ATI RN
ATI Psychiatric Exam 1 Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is providing education to a client about the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Which of the following side effects should the nurse include in the teaching?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SSRIs commonly cause side effects like dry mouth and insomnia due to their effects on serotonin levels and central nervous system stimulation. Appetite changes may occur but not typically weight loss, tremors/seizures are rare, and SSRIs do not typically cause bradycardia or hypotension.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is educating a group of clients about addiction. The nurse should include that which of the following factors increases the potential for addiction?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Exposure to substances during adolescence, when the brain is still developing, increases addiction risk due to impacts on decision-making and impulse control areas. Insurance availability, cognitive deficits, or adult-onset use are not as directly linked to increased addiction potential.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is planning care for clients who are members of vulnerable populations. Which of the following core function assurance actions should the nurse take first?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Reinforcing teaching about illness prevention and health promotion is the most immediate action the nurse can take, empowering vulnerable clients to make informed health decisions. Setting up clinics, supporting laws, or advising officials are important but less immediate, as they involve systemic changes that take time to implement.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who was hospitalized with a high blood alcohol content level. The provider fears the client may go into withdrawal and require medical supervision. The client's manifestations included anxiety, tremors, BP 166/100 mm Hg, and tachypnea about 1 hr ago. Now the client begins yelling out that they are seeing spiders crawling all over the walls. They believe they are at home and begin calling for their mother. The nurse should recognize that the client is experiencing which of the following stages of alcohol withdrawal?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Stage 3 (severe) alcohol withdrawal, also known as delirium tremens, includes severe symptoms like hallucinations (e.g., seeing spiders), confusion (believing they are at home), and disorientation (calling for their mother). Earlier symptoms like anxiety, tremors, and elevated vital signs align with progressing withdrawal. Stage 1 is mild (e.g., anxiety), Stage 2 is moderate (e.g., seizures), and these symptoms are not indicative of a primary psychotic disorder.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who is inquiring about the use of herbal remedies in treating manifestations of mental illness. Which of the following topics should the nurse prepare to discuss with the client?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Certain herbal remedies, like St. John’s Wort, can increase serotonin levels, risking serotonin syndrome when combined with medications like SSRIs. This is a critical safety topic to discuss. Dismissing herbal remedies, discouraging their use, or claiming no interactions are inaccurate and unhelpful.