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

Nurse Dorothy is evaluating care of a client with schizophrenia; the nurse should keep which point in mind?

Gio told his nurse that the FBI is monitoring and recording his every movement and that microphones have been placed in the unit walls. Which action would be the most therapeutic response?

Which of the following client behaviors documented in Gio’s chart would validate the nursing diagnosis of Risk for other-directed violence?

Nurse Winona educates the family about symptom management for when the schizophrenic client becomes upset or anxious. Which of the following would Nurse Winona state be helpful?

Drogo, who has had auditory hallucinations for many years, tells Nurse Khally that the voices prevent his participation in a social skills training program at the community health center. Which intervention is most appropriate?

Cersei is diagnosed as having disorganized schizophrenia. Which behaviors would Nurse Sansa most likely assess in the client?

Jaime has a diagnosis of schizophrenia with negative symptoms. In planning care for the client, Nurse Brienne would anticipate a problem with:

The family of a schizophrenic client asks the nurse if there is a genetic cause of this disorder. To answer the family, which fact would the nurse cite?

Ramsay is diagnosed with schizophrenia paranoid type and is admitted to the psychiatric unit of Nurseslabs Medical Center. Which of the following nursing interventions would be most appropriate?

A client tells the nurse that psychotropic medicines are dangerous and refuses to take them. Which intervention should the nurse use first?

Upon Sam’s admission for acute psychiatric hospitalization, Nurse Jona documents the following: Client refuses to bathe or dress, remains in the room most of the day, speaks infrequently to peers or staff. Which nursing diagnosis would be the priority at this time?

Which statement is correct about a 25-year-old client with newly diagnosed schizophrenia?

Which factor is associated with increased risk for schizophrenia?

Nurse Arya assesses for evidence of positive symptoms of schizophrenia in a newly admitted client. Which of the following symptoms are considered positive evidence? Select all that apply.

A client with schizophrenia is referred for psychosocial rehabilitation. Which of the following are typical of this type of program? Select all that apply.

The nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia. Which of the following outcomes is the least desirable?

The nurse formulates a nursing diagnosis of Impaired verbal communication for a client with schizotypal personality disorder. Based on this nursing diagnosis, which nursing intervention is most appropriate?

Since admission 4 days ago, a client has refused to take a shower, stating, “There are poison crystals hidden in the showerhead. They’ll kill me if I take a shower.” Which nursing action is most appropriate?

Drug therapy with thioridazine (Mellaril) shouldn’t exceed a daily dose of 800 mg to prevent which adverse reaction?

A client with paranoid personality disorder is admitted to a psychiatric facility. Which remark by the nurse would best establish rapport and encourage the client to confide in the nurse?

How soon after chlorpromazine (Thorazine) administration should the nurse expect to see a client’s delusional thoughts and hallucinations eliminated?A. Several minutes

A client is about to be discharged with a prescription for the antipsychotic agent haloperidol (Haldol), 10 mg by mouth twice per day. During a discharge teaching session, the nurse should provide which instruction to the client?

A client with paranoid schizophrenia repeatedly uses profanity during an activity therapy session. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?

Which of the following is one of the advantages of the newer antipsychotic medication risperidone (Risperdal)?

The etiology of schizophrenia is best described by:

A client with schizophrenia who receives fluphenazine (Prolixin) develops pseudoparkinsonism and akinesia. What drug would the nurse administer to minimize extrapyramidal symptoms?

A client with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia comments to the nurse, “How do I know what is really in those pills?” Which of the following is the best response?

A client tells the nurse that people from Mars are going to invade the earth. Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?

A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse he hears the voices of his dead parents. To help the client ignore the voices, the nurse should recommend that he:

A client with schizophrenia is receiving antipsychotic medication. Which nursing diagnosis may be appropriate for this client?

A client with persistent, severe schizophrenia has been treated with phenothiazines for the past 17 years. Now the client’s speech is garbled as a result of drug-induced rhythmic tongue protrusion. What is another name for this extrapyramidal symptom?

The nurse is assigned to a client with catatonic schizophrenia. Which intervention should the nurse include in the client’s plan of care?

A client with a history of medication noncompliance is receiving outpatient treatment for chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia. The physician is most likely to prescribe which medication for this client?

Propranolol (Inderal) is used in the mental health setting to manage which of the following conditions?

Every day for the past 2 weeks, a client with schizophrenia stands up during group therapy and screams, “Get out of here right now! The elevator bombs are going to explode in 3 minutes!” The next time this happens, how should the nurse respond?

A 26-year-old client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with acute onset of schizophrenia. His physician prescribes the phenothiazine chlorpromazine (Thorazine), 100 mg by mouth four times per day. Before administering the drug, the nurse reviews the client’s medication history. Concomitant use of which drug is likely to increase the risk of extrapyramidal effects?

A client, age 36, with paranoid schizophrenia believes the room is bugged by the Central Intelligence Agency and that his roommate is a foreign spy. The client has never had a romantic relationship, has no contact with family members, and hasn’t been employed in the last 14 years. Based on Erikson’s theories, the nurse should recognize that this client is in which stage of psychosocial development?

During a group therapy session in the psychiatric unit, a client constantly interrupts with impulsive behavior and exaggerated stories that cast her as a hero or princess. She also manipulates the group with attention-seeking behaviors, such as sexual comments and angry outbursts. The nurse realizes that these behaviors are typical of:

The nurse is teaching a psychiatric client about her prescribed drugs, chlorpromazine, and benztropine. Why is benztropine administered?

A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a tentative diagnosis of psychosis. Her physician prescribes the phenothiazine thioridazine (Mellaril) 50 mg by mouth three times per day. Phenothiazines differ from central nervous system (CNS) depressants in their sedative effects by producing:

A woman is admitted to the psychiatric emergency department. Her significant other reports that she has difficulty sleeping, has poor judgment, and is incoherent at times. The client’s speech is rapid and loose. She reports being a special messenger from the Messiah. She has a history of depressed mood for which she has been taking an antidepressant. The nurse suspects which diagnosis?

A client with paranoid schizophrenia is admitted to the psychiatric unit of a hospital. Nursing assessment should include careful observation of the client’s:

Which information is most important for the nurse to include in a teaching plan for a schizophrenic client taking clozapine (Clozaril)?

Important teaching for clients receiving antipsychotic medication such as haloperidol (Haldol) includes which of the following instructions? Select all that apply.

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include which of the following?A. Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking

A client with chronic schizophrenia receives 20 mg of fluphenazine decanoate (Prolixin Decanoate) by I.M. injection. Three days later, the client has muscle contractions that contort the neck. This client is exhibiting which extrapyramidal reaction?

Hormonal effects of the antipsychotic medications include which of the following?

A client is unable to get out of bed and get dressed unless the nurse prompts every step. This is an example of which behavior?

An agitated and incoherent client, age 29, comes to the emergency department with complaints of visual and auditory hallucinations. The history reveals that the client was hospitalized for paranoid schizophrenia from ages 20 to 21. The physician prescribes haloperidol (Haldol), 5 mg I.M. The nurse understands that this drug is used for this client to treat:

Yesterday, a client with schizophrenia began treatment with haloperidol (Haldol). Today, the nurse notices that the client is holding his head to one side and complaining of neck and jaw spasms. What should the nurse do?

A client receiving fluphenazine decanoate (Prolixin Decanoate) therapy develops pseudoparkinsonism. The physician is likely to prescribe which drug to control this extrapyramidal effect?

Important teaching for a client receiving risperidone (Risperdal) would include advising the client to:

A client is admitted to the psychiatric hospital with a diagnosis of catatonic schizophrenia. During the physical examination, the client’s arm remains outstretched after the nurse obtains the pulse and blood pressure, and the nurse must reposition the arm. This client is exhibiting:

A client with borderline personality disorder becomes angry when he is told that today’s psychotherapy session with the nurse will be delayed 30 minutes because of an emergency. When the session finally begins, the client expresses anger. Which response by the nurse would be most helpful in dealing with the client’s anger?

A client begins clozapine (Clozaril) therapy after several other antipsychotic agents fail to relieve her psychotic symptoms. The nurse instructs her to return for weekly white blood cell (WBC) counts to assess for which adverse reaction?

Which non-antipsychotic medication is used to treat some clients with schizoaffective disorder?A. phenelzine (Nardil)

A client diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder is suffering from schizophrenia with elements of which of the following disorders?

When teaching the family of a client with schizophrenia, the nurse should provide which information?

A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with active psychosis. The physician diagnoses schizophrenia after ruling out several other conditions. Schizophrenia is characterized by:

The nurse is providing care to a client with a catatonic type of schizophrenia who exhibits extreme negativism. To help the client meet his basic needs, the nurse should:

The nurse is caring for a client who experiences false sensory perceptions with no basis in reality. These perceptions are known as:

The nurse is aware that antipsychotic medications may cause which of the following adverse effects?

A client is admitted with a diagnosis of delusions of grandeur. This diagnosis reflects a belief that one is:

A man with a 5-year history of multiple psychiatric admissions is brought to the emergency department by the police. He was found wandering the streets disheveled, shoeless, and confused. Based on his previous medical records and current behavior, he is diagnosed with chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia. The nurse should assign the highest priority to which nursing diagnosis?

A client’s medication order reads, “Thioridazine (Mellaril) 200 mg P.O. q.i.d. and 100 mg P.O. p.r.n.” The nurse should: