Saunders Mental Health and Pharmacology Psychiatric Exam
SAUNDERS MENTAL HEALTH AND PHARMACOLOGY PSYCHIATRIC EXAM
NEWEST 2025/2026 COMPLETE 250 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED
A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!!
The nurse is planning care for a client who has a history of violent behavior and is
at risk for harming others. Which intervention presents a need for follow-up
because it could potentially present a danger to the client, health care providers,
and others on the nursing unit? - ANSWER-Assigning the client to a room at the
end of the hall
The client would be placed in a room near the nurses' station and not at the end
of a long, relatively unprotected corridor. The nurse would not become isolated
with a potentially violent client. The nurse would never turn away from the client,
and the door to the client's room would be kept open. A security officer would be
within immediate call in case violent behavior appears imminent.
The nurse caring for a client diagnosed with severe depression is planning
activities for the client. Which activity would be most appropriate for this client? -
ANSWER-Drawing
Concentration and memory are poor in severe depression. When a client has a
diagnosis of severe depression, the nurse needs to provide activities that require
little concentration, such as drawing. Activities that have no right or wrong choices
and that require no decisions minimize opportunities for the depressed client to
experience a sense of failure. The remaining options do not meet the criteria and
are incorrect.
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, Saunders Mental Health and Pharmacology Psychiatric Exam
The nurse is developing a plan of care for a client with depression who is
scheduled to have electroconvulsive therapy. Which problem is a priority for this
client? - ANSWER-Risk for aspiration
Priority is focused on physical problems. Aspiration is safeguarded against by
keeping the client on nothing by mouth status for 6 to 8 hours before
electroconvulsive therapy, removing dentures, and administering preprocedure
medications as prescribed. Body image is not associated with this procedure.
Although the remaining options could be appropriate problems, they are not the
priority.
A client in a manic state presents to the dayroom only partially dressed and is
making sexual remarks and gestures toward the staff and other clients. Which is
the initial nursing action? - ANSWER-Escort the client to own room to get
appropriately dressed.
A person who is experiencing mania lacks insight and judgment, has poor impulse
control, and is highly excitable. The nurse must take control without creating
increased stress or anxiety in the client. Use of a quiet, firm approach and
distracting the client (walking to own room and assisting in getting dressed) will
achieve the goal of having the client dressed appropriately while preserving their
psychosocial integrity. While restating boundaries is appropriate, the initial task
relates to controlling inappropriate behaviors while protecting the client. Telling
the other clients to go to their rooms immediately is inappropriate and does not
address the client's behavior.
The nurse is monitoring a stress management therapy group that is in the forming
stage. Which activity is characteristic of this stage of group development? -
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, Saunders Mental Health and Pharmacology Psychiatric Exam
ANSWER-Setting the rules of conduct for members of the stress management
group
In the forming or initial stage, the members are identifying tasks and boundaries
(setting rules). Storming involves responding emotionally to tasks. In the norming
stage, members express intimate personal opinions and feelings concerning
personal tasks (options 1 and 2). In the performing stage, members direct group
energy toward the completion of tasks (option 4).
When planning discharge care for a client diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the
nurse determines the need for further teaching when the client makes which
statement? - ANSWER-"I will take the medicine until I am sure I can handle my
own problems."
The client does not demonstrate an understanding of the continued need for
medication and suggests that the illness can be controlled by decreasing stress.
The remaining options are common concerns of a client on discharge but do not
indicate the need for further teaching.
Which statement by the client best reflects the development of an effective
coping response style and effective processing of information for a hospitalized
client participating in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)? - ANSWER-"I'm looking forward
to leaving here. I will miss all of you. So, I'm happy and I'm sad, I'm excited, and
I'm scared. I know that I have to work hard to be strong and that not everyone will
be as helpful as you people."
In the defense mechanism of denial, the person denies reality. Avoid an option
that identifies the client demonstrating denial or relying on concrete, inflexible
3|Page
, Saunders Mental Health and Pharmacology Psychiatric Exam
behavior or on being heavily dependent on others to manage the addiction. The
client demonstrates reality in the statement in the correct option.
In formulating a discharge teaching plan, the nurse would include which
precaution for a client with bipolar disorder who is prescribed lithium carbonate
therapy? - ANSWER-Check with the psychiatrist before using any over-the-counter
medications.
Submit
Lithium is a mood stabilizer and a medication to treat bipolar disorder. Its exact
mechanism of action remains speculative; however, equilibrium of sodium and
potassium must be maintained at the intracellular membrane to maintain
therapeutic effects. Lithium competes with sodium in the cell. Many over-the-
counter medications contain sodium, and often prescription medications
(diuretics) change the sodium-potassium ratios of the cell, thereby affecting
lithium concentrations so that it is more difficult to achieve therapeutic levels of
the medication. Food restriction (tyramine-restricted diet) is associated with
monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Lithium blood levels are recommended for the
client taking lithium, but these tests generally are prescribed every 3 to 4 months.
Lithium is not addictive.
The home health nurse visits an agoraphobic client who experiences panic attacks.
Which statement by the client would indicate a therapeutic response to
behavioral and pharmacological treatment? - ANSWER-"I went to the movies with
my family and stayed through the whole film by sitting in a seat along the aisle."
Generalizing fears to a specific place or situation is the hallmark of agoraphobia.
Improvement is observed when the client is able to demonstrate appropriate
coping behaviors for anxiety reduction. Taking extra anxiety medication would not
4|Page
SAUNDERS MENTAL HEALTH AND PHARMACOLOGY PSYCHIATRIC EXAM
NEWEST 2025/2026 COMPLETE 250 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED
A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!!
The nurse is planning care for a client who has a history of violent behavior and is
at risk for harming others. Which intervention presents a need for follow-up
because it could potentially present a danger to the client, health care providers,
and others on the nursing unit? - ANSWER-Assigning the client to a room at the
end of the hall
The client would be placed in a room near the nurses' station and not at the end
of a long, relatively unprotected corridor. The nurse would not become isolated
with a potentially violent client. The nurse would never turn away from the client,
and the door to the client's room would be kept open. A security officer would be
within immediate call in case violent behavior appears imminent.
The nurse caring for a client diagnosed with severe depression is planning
activities for the client. Which activity would be most appropriate for this client? -
ANSWER-Drawing
Concentration and memory are poor in severe depression. When a client has a
diagnosis of severe depression, the nurse needs to provide activities that require
little concentration, such as drawing. Activities that have no right or wrong choices
and that require no decisions minimize opportunities for the depressed client to
experience a sense of failure. The remaining options do not meet the criteria and
are incorrect.
1|Page
, Saunders Mental Health and Pharmacology Psychiatric Exam
The nurse is developing a plan of care for a client with depression who is
scheduled to have electroconvulsive therapy. Which problem is a priority for this
client? - ANSWER-Risk for aspiration
Priority is focused on physical problems. Aspiration is safeguarded against by
keeping the client on nothing by mouth status for 6 to 8 hours before
electroconvulsive therapy, removing dentures, and administering preprocedure
medications as prescribed. Body image is not associated with this procedure.
Although the remaining options could be appropriate problems, they are not the
priority.
A client in a manic state presents to the dayroom only partially dressed and is
making sexual remarks and gestures toward the staff and other clients. Which is
the initial nursing action? - ANSWER-Escort the client to own room to get
appropriately dressed.
A person who is experiencing mania lacks insight and judgment, has poor impulse
control, and is highly excitable. The nurse must take control without creating
increased stress or anxiety in the client. Use of a quiet, firm approach and
distracting the client (walking to own room and assisting in getting dressed) will
achieve the goal of having the client dressed appropriately while preserving their
psychosocial integrity. While restating boundaries is appropriate, the initial task
relates to controlling inappropriate behaviors while protecting the client. Telling
the other clients to go to their rooms immediately is inappropriate and does not
address the client's behavior.
The nurse is monitoring a stress management therapy group that is in the forming
stage. Which activity is characteristic of this stage of group development? -
2|Page
, Saunders Mental Health and Pharmacology Psychiatric Exam
ANSWER-Setting the rules of conduct for members of the stress management
group
In the forming or initial stage, the members are identifying tasks and boundaries
(setting rules). Storming involves responding emotionally to tasks. In the norming
stage, members express intimate personal opinions and feelings concerning
personal tasks (options 1 and 2). In the performing stage, members direct group
energy toward the completion of tasks (option 4).
When planning discharge care for a client diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the
nurse determines the need for further teaching when the client makes which
statement? - ANSWER-"I will take the medicine until I am sure I can handle my
own problems."
The client does not demonstrate an understanding of the continued need for
medication and suggests that the illness can be controlled by decreasing stress.
The remaining options are common concerns of a client on discharge but do not
indicate the need for further teaching.
Which statement by the client best reflects the development of an effective
coping response style and effective processing of information for a hospitalized
client participating in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)? - ANSWER-"I'm looking forward
to leaving here. I will miss all of you. So, I'm happy and I'm sad, I'm excited, and
I'm scared. I know that I have to work hard to be strong and that not everyone will
be as helpful as you people."
In the defense mechanism of denial, the person denies reality. Avoid an option
that identifies the client demonstrating denial or relying on concrete, inflexible
3|Page
, Saunders Mental Health and Pharmacology Psychiatric Exam
behavior or on being heavily dependent on others to manage the addiction. The
client demonstrates reality in the statement in the correct option.
In formulating a discharge teaching plan, the nurse would include which
precaution for a client with bipolar disorder who is prescribed lithium carbonate
therapy? - ANSWER-Check with the psychiatrist before using any over-the-counter
medications.
Submit
Lithium is a mood stabilizer and a medication to treat bipolar disorder. Its exact
mechanism of action remains speculative; however, equilibrium of sodium and
potassium must be maintained at the intracellular membrane to maintain
therapeutic effects. Lithium competes with sodium in the cell. Many over-the-
counter medications contain sodium, and often prescription medications
(diuretics) change the sodium-potassium ratios of the cell, thereby affecting
lithium concentrations so that it is more difficult to achieve therapeutic levels of
the medication. Food restriction (tyramine-restricted diet) is associated with
monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Lithium blood levels are recommended for the
client taking lithium, but these tests generally are prescribed every 3 to 4 months.
Lithium is not addictive.
The home health nurse visits an agoraphobic client who experiences panic attacks.
Which statement by the client would indicate a therapeutic response to
behavioral and pharmacological treatment? - ANSWER-"I went to the movies with
my family and stayed through the whole film by sitting in a seat along the aisle."
Generalizing fears to a specific place or situation is the hallmark of agoraphobia.
Improvement is observed when the client is able to demonstrate appropriate
coping behaviors for anxiety reduction. Taking extra anxiety medication would not
4|Page
