A patient asks, “What are neurotransmitters? The doctor said mine are imbalanced.” Select the nurse’s best response.

The parent of an adolescent diagnosed with schizophrenia asks the nurse, “My child’s doctor ordered a PET. What kind of test is that?” Select the nurse’s best reply.

A patient with a long history of hypertension and diabetes now develops confusion. The health care provider wants to make a differential diagnosis between Alzheimer’s disease and multiple infarcts. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse expect to prepare the patient for first?

A patient’s history shows drinking 4 to 6 liters of fluid and eating more than 6,000 calories per day. Which part of the central nervous system is most likely dysfunctional for this patient?

The nurse prepares to assess a patient diagnosed with major depression for disturbances in circadian rhythms. Which question should the nurse ask this patient?

The nurse administers a medication that potentiates the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Which effect would be expected?

A nurse would anticipate that treatment for a patient with memory difficulties might include medications designed to:

A patient has disorganized thinking associated with schizophrenia. Neuroimaging would likely show dysfunction in which part of the brain?

The nurse should assess a patient taking a drug with anticholinergic properties for inhibited function of the:

The therapeutic action of neurotransmitter inhibitors that block reuptake cause:

A patient taking medication for mental illness develops restlessness and an uncontrollable need to be in motion. Which drug action causes these symptoms to develop?

A patient has fear as well as increased heart rate and blood pressure. The nurse suspects increased activity of which neurotransmitter?

A patient has acute anxiety related to an automobile accident 2 hours ago. The nurse should teach the patient about medication from which group?

A patient is hospitalized for severe depression. Of the medications listed below, the nurse can expect to provide the patient with teaching about:

A patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder has an unstable mood, aggressiveness, agitation, talkativeness, and irritability. The nurse expects the health care provider to prescribe a medication from which group?

A drug causes muscarinic receptor blockade. The nurse will assess the patient for:

A patient begins therapy with a phenothiazine medication. What teaching should the nurse provide related to the drug’s strong dopaminergic effect?

A patient tells the nurse, “My doctor prescribed Paxil (paroxetine) for my depression. I assume I’ll have side effects like I had when I was taking Tofranil (imipramine).” The nurse’s reply should be based on the knowledge that paroxetine is a(n):

A nurse can anticipate anticholinergic side effects are likely when a patient takes:

Which instruction has priority when teaching a patient about clozapine (Clozaril)?

A nurse cares for a group of patients receiving various medications, including haloperidol (Haldol), carbamazepine (Tegretol), trazodone (Desyrel), and phenelzine (Nardil). The nurse will order a special diet for the patient who takes:

A nurse instructs a patient taking a drug that inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAO) to avoid certain foods and drugs because of the risk of:

A nurse caring for a patient taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) will develop outcome criteria related to:

By which mechanism do selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) improve depression?

The laboratory report for a patient taking clozapine (Clozaril) shows a white blood cell count of 3000 mm3. Select the nurse’s best action.

A drug blocks the attachment of norepinephrine to 1 receptors. The patient may experience:

A nurse cares for four patients who are receiving clozapine, lithium, fluoxetine, and venlafaxine, respectively. With which patient should the nurse be most alert for problems associated with fluid and electrolyte imbalance? The patient receiving:

An obese patient has a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Medications that block which receptors would contribute to further weight gain?

An individual hiking in the forest encounters a large poisonous snake on the path. Which change in this individual’s vital signs is most likely?

Consider these medications: carbamazepine (Tegretol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), gabapentin (Neurontin). Which medication below also belongs with this group?

A professional football player is seen in the emergency department after losing consciousness from an illegal block. Prior to discharge, the nurse assists the patient to schedule an outpatient computed tomography (CT) scan for the next day. Which strategy should the nurse use to ensure the patient remembers the appointment?