Question 1

The patient has bipolar disorder and is in a manic phase. The physician prescribes lithium (Eskalith). The patient's current lithium level is 0.4) What will the nurse expect to assess in this patient?

Accepted Answer

Lithium levels of 0.4 are below the therapeutic range (0.6-1.2 mEq/L), so the patient is likely to still exhibit symptoms of mania, such as hyperactivity and pressured speech.

Question 2

The 8-year-old patient is receiving methylphenidate (Ritalin). The patient's mother tells the nurse that he won't eat while on his medication. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Methylphenidate can suppress appetite, so giving it after meals and encouraging nutritional supplements can help manage this side effect.

Question 3

Which food items should the nurse advise a patient taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) to avoid?

Accepted Answer

Patients taking MAOIs should avoid foods high in tyramine, such as chocolate, wine, and fava beans, to prevent hypertensive crises.

Question 4

Which drug type is often used as a first-line treatment for depression due to its side effect profile?

Accepted Answer

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often used as a first-line treatment for depression because they generally have a more favorable side effect profile compared to other antidepressants like MAOIs and TCAs.

Question 5

Which symptoms experienced over 1 month would be most helpful to diagnose bipolar disorder?

Accepted Answer

Abnormal eating patterns, feelings of despair, and flight of ideas are all symptoms of bipolar disorder that can last for over a month.

Question 6

The mother of a 7-year-old child says to the nurse, "My child is distractible in school, cannot complete assignments on time, and interrupts other children while they are speaking. What do you think?" What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described by the mother are characteristic of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which includes distractibility, difficulty completing tasks, and interrupting others. It is appropriate to suggest testing for ADHD.

Question 7

The patient has been receiving amitriptyline (Elavil) for 2 weeks. He tells the nurse he doesn't think this medicine is working, as he is still depressed. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, typically takes several weeks to show its full therapeutic effects. It is important to reassure the patient that this delay is normal.

Question 8

The patient asks the nurse why she needs to continue using table salt because her prescribed lithium (Eskalith) is a salt. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Lithium and sodium are processed similarly by the kidneys. If sodium levels are low, the kidneys may retain lithium, leading to toxicity. Therefore, maintaining a normal sodium intake is important to prevent lithium toxicity.

Question 9

The nurse has completed medication education for a patient prior to the patient receiving phenelzine (Nardil). The nurse evaluates the education as effective when the patient makes which statements?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse has completed medication education for...

Question 10

The patient has been depressed, and the physician plans to begin treatment with an antidepressant medication. In performing the initial assessment, what is the most important question for the nurse to ask?

Accepted Answer

It is crucial to assess for suicidal ideation in a depressed patient to ensure their safety and determine the urgency and type of intervention needed.

Question 11

The nurse has completed medication education with the patient who is receiving lithium (Eskalith). What is the priority patient outcome?

Accepted Answer

The priority outcome is for the patient to identify signs of lithium toxicity and verbalize measures to avoid it, as lithium has a narrow therapeutic range and toxicity can be life-threatening.

Question 12

The physician has prescribed sertraline (Zoloft) for the patient who is anxious and depressed. The patient calls the nurse to report that he has experienced delayed ejaculation since being on this medication. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The physician has prescribed sertraline (Zoloft) for...

Question 13

The nurse is conducting a group education session for patients who have been diagnosed with depression. The nurse evaluates the education as effective when a patient makes which comments about the cause of depression?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is conducting a group education...

Question 14

Which statement is accurate regarding attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

Accepted Answer

ADHD symptoms can manifest differently in girls, often leading to anxiety and social withdrawal, whereas boys may exhibit more hyperactive and impulsive behaviors.

Question 15

What is the priority outcome for a 6-year-old patient who had been started on methylphenidate (Ritalin)?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the priority outcome for a...

Question 16

Which drug type used to treat depression works by preventing enzymatic destruction of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine?

Accepted Answer

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) work by inhibiting the activity of monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, thereby increasing their levels in the brain.

Question 17

The patient receives imipramine (Tofranil) as treatment for depression. He is admitted to the emergency department following an intentional overdose of this medication. What will the priority assessment by the nurse include?

Accepted Answer

Imipramine overdose can lead to serious cardiac complications, including arrhythmias, making cardiac status the priority assessment.

Question 18

A patient was prescribed sertraline (Zoloft) for the treatment of depression and anxiety. The patient's spouse calls the clinic and reports the patient is increasingly moody and seems "disconnected with life." What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Sertraline (Zoloft) is an antidepressant that can cause increased moodiness and disconnection with life. The patient should be assessed by a healthcare professional to determine if the medication is causing these side effects.

Question 19

Depression that occurs during cold winter months would be classified as

Accepted Answer

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at a specific time of year, usually in the winter when there is less natural sunlight.

Question 20

The patient tells the nurse, "I thought I was just depressed, but my doctor says I have bipolar disorder. What is that?" What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycles of depression and mania, which involves periods of elevated mood, increased activity, and energy levels.

Quiz 16: Drugs for Emotional, Mood, and Behavioral Disorders

The patient has bipolar disorder and is in a manic phase. The physician prescribes lithium (Eskalith) . The patient's current lithium level is 0.4) What will the nurse expect to assess in this patient?

The 8-year-old patient is receiving methylphenidate (Ritalin) . The patient's mother tells the nurse that he won't eat while on his medication. What is the best response by the nurse?