ATI LPN
Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice
Chapter 22 Questions
Question 1 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.
Question 2 of 5
A client with schizoaffective disorder is prescribed clozapine to treat her symptoms. Which of the following instructions would the nurse provide?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Clozapine (
C) is associated with significant weight gain, a metabolic side effect requiring monitoring and reporting if rapid. Dry mouth (
A) is minor, urine color changes (
B) are not typical, and discontinuing for drowsiness (
D) is incorrect without medical guidance.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is developing a teaching plan for a client with schizophrenia. Which method would the nurse use to be most effective?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Having the client write down information (
B) reinforces learning through repetition and active engagement, accommodating cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Trial and error (
A) or guessing (
C) may confuse, and colorful visuals (
D) may overstimulate psychotic clients.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is caring for an elderly client who has been taking an antipsychotic medication for 1 week. The nurse notifies the physician when he observes that the client has muscle rigidity that resembles Parkinson?s disease. Which agent would the nurse expect the physician to prescribe?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Anticholinergic agents (
A), such as benztropine, are used to treat extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) like parkinsonian muscle rigidity caused by antipsychotics, by balancing acetylcholine and dopamine. Anxiolytics (
B) and benzodiazepines (
C) address anxiety, not EPS, and beta-blockers (
D) treat akathisia or other symptoms, not rigidity.
Question 5 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.