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
After assessing a client with schizophrenia, the nurse suspects that the client is experiencing an anticholinergic crisis. Which of the following would the nurse most likely have assessed? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: B,C,F
Rationale: Anticholinergic crisis symptoms include blurred vision (
B), ataxia (
C), and disorientation (F) due to excessive anticholinergic effects (e.g., from medications). Dilated pupils (
A) may occur but are less specific, coherent speech (
D) is unlikely, and facial pallor (E) is not typical.
Question 2 of 5
A client who has a major depressive episode tells the nurse that for the past 2 weeks, he has been hearing voices and at times thinks that someone is following him. History reveals that he had these alternating symptoms before along with times when he has experienced neither of these symptoms and has been able to function adequately. The nurse interprets these findings as suggesting which of the following?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Schizoaffective disorder (
D) combines mood episodes (depression) with psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, paranoia) that persist but allow periods of adequate functioning, matching the client?s history. Paranoid (
A) and undifferentiated schizophrenia (
B) lack prominent mood components, and brief psychotic disorder (
C) is shorter in duration.
Question 3 of 5
A nursing instructor is developing a class lecture that compares and contrasts schizoaffective disorder with schizophrenia. When describing one of the differences between these two diagnoses, which of the following would the instructor include as reflecting schizoaffective disorder?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Schizoaffective disorder (
A) is characterized by episodic mood disturbances (depressive or manic) alongside psychotic symptoms, unlike the more persistent psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. Self-care difficulties (
B) and hallucination severity (
C) are not distinguishing features, and suicide risk (
D) is not necessarily lower.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client who was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. Based on the nurse?s understanding of this disorder, the nurse develops a plan of care to address which issue as the top priority?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Suicide (
A) is the top priority in schizoaffective disorder due to the combined risk of mood disturbances (e.g., depression) and psychosis, both of which elevate suicide risk. Aggression (
B), substance abuse (
C), and eating disorders (
D) are concerns but less immediate unless actively present.
Question 5 of 5
A family member of a client diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder asks a nurse what causes the disorder. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Research indicates a strong genetic component (
B) in schizoaffective disorder, with heritability estimates similar to schizophrenia. Family dynamics (
A) are not a primary cause, dopamine is overactive (
C) in psychosis, and birth order (
D) lacks evidence as a cause.