Psychiatric Medications

The nurse teaching the patient with major depressive disorder taking tranylcypromine (Parnate) about necessary diet modifications. Which food, if selected by the patient, indicates a need for further teaching?  

The nurse is providing medication teaching to a patient receiving lithium for management of bipolar disorder. The nurse instructs the patient to take in similar levels of which nutrient each day?

Which neurotransmitter system is affected by the drug of choice for major depressive disorder? 

The nurse is caring for a 40-year-old patient experiencing alcohol withdrawal syndrome and advocates for which medication for the patient?

The patient is receiving lorazepam for conscious sedation for a procedure. The nurse notes the patient’s respiratory rate has decreased to 4 breaths per minute. The nurse anticipates administering which of the following medications?

A patient diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder is prescribed fluphenazine 5 mg three times daily. After a week, the patient’s hallucinations and delusions have subsided but the patient is still unkempt and has a flat affect. Which statement best describes the patient’s residual symptoms?

The patient has been prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). The nurse educates the patient about which common side effect of SSRIs?

The nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted to the psychiatric unit because of a suicidal overdose. Which action is most important when administering medication to the patient?

The patient with schizophrenia has recently started thiothixene therapy. The nurse is most vigilant for which irreversible complication of antipsychotic therapy?

The nurse is caring for a patient with long-standing schizophrenia who is in hospital for a change in his antipsychotic medication. After a month on the new medication, the patient begins to display some involuntary facial movements, such as smacking his lips and grimacing. Which statement is true regarding this change?

The nurse is caring for a patient with schizophrenia who has bacterial endocarditis secondary to intravenous drug use. The patient’s antipsychotic medication is changed from risperidone to clozapine. Within days, the patient develops a serious cardiac arrhythmia. The nurse attributes the patient’s arrhythmia to which cause?

The nurse is the charge nurse for the floor. During the shift, a patient is given triple the usual dose of his narcoleptic medication because the current pills were a different dosage than the nurse expected. There was no noticeable adverse effect on the patient from the increased dose and patient has no complaints about the error. Which of the following is the best course of action to take regarding this incident?

The nurse is reviewing the chart of a patient who has been prescribed metronidazole for bacterial vaginosis. Which medication, if present in the patient’s current medication history would prompt the nurse to hold the metronidazole and contact the provider?

The patient with schizophrenia is taking clozapine. Which lab test is most important to follow in this patient to ensure safety?

The nurse is providing education to the patient prescribed a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Which food, if selected by the patient, indicates a need for further teaching?

The patient with major depressive disorder has been prescribed sertraline. Which medication, if discontinued the day prior in the patient’s chart, prompts the nurse to hold the medication and contact the provider?

Benzodiazepines act on which neuroreceptor to decrease anxiety and panic symptoms?

The patient who has been abusing benzodiazepines for 4 years tells the nurse, “I can’t let this drug control my life any longer. Take my pills; I’m quitting today.” Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

The patient has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following sexual assault. The nurse anticipates providing education about which medication?

The patient with major depressive disorder has been prescribed a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). The nurse has educated the patient on dietary restrictions that are required while taking an MAOI. Which statement by the patient indicates further teaching is required?

Which patient is appropriate to assign to a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?

Which signs indicate that a patient with chronic depression may be planning to commit suicide? Select all that apply.

The patient with advanced dementia accuses the nurse of trying to poison him with his scheduled medications. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?

The patient is being treated for obsessive-compulsive disorder with medication and behavioral therapy. At a follow-up visit, the patient reports near complete resolution of symptoms. The nurse anticipates discussing which treatment plan?  

The patient with persistent shoulder pain with associated numbness of the hand is scheduled for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The patient tells the nurse, "I'm terrified of enclosed spaces. I just don't know if I'll survive this test." After relaying the patient's concerns to the provider, which response does the nurse expect from the provider? 

The patient with chronic pain and generalized anxiety disorder has been prescribed alprazolam. Which medication, if also prescribed to the patient, prompts the nurse to clarify the order with the provider?

The nurse is assigned to care for a patient who presents with fever, chills, lethargy, and sore throat. Past medical history is significant for schizophrenia diagnosed three months ago for which clozapine was prescribed. Which additional laboratory finding does the nurse expect to see in this patient?

The nurse is assigned to a 38-year-old patient who presents with polydipsia and polyuria. Past medical history is significant for bipolar disorder diagnosed two months ago, for which the patient was prescribed lithium. The nurse anticipates further testing will reveal which condition? 

The patient with major depressive disorder who has been off medication for a couple of years has been prescribed fluoxetine (Zoloft) again. The patient states, "I'm concerned about starting this medication again. I'm a taxi driver and it always used to make me so sleepy." Which instruction from the nurse is appropriate?

The patient has been prescribed lithium for treatment of bipolar disorder. Which instruction does the nurse include in teaching? 

Which medication is an anxiolytic?

The nurse is answering questions regarding a new prescription of a monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor (MAOI-B) for the patient recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Which reminders does the nurse include in teaching? Select all that apply.

The patient presents to the emergency department exhibiting stiff, jerky movements of the face and neck. The nurse reviews the patient's medical history for a prescription for which medication? 

After failing to experience symptom relief from other antidepressants, the patient is prescribed a tricyclic antidepressant. The nurse instructs the patient to expect which side effect? 

The adult child of the patient with dementia who is the patient’s in-home caregiver reports the patient exhibits increased confusion and agitation after 1600 each day. Which statement by the nurse will be most helpful to the caregiver?

The nurse is planning care for the elderly patient with dementia who experiences increased agitation and confusion during the evening hours. Which interventions does the nurse include to decrease evening agitation and confusion? Select all that apply.

The nurse assesses the patient being treated for bipolar disorder for which signs of toxicity?  

The patient being treated for bipolar disorder is found to be lethargic, confused, and obtunded. It is determined that the morning dose of lithium was not taken. Which order does the nurse anticipate first?  

The 24-year-old otherwise healthy patient with bipolar disorder is found unconscious and brought to the emergency department. The patient is mildly febrile, significantly tachycardic, tachypneic, and hypotensive, with poor skin turgor and 5 second capillary refill. The patient’s EKG is notable for inverted T waves and sinus tachycardia. Which orders does the nurse anticipate for this patient? Select all that apply.  

The 22-year-old patient presented 6 weeks ago to the clinic to request a consultation for rhinoplasty. He reports his unsightly nose ruined his most recent relationship because his girlfriend would not stop staring at it; he has missed work due to embarrassment and has started to use makeup to make it look smaller. Upon assessment, the nose appears normal and proportional to his face. Psychoeducation was started and the patient has been compliant. However, he reports minimal improvement in his perception. The nurse advocates for which treatment next?  

The 28-year-old patient checks himself into a center for detoxification from opiates, which he has used daily for 3 years. The patient begins to experience pain, diarrhea, salivation, and diaphoresis and is started on buprenorphine. Worsening pain throughout the body and uncontrollable diarrhea prompts stepwise increase of buprenorphine dose to the maximum dose without relief of withdrawal symptoms. The nurse contacts the provider to request an order for which medication?  

The 25-year-old patient is brought by her mother to the emergency department due to being unable to move the eyes or look down other than bending over. Her medical history is notable for schizophrenia and non-compliance with medication. A week ago, she was hospitalized and decided to pursue injectable haloperidol as a treatment option with which she could be more compliant. This morning, she was upset to find she could not move her eyes. The nurse prepares which therapy?