prescribing for the patient
enhances the g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. Which patient behavior will
provide evidence that the medication therapy is successful?
a. The patient is actively involved in playing cards with other patients.
b. The patient reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of days ago.
c. The patient reports that both auditory and visual hallucinations have
decreased.
d. The patient says that, I am much happier than before I came to the hospital. -
(answers)b. The patient reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of
days ago.
The patients family asks whether a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease creates an
increased risk for any mental health issues. What question would the nurse ask to
assess for such a comorbid condition?
a. Has your father exhibited any signs of depression? b. Does your father seem to
experience mood swings?
Exam 1: NSG552 / NSG 552 (Latest 2025
/ 2026 Update) Psychopharmacology |
Questions with Verified Answers | 100%
Correct | Grade A – Wilkes.
A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression is a
chemical disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on the
theory that depression primarily involves which of the following
neurotransmitters?
a. Cortisol and GABA
b. COMT and glutamate
c. Monamine and glycine
d. Serotonin and norepinephrine - (answers)d. Serotonin and norepinephrine
A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) that has resulted
in damage to the Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to
reinforce this diagnosis?
a. Observing the patient pick up a spoon
b. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
c. Monitoring the patients blood pressure
d. Comparing the patients grip strength in both - (answers)b. Asking the patient to
recite the alphabet
,2
The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are
always prescribed by the doctor. The nurses answer will be based on information
that the therapeutic action of psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
a. The temporal lobe; especially Wernickes area
b. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
d. The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to the psychotropic medications -
(answers)c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle
with understanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The
mentor would base a response on the understanding that it is:
a. Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on
behavioral interventions
b. A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently use
in their practice
c. Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain trauma
caused cognitive symptoms
d. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those
experiencing psychiatric disorders - (answers)d. Necessary for planning psychiatric
care for all patients especially those experiencing psychiatric disorders
A patient asks the nurse, My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her
chronic depression? Which response is supported by research data?
a. Too much stress has been proven to cause all kinds of cancer.
,3
b. There have been no research studies done on stress and disease yet.
c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
d. There appears to be little connection between stress and diseases of the body -
(answers)c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune
system.
A patient who has a parietal lobe injury is being evaluated for psychiatric
rehabilitation needs. Of the aspects of functioning listed, which will the nurse
identify as a focus of nursing intervention?
a. Expression of emotion
b. Detecting auditory stimuli
c. Receiving visual images
d. Processing associations - (answers)d. Processing associations
At admission, the nurse learns that some time ago the patient had an infarct in
the right cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find that
the patient:
a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech
b. Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
c. Has difficulty explaining how to go about using the telephone
d. Cannot use his right hand to shave himself or comb his own - (answers)b. Is
unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
, 4
A patient with chronic schizophrenia had a stroke involving the hippocampus. The
patient will be discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need to
individualize the patients medication teaching by:
a. Including the patients caregiver in the education b. Being careful to stress the
importance of taking the medication as prescribed
c. Providing the education at a time when the patient is emotionally calm and
relaxed
d. Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with
swallowing - (answers)a. Including the patients caregiver in the education
The physician tells the nurse, The medication Im prescribing for the patient
enhances the g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. Which patient behavior will
provide evidence that the medication therapy is successful?
a. The patient is actively involved in playing cards with other patients.
b. The patient reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of days ago.
c. The patient reports that both auditory and visual hallucinations have
decreased.
d. The patient says that, I am much happier than before I came to the hospital. -
(answers)b. The patient reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of
days ago.
The patients family asks whether a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease creates an
increased risk for any mental health issues. What question would the nurse ask to
assess for such a comorbid condition?
a. Has your father exhibited any signs of depression? b. Does your father seem to
experience mood swings?
