Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing NCLEX Practice Questions Nursing Test Bank (700+ Questions)

A psychotic client reports to the evening nurse that the day nurse put something suspicious in his water with his medication. The nurse replies, “You’re worried about your medication?” The nurse’s communication is:

A client is admitted to the inpatient unit of the mental health center with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. He’s shouting that the government of France is trying to assassinate him. Which of the following responses is most appropriate?

A client receiving haloperidol (Haldol) complains of a stiff jaw and difficulty swallowing. The nurse’s first action is to:

The nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who experiences auditory hallucinations. The client appears to be listening to someone who isn’t visible. He gestures, shouts angrily, and stops shouting in mid-sentence. Which nursing intervention is the most appropriate?

A client with paranoid schizophrenia has been experiencing auditory hallucinations for many years. One approach that has proven to be effective for hallucinating clients is to:

A client with catatonic schizophrenia is mute, can’t perform activities of daily living, and stares out the window for hours. What is the nurse’s first priority?

A client tells the nurse that the television newscaster is sending a secret message to her. The nurse suspects the client is experiencing:

The nurse knows that the physician has ordered the liquid form of the drug chlorpromazine (Thorazine) rather than the tablet form because the liquid:

A client who has been hospitalized with disorganized type schizophrenia for 8 years can’t complete activities of daily living (ADLs) without staff direction and assistance. The nurse formulates a nursing diagnosis of Self-care deficit: Dressing/grooming related to inability to function without assistance. What is an appropriate goal for this client?

The nurse is planning care for a client admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Which nursing diagnosis should receive the highest priority?

The nurse is preparing for the discharge of a client who has been hospitalized for paranoid schizophrenia. The client’s husband expresses concern over whether his wife will continue to take her daily prescribed medication. The nurse should inform him that:

Benztropine (Cogentin) is used to treat the extrapyramidal effects induced by antipsychotics. This drug exerts its effect by:

A dopamine receptor agonist such as bromocriptine (Parlodel) relieves muscle rigidity caused by antipsychotic medication by:

Most antipsychotic medications exert the following effects on the central nervous system (CNS)?

A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit of a local hospital with chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia. During the next several days, the client is seen laughing, yelling, and talking to herself. This behavior is characteristic of:

Which of the following medications would the nurse expect the physician to order to reverse a dystonic reaction?

A schizophrenic client states, “I hear the voice of King Tut.” Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?

A client has been receiving chlorpromazine (Thorazine), an antipsychotic, to treat his psychosis. Which findings should alert the nurse that the client is experiencing pseudoparkinsonism?

For several years, a client with chronic schizophrenia has received 10 mg of fluphenazine hydrochloride (Prolixin) by mouth four times per day. Now the client has a temperature of 102° F (38.9° C), a heart rate of 120 beats/minute, a respiratory rate of 20 breaths/minute, and a blood pressure of 210/140 mm Hg. Because the client also is confused and incontinent, the nurse suspects malignant neuroleptic syndrome. What steps should the nurse take?

A schizophrenic client with delusions tells the nurse, “There is a man wearing a red coat who’s out to get me.” The client exhibits increasing anxiety when focusing on the delusions. Which of the following would be the best response?

Important teaching for women in their childbearing years who are receiving antipsychotic medications includes which of the following?

A client is admitted to a psychiatric facility with a diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia. The history indicates that the client has been taking neuroleptic medication for many years. Assessment reveals unusual movements of the tongue, neck, and arms. Which condition should the nurse suspect?

What medication would probably be ordered for the acutely aggressive schizophrenic client?

A client is admitted with a diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder. Which signs would this client exhibit during social situations?

During the initial interview, a client with schizophrenia suddenly turns to the empty chair beside him and whispers, “Now just leave. I told you to stay home. There isn’t enough work here for both of us!” What is the nurse’s best initial response?

The definition of nihilistic delusions is:

A client who’s taking antipsychotic medication develops a very high temperature, severe muscle rigidity, tachycardia, and rapid deterioration in mental status. The nurse suspects what complication of antipsychotic therapy?

The nurse formulates a nursing diagnosis of Impaired social interaction related to disorganized thinking for a client with schizotypal personality disorder. Based on this nursing diagnosis, which nursing intervention takes the highest priority?

A client with schizophrenia hears a voice telling him he is evil and must die. The nurse understands that the client is experiencing:

A client with delusional thinking shows a lack of interest in eating at meal times. She states that she is unworthy of eating and that her children will die if she eats. Which nursing action would be most appropriate for this client?

Which of the following groups of characteristics would the nurse expect to see in the client with schizophrenia?

The nurse must administer a medication to reverse or prevent Parkinson-type symptoms in a client receiving an antipsychotic. The medication the client will likely receive is:

A client is receiving haloperidol (Haldol) to reduce psychotic symptoms. As he watches television with other clients, the nurse notes that he has trouble sitting still. He seems restless, constantly moving his hands and feet and changing position. When the nurse asks what is wrong, he says he feels jittery. How should the nurse manage this situation?

A man is brought to the hospital by his wife, who states that for the past week her husband has refused all meals and accused her of trying to poison him. During the initial interview, the client’s speech, only partly comprehensible, reveals that his thoughts are controlled by delusions that he is possessed by the devil. The physician diagnoses paranoid schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is best described as a disorder characterized by:

A client has a history of chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia. Because she has a history of noncompliance with antipsychotic therapy, she’ll receive fluphenazine decanoate (Prolixin Decanoate) injections every 4 weeks. Before discharge, what should the nurse include in her teaching plan?

A client with chronic schizophrenia who takes neuroleptic medication is admitted to the psychiatric unit. Nursing assessment reveals rigidity, fever, hypertension, and diaphoresis. These findings suggest which life-threatening reaction:

While looking out the window, a client with schizophrenia remarks, “That school across the street has creatures in it that are waiting for me.” Which of the following terms best describes what the creatures represent?

A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, “My intestines are rotted from the worms chewing on them.” This statement indicates a:A. Delusion of persecution

During the assessment stage, a client with schizophrenia leaves his arm in the air after the nurse has taken his blood pressure. His action shows evidence of:

A client with paranoid-type schizophrenia becomes angry and tells the nurse to leave him alone. The nurse should

Nursing care for a client with schizophrenia must be based on valid psychiatric and nursing theories. The nurse’s interpersonal communication with the client and specific nursing interventions must be:

When discharging a client after treatment for a dystonic reaction, the emergency department nurse must ensure that the client understands which of the following?

Upon evaluation of the patient’s record, the nurse sees the admission was voluntary. Based on this data, the nurse expects which patient behavior?

A clinical instructor is correcting a nursing student’s worksheet. Which instructor statement is the best example of effective feedback?

Which nursing statement is a good example of the therapeutic communication technique of focusing?

A person with antisocial personality disorder has toughness relating to others because of never having learned to:

Which of the following behaviors by a client with dependent personality disorder shows the client has made progress toward the goal of increasing problem-solving skills?

Which is the best indicator of success in the long-term management of the client?

The nurse asks a client to roll up his sleeves so she can take his blood pressure. The client replies “If you want I can go naked for you.” The most therapeutic response by the nurse is:

Which goal is a priority for a client with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of delirium and the nursing diagnosis Acute confusion related to recent surgery secondary to traumatic hip fracture?

Nurse Tony should first discuss terminating the nurse-client relationship with a client during the:

Malou is diagnosed with major depression and spends the majority of the day lying in bed with the sheet pulled over his head. Which of the following approaches by the nurse would be the most therapeutic?

Joe who is very depressed exhibits psychomotor retardation, a flat affect, and apathy. The nurse in charge observes Joe to be in need of grooming and hygiene. Which of the following nursing actions would be most appropriate?

When teaching Mario with a typical depression about foods to avoid while taking phenelzine(Nardil), which of the following would the nurse in charge include?

When assessing a female client who is receiving tricyclic antidepressant therapy, which of the following would alert the nurse to the possibility that the client is experiencing anticholinergic effects?

For a male client with dysthymic disorder, which of the following approaches would the nurse expect to implement?

Danny, who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and acute mania, states the nurse, “Where is my daughter? I love Louis. Rain, rain go away. Dogs eat dirt.” The nurse interprets these statements as indicating which of the following?

Terry with mania is skipping up and down the hallway practically running into other clients. Which of the following activities would the nurse in charge expect to include in Terry’s plan of care?

When assessing a male client for suicidal risk, which of the following methods of suicide would the nurse identify as most lethal?

Jun has been hospitalized for major depression and suicidal ideation. Which of the following statements indicates to the nurse that the client is improving?

Which of the following activities would Nurse Trish recommend to the client who becomes very anxious when thoughts of suicide occur?

When developing the plan of care for a client receiving haloperidol, which of the following medications would nurse Monet anticipate administering if the client developed extrapyramidal side effects?

Jon, a suspicious client, states that “I know you nurses are spraying my food with poison as you take it out of the cart.” Which of the following would be the best response of the nurse?

A client is suffering from catatonic behaviors. Which of the following would the nurse use to determine that the medication administered PRN has been most effective?

Nurse Hazel invites the new client’s parents to attend the psycho educational program for families of the chronically mentally ill. The program would be most likely to help the family with which of the following issues?

When planning care for Dory with a schizotypal personality disorder, which of the following would help the client become involved with others?

Which statement about an individual with a personality disorder is true?

Nurse John is talking with a client who has been diagnosed with an antisocial personality about how to socialize during activities without being seductive. Nurse John would focus the discussion on which of the following areas?

Tina with a histrionic personality disorder is melodramatic and responds to others and situations in an exaggerated manner. Nurse Trish would recommend which of the following activities for Tina?

Joy has entered the chemical dependency unit for treatment of alcohol dependency. Which of the following client’s possessions will the nurse most likely place in a locked area?

Which of the following assessments would provide the best information about the client’s physiologic response and the effectiveness of the medication prescribed specifically for alcohol withdrawal?

After administering naloxone (Narcan), an opioid antagonist, Nurse Ronald should monitor the female client carefully for which of the following?

Which of the following would nurse Ronald use as the best measure to determine a client’s progress in rehabilitation?

A female client is brought by ambulance to the hospital emergency room after taking an overdose of barbiturates is comatose. Nurse Trish would be especially alert for which of the following?

Joey who has a chronic user of cocaine reports that he feels like he has cockroaches crawling under his skin. His arms are red because of scratching. The nurse in charge interprets these findings as possibly indicating which of the following?