Behavioral Health Flashcards
(236 cards)
The nurse is administering a prescribed antidepressant medication to a client in an inpatient mental health facility. Which action would the nurse perform to ensure the client is not stashing doses of medication?
A. Provide a 1:1 sitter for the client.
B. Observe the client swallowing the medication.
C. Ask a client’s family member to ensure the dose is taken.
D. Set the correct medication dose on the client’s meal tray.
B. Observe the client swallowing the medication.
A client has been in an acute care psychiatric unit for 3 days and is receiving haloperidol tablets orally to reduce agitation and preoccupation with auditory hallucinations. There has been no decrease in the client’s agitation or preoccupation with auditory hallucinations since the medication was started. Which intervention will the nurse take?
A. Ask the health care provider to change the medication.
B. Make certain that the client is swallowing the medication.
C. Conclude that therapeutic failure has occurred.
D. Secure a prescription for as-needed sedation until the client calms down
B. Make certain that the client is swallowing the medication.
Which reply by the nurse is appropriate when a client asks how psychotropic medications work?
A. “These medications decrease the metabolic needs of your brain.”
B. “These medications increase the production of healthy nervous tissue.”
C. “These medications affect the chemicals used in communication between nerve cells.”
D. “These medications regulate sensory input received from the external environment.”
C. “These medications affect the chemicals used in communication between nerve cells.”
A client begins escitalopram for treatment of a depressive episode. On the fifth day, the client refuses the medication, stating, ‘It doesn’t help, so what’s the use of taking it?’ Which is the best response by the nurse?
A. ‘It can take 1 to 4 weeks to see an improvement.’
B. ‘It takes 6 to 8 weeks for this medication to have an effect.’
C. ‘I’ll talk to your primary health care provider about increasing the dosage. That may help.’
D. ‘You should have felt a difference by now. I’ll notify the primary health care provider.’
A. ‘It can take 1 to 4 weeks to see an improvement.’
The nurse is educating a client on a new antidepressant prescription. Which statement by the client indicates the need for further teaching?
A. ‘This medication will cure my depression.’
B. ‘I should never double the dose to feel better.’
C. ‘I will see my health care provider every month.’
D. ‘It may take several weeks for the medication to take effect.’
A. ‘This medication will cure my depression.’
Which statement by the client indicates to the nurse that the teaching about taking an antidepressant medication has been understood?
A. ‘I need to take every dose of my medication as prescribed.’
B. ‘I need to discontinue the medication if I have side effects.’
C. ‘I don’t have to be concerned about taking my medications.’
D. ‘I can double the dose of the medication if I still feel depressed.’
A. ‘I need to take every dose of my medication as prescribed.’
The nurse is caring for a group of clients on the psychiatric unit. Which clinical findings will alert the nurse that serotonin syndrome has developed in one of the clients?
A. Continuous involuntary movement of the tongue and jaw
B. Extremely high blood pressure with headache and flushing
C. Blurred vision, urine retention, dry mouth, and constipation
D. Restlessness, tachycardia, fever, diarrhea, and altered mental status
D. Restlessness, tachycardia, fever, diarrhea, and altered mental status
Which medication class is preferred for managing anxiety disorders?
A. Anticholinergics
B. Lithium carbonate
C. Antipsychotic medications
D. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
D. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
A nurse is assessing a client who has been taking sertraline for 2 weeks. The nurse should identify which of the following findings as an indication that the medication is effective?
A. The client’s blood pressure is within the expected reference range.
B. The client reports a recent weight loss.
C. The client reports increase in a stable mood.
D. The client’s legs are not swollen.
C. The client reports increase in a stable mood.
The nurse is caring for a client taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for depression. Which statement by the client requires additional teaching?
A. ‘I should take the medication at the same time daily.’
B. ‘I can stop taking this medication when I feel better.’
C. ‘I will exercise to control any weight gain the medication may cause.’
D. ‘I need to report any agitation I experience to the health care provider.’
B. ‘I can stop taking this medication when I feel better.’
The client has been prescribed sertraline for depression. Which action should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Advise that the medication will be tapered prior to discontinuation
B. Monitor for signs of physical addiction
C. Emphasize that relief of symptoms occurs in one week
D. Assess for symptoms of a thrombus formation
A. Advise that the medication will be tapered prior to discontinuation
An older client hospitalized for depression is receiving citalopram. During discharge teaching, the client asks the nurse if there is anything that should be known about taking this medication. Which response is the nurse’s reply?
A. ‘You’re concerned about taking this medication.’
B. ‘You should take each dose of medication as prescribed.’
C. ‘You must discontinue the medication if side effects occur.’
D. ‘You may find it necessary to adjust the dosage if side effects occur.’
B. ‘You should take each dose of medication as prescribed.’
Which statement by the client indicates clarification is needed about the medication paroxetine?
A. “I’ll be a little drowsy in the mornings.”
B. “I’m expecting to feel somewhat better, but I may need other therapy.”
C. “I’ve been on the medication for 8 days now, and I don’t feel any better.”
D. “I know that I’ll probably have to take this medication for several months.”
C. “I’ve been on the medication for 8 days now, and I don’t feel any better.”
A nurse is assessing a client who was prescribed fluoxetine for panic disorder 5 days ago. The client tells the nurse their symptoms are not improving. Which statement will the nurse make to the client?
A. “It might be a few more weeks before your symptoms improve.”
B. “I will contact the healthcare provider to increase your dose.”
C. “Have you been taking the medication as directed?”
D. “Why do you feel your symptoms are not improving?”
A. “It might be a few more weeks before your symptoms improve.”
Which precaution will the nurse consider when initiating treatment with fluoxetine?
A. It must be given with milk and crackers to prevent hyperacidity and discomfort.
B. Eating cheese or pickled herring or drinking wine may cause a hypertensive crisis.
C. The blood level may not be sufficient to cause noticeable improvement for 2 to 4 weeks.
D. The blood level should be checked weekly for 3 months to make sure it is appropriate.
C. The blood level may not be sufficient to cause noticeable improvement for 2 to 4 weeks.
Sertraline is prescribed for a depressed client. Which information would the nurse include when teaching the client about this medication?
A. The medication can cause a hypertensive crisis.
B. The medication interferes with the reuptake of norepinephrine.
C. Specific foods should be avoided when one is taking the medication.
D. Several weeks may pass before the effects of the medication become evident.
D. Several weeks may pass before the effects of the medication become evident.
An antidepressant, sertraline, is prescribed for a depressed older client. After 1 week, the client’s son expresses concern that there does not seem to be much improvement. Which is the best response by the nurse?
A. “Antidepressant therapy requires several weeks before it becomes effective.”
B. “Antidepressant therapy will be more effective as physical condition improves.”
C. “Additional medications may be required before behavioral changes will be observed.”
D. “Additional time is needed for the medication to become effective because of the prolonged depression.”
D. “Additional time is needed for the medication to become effective because of the prolonged depression.”
it may take 3 to 4 weeks before improvement is identified.
A depressed client is prescribed citalopram hydrobromide. Six days later, the client tearfully says to the nurse, ‘I’m taking an antidepressant, but it’s not working. I’m hopeless.’ Which response would the nurse give?
A. ‘You feel hopeless.’
B. ‘It’s easy to get discouraged.’
C. ‘It takes 2 or 3 weeks before it begins to relieve depression.’
D. ‘Give it a little more time; it works more slowly in some people.’
C. ‘It takes 2 or 3 weeks before it begins to relieve depression.’
A client on antidepressant therapy develops hyponatremia. Which medication may be responsible for the client’s electrolyte imbalance?
A. Phenelzine
B. Paroxetine
C. Imipramine
D. Amitriptyline
B. Paroxetine
A nurse is teaching male client who has a depressive disorder about sertraline. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. “This medication may cause an inability to orgasm.”
B. “You will notice an improvement in mood within 2 to 3 days.”
C. “A fever is an expected adverse effect of this medication.”
D. “Sertraline can cause temporary muscle rigidity.”
A. “This medication may cause an inability to orgasm.”
The nurse is teaching a client about some of the side effects of fluoxetine. What information should the nurse be certain to include?
A. Tachycardia, blurred vision, hypotension, anorexia
B. Orthostatic hypotension, vertigo, hunger, reactions to tyramine-rich foods
C. Drowsiness, dry mouth, changes in weight or appetite, reduced libido
D. Photosensitivity, seizures, edema, hyperglycemia
C. Drowsiness, dry mouth, changes in weight or appetite, reduced libido
The visiting nurse is evaluating the plan of care for a client who reports that they have decided to stop taking the recently prescribed sertraline due to frequent nightmares. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Request for the medication to be changed to be given intramuscular
B. Initiate transfer to the nearest psychiatric hospital
C. Explore alternative medications
D. Perform a suicide risk assessment
D. Perform a suicide risk assessment
A client who was prescribed sertraline to treat depression informs the nurse that they stopped taking the sertraline and began taking their partner’s tranylcypromine. The client reports experiencing “muscle twitches” and a “racing heart rate”. Which adverse reaction should the nurse immediately assess for?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Mental status changes
C. Muscle weakness
D. Atrial fibrillation
B. Mental status changes
A depressed client is given 50 mg of sertraline at bedtime. Which medication-related side effect will the nurse NOT monitor for when assessing this client? Select all that apply.
A. Dry mouth
B. Paralytic Ileus (paralyzed intestines)
C. Constipation
D. Decrease libido (desire for sex)
B. Paralytic Ileus (paralyzed intestines)
C. Constipation