ATI LPN
Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice 6th Edition
Chapter 22 : Schizophrenia and Related Disorders: Nursing Care of Persons with Thought Disorders Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is providing care to a client just recently diagnosed with schizophrenia during an inpatient hospital stay. Throughout the day, the nurse observes the client drinking from the water fountain quite frequently as well as carrying cans of soda and bottles of water with him wherever he goes. Upon entering the client?s room, the nurse sees numerous empty cups that had been filled with fluids on his table and in the trash can. The room has an odor of urine. The nurse suspects which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Excessive fluid intake and urine odor suggest disordered water balance (
B), such as psychogenic polydipsia, common in schizophrenia, leading to excessive drinking and urination. Diabetes mellitus (
A) may cause thirst but not typically urine odor in this context. Tardive dyskinesia (
C) and orthostatic hypotension (
D) are unrelated to these symptoms.
Question 2 of 5
A group of nursing students is reviewing the various theories related to the etiology of schizophrenia. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify which neurotransmitter as being responsible for hallucinations and delusions?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Dopamine (
A) dysregulation, particularly excess in certain brain regions, is strongly linked to hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia. Serotonin (
B), norepinephrine (
C), and GABA (
D) play roles in other disorders or symptoms but are less directly associated with these psychotic features.
Question 3 of 5
After teaching a class on antipsychotic agents, the instructor determines that the teaching was successful when the class identifies which of the following as an example of a second-generation antipsychotic agent?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Quetiapine (
C) is a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic, effective for schizophrenia with fewer extrapyramidal side effects. Fluphenazine (
A), thiothixene (
B), and chlorpromazine (
D) are first-generation (typical) antipsychotics, associated with higher side effect risks.
Question 4 of 5
When assessing a client for possible disordered water balance, the nurse checks the client?s urine specific gravity. Which result would lead the nurse to suspect that the client is experiencing severe disordered water balance?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A urine specific gravity of 1.002 (
D) is extremely low, indicating overly dilute urine, consistent with severe disordered water balance (e.g., psychogenic polydipsia). Normal range is 1.010?1.030, so 1.020 (
A) and 1.011 (
B) are closer to normal, and 1.005 (
C) is less severe.
Question 5 of 5
A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, I?m being watched constantly by the FBI because of my job. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Empathizing with the client?s fear (
B) validates their emotions without reinforcing the delusion, fostering trust. Asking for more details (
A) may entrench the delusion, while dismissing (
C) or labeling it (
D) could alienate the client.