Week 5 BSN 315 Antidepressant and Mood
Stabilizer Drug Therapy Exam | Questions with
100% Correct Answers | Verified | Latest Update
2026
Save
Terms in this set (55)
Question 1 of 3 "It can take 4 weeks or longer for the medication to
The nurse is assessing a patient who be effective."
was prescribed sertraline 1 week ago. It may take 4 weeks (or up to 8 to 12 weeks) for the
The patient states, "This medication patient to feel the medication's effects.
isn't working; I feel no different."
Which nursing response is
appropriate?
"How often are you taking the
medication?"
"Let's talk to the health care provider
about this."
"You may need an increase in
dosage."
"It can take 4 weeks or longer for the
medication to be effective."
,Question 2 of 3 "Duloxetine has been approved for use in treating
A patient with major depressive both major depressive disorder and generalized
disorder and generalized anxiety anxiety disorder."
disorder has been prescribed Duloxetine has been approved to treat both major
duloxetine. The patient asks, "Isn't my depressive disorder and generalized anxiety
health care provider also prescribing disorder.
something for anxiety?" Which
nursing response is appropriate?
"How much duloxetine has the health
care provider recommended?"
"I'm sure it was an omission; let's get
the health care provider to prescribe
an additional medication."
"It is important that we only treat one
condition at a time."
"Duloxetine has been approved for
use in treating both major depressive
disorder and generalized anxiety
disorder."
Question 3 of 3 2 weeks later
A patient who has just been It takes up to 1 to 2 weeks for lithium to reach a
prescribed lithium needs a steady state. The nurse will schedule the
laboratory appointment to appointment for 2 weeks later.
determine serum levels for efficacy
of treatment. When will the nurse
schedule the appointment?
2 weeks later
4 weeks later
6 weeks later
8 weeks later
,Special considerations:
*TCAs may have a sedative action
and should be taken at night.
*SSRIs should not be started if the
patient has had an MAOI in the
previous 14 days.
*Patients taking SNRIs should be
taught to avoid taking St. John's wort
because of the increased risk for
serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic
malignant syndrome.
*Atypical antidepressants should not
be taken with MAOIs, nor used within
14 days of discontinuing an MAOI.
*Patients taking MAOIs should avoid
foods rich in tyramine.
CASE STUDY DETAILS
Mr. Chandler is an older adult who
has been admitted to the hospital
with vomiting, abdominal pain,
diarrhea, blurred vision, and severe
tremors. He has a history of bipolar
disorder and major depression. Mr.
Chandler is currently taking lithium
300 mg PO every 8 hours and
sertraline 50 mg PO every day. His
lithium level is 2.5 mEq/L. According
to the patient's wife, he started a
low-sodium diet 3 months ago in an
effort to control his blood pressure.
, Question 1 of 5 "Resume your normal diet, and monitor your blood
What dietary teaching will the nurse pressure daily."
provide to Mr. Chandler who is A normal diet can be consumed while on lithium.
taking lithium and sertraline and The patient should not be eating a low-sodium diet
started a low-sodium diet 3 months because this can contribute to lithium toxicity.
ago to control his blood pressure?
"Continue a low-sodium diet to
control blood pressure."
"Consider doubling or tripling the
dietary sodium in your diet."
"A low-fat diet is important when you
are taking lithium."
"Resume your normal diet, and
monitor your blood pressure daily."
Question 2 of 5 Hold the medication and contact the health care
The nurse is preparing to administer provider.
sertraline to a patient who reports The nurse needs to hold the medication and
taking warfarin. Which nursing action contact the health care provider. Sertraline is used
is appropriate? with extreme caution in patients taking warfarin
Hold the medication and contact the because of an increased risk for bleeding. The
health care provider. nurse needs to confirm the health care provider's
Administer the medication and prescription.
document.
Ask if the patient has taken
antidepressants in the past while on
warfarin.
Ask the charge nurse if sertraline can
be given to this patient.
Stabilizer Drug Therapy Exam | Questions with
100% Correct Answers | Verified | Latest Update
2026
Save
Terms in this set (55)
Question 1 of 3 "It can take 4 weeks or longer for the medication to
The nurse is assessing a patient who be effective."
was prescribed sertraline 1 week ago. It may take 4 weeks (or up to 8 to 12 weeks) for the
The patient states, "This medication patient to feel the medication's effects.
isn't working; I feel no different."
Which nursing response is
appropriate?
"How often are you taking the
medication?"
"Let's talk to the health care provider
about this."
"You may need an increase in
dosage."
"It can take 4 weeks or longer for the
medication to be effective."
,Question 2 of 3 "Duloxetine has been approved for use in treating
A patient with major depressive both major depressive disorder and generalized
disorder and generalized anxiety anxiety disorder."
disorder has been prescribed Duloxetine has been approved to treat both major
duloxetine. The patient asks, "Isn't my depressive disorder and generalized anxiety
health care provider also prescribing disorder.
something for anxiety?" Which
nursing response is appropriate?
"How much duloxetine has the health
care provider recommended?"
"I'm sure it was an omission; let's get
the health care provider to prescribe
an additional medication."
"It is important that we only treat one
condition at a time."
"Duloxetine has been approved for
use in treating both major depressive
disorder and generalized anxiety
disorder."
Question 3 of 3 2 weeks later
A patient who has just been It takes up to 1 to 2 weeks for lithium to reach a
prescribed lithium needs a steady state. The nurse will schedule the
laboratory appointment to appointment for 2 weeks later.
determine serum levels for efficacy
of treatment. When will the nurse
schedule the appointment?
2 weeks later
4 weeks later
6 weeks later
8 weeks later
,Special considerations:
*TCAs may have a sedative action
and should be taken at night.
*SSRIs should not be started if the
patient has had an MAOI in the
previous 14 days.
*Patients taking SNRIs should be
taught to avoid taking St. John's wort
because of the increased risk for
serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic
malignant syndrome.
*Atypical antidepressants should not
be taken with MAOIs, nor used within
14 days of discontinuing an MAOI.
*Patients taking MAOIs should avoid
foods rich in tyramine.
CASE STUDY DETAILS
Mr. Chandler is an older adult who
has been admitted to the hospital
with vomiting, abdominal pain,
diarrhea, blurred vision, and severe
tremors. He has a history of bipolar
disorder and major depression. Mr.
Chandler is currently taking lithium
300 mg PO every 8 hours and
sertraline 50 mg PO every day. His
lithium level is 2.5 mEq/L. According
to the patient's wife, he started a
low-sodium diet 3 months ago in an
effort to control his blood pressure.
, Question 1 of 5 "Resume your normal diet, and monitor your blood
What dietary teaching will the nurse pressure daily."
provide to Mr. Chandler who is A normal diet can be consumed while on lithium.
taking lithium and sertraline and The patient should not be eating a low-sodium diet
started a low-sodium diet 3 months because this can contribute to lithium toxicity.
ago to control his blood pressure?
"Continue a low-sodium diet to
control blood pressure."
"Consider doubling or tripling the
dietary sodium in your diet."
"A low-fat diet is important when you
are taking lithium."
"Resume your normal diet, and
monitor your blood pressure daily."
Question 2 of 5 Hold the medication and contact the health care
The nurse is preparing to administer provider.
sertraline to a patient who reports The nurse needs to hold the medication and
taking warfarin. Which nursing action contact the health care provider. Sertraline is used
is appropriate? with extreme caution in patients taking warfarin
Hold the medication and contact the because of an increased risk for bleeding. The
health care provider. nurse needs to confirm the health care provider's
Administer the medication and prescription.
document.
Ask if the patient has taken
antidepressants in the past while on
warfarin.
Ask the charge nurse if sertraline can
be given to this patient.
