ATI RN
ATI Psychiatric Exam 1 Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who was admitted for alcohol detoxification. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect to observe that indicate the client is experiencing alcohol withdrawal?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Alcohol withdrawal is characterized by symptoms such as increased heart rate (tachycardia), sweating, tremors, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and agitation. These symptoms result from the autonomic nervous system’s response to the sudden cessation of alcohol. Decreased blood pressure, constipation, pupil constriction, and bone/muscle aches are more associated with other conditions, such as opioid withdrawal, and are not typical of alcohol withdrawal.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has a serious mental illness and has developed tardive dyskinesia from anti-psychotic medication use. Which of the following adverse effects from anti-psychotic medication use would be expected for the client?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements, particularly around the mouth (e.g., lip smacking, tongue protrusion), as a side effect of long-term antipsychotic use. Hallucinations/delusions are symptoms of the treated condition, nausea/vomiting are early side effects, and seizures/tremors are unrelated to tardive dyskinesia.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who reports severe pain in their head and abdomen. The client's blood toxicology test reveals ingestion of a common insect poison. The client states, 'I like to feel like I am the center of a TV show medical drama. That is why I took the poison.' The client denies suicidal intent or ideation. Which of the following disorders best describes the client's condition?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Factitious disorder involves intentionally inducing symptoms (e.g., ingesting poison) to assume the sick role and gain medical attention, as indicated by the client’s desire to feel like the center of a medical drama. Functional neurological symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder involve neurological symptoms, fear of illness, or distress over physical symptoms, respectively, which do not align with the client’s motives.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is admitting a client who has dementia related to a traumatic brain injury. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client's condition is worsening?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A shuffling gait, characterized by short steps with feet barely leaving the ground, is often associated with Parkinsonian symptoms, which can emerge in advanced stages of dementia related to traumatic brain injury, indicating disease progression. Visual field cuts, decreased CD4 counts, and chorea are not typically linked to worsening TBI-related dementia.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has been brought into an emergency department of a large hospital. The client's family state that the client 'took some kind of drugs.' The client is dizzy, has recently vomited, and is experiencing paranoia, yelling, 'Stay away from me! You are going to kill me!' The client alternates yelling with mumbling and gesturing. Their eyes are darting back and forth as they are talking to the wall. The nurse should suspect the client has used which of the following substances?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The client’s symptoms, including paranoia, perceptual disturbances (talking to the wall), erratic behavior, and disorientation, are consistent with hallucinogen use, which alters perception and cognition. Anabolic steroids affect physical performance, opioids cause sedation and respiratory depression, and while stimulants can cause paranoia, they are less likely to produce the vivid perceptual changes described.