Medications
What is the medication used to treat alcohol withdrawal?
Lorazepam (Ativan)
A nurse is caring for a client who has major depressive disorder and was prescribed citalopram 2 weeks ago with a planned dosage increase 1 week ago. The client reports having an improved appetite, but still feels very depressed and is still having trouble sleeping. What should the nurse inform the patient?
Explain that antidepressants often take several weeks to be fully effective
What is the therapeutic range for lithium carbonate ?
1.0 to 1.5 mEq/L
A client was prescribed alprazolam (Xanax) for symptoms of anxiety related to a recent divorce and relocation. She stated to the nurse, "A little while after I take the medication, I feel out of it and spacey." What is the likely cause of this feeling?
Rapid absorption and distribution to brain cells
What is a somatic delusion ?
Something is gravely wrong with a part of your body
What makes a person at risk for lithium toxicity?
dehydration
impaired kidney function
impaired thyroid function
A patient who is taking an MAOI to treat depression admits to eating pickled herring and cheese and drinking red wine. Which assessment finding alerts the nurse to a potential complication?
Extreme hypertension
A nurse is admitting a client who is in the manic phase of bipolar disorder. The nurse should plan to make which of the following room assignments for the client?
A private room in a quiet location on the unit
A client with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) spends many hours washing her hands each day. What is the likely reason she washes her hands so frequently?
It relieves her anxiety
What is Pseudoparkinsonism?
Pseudoparkinsonism is a reaction to medications that imitates the symptoms and appearance of Parkinson's disease Such as drooling,hand tremors, and walks with a shuffling gait.
What should the nurse monitor in a patient taking haloperidol for agitation secondary to schizophrenia?
Dysrhythmias
A new antidepressant is prescribed for an elderly patient with major depression, but the dose is more than the usual geriatric dose. The nurse should:
withhold the medication and confer with the health care provider
A client newly diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder is currently in a manic episode, extremely hyperactive and has lost weight. What is the best way to promote adequate nutritional intake for the client?
Provide high calorie, nutritious finger foods that the client can “eat on the run”
A patient is experiencing a panic attack. Which of the following interventions is a priority?
Stay with the client and assure them they are safe
What does tardive dyskinesia behaviors manifest as?
A client who takes Lithium develops the following symptoms: coarse hand tremor, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and mild confusion. What is the nurse priority?
Obtain stat lithium level, hold medication pending results
A client addicted to heroin is likely to demonstrate which of the following symptoms of withdrawal?
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and diaphoresis
A nurse who works in a psychiatric unit is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder. The client comes to the nurse's station at 0300 demanding that the nurse call the provider immediately. What would be an appropriate response?
"You must be very upset about something."
A nurse is caring for a newly admitted client who has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Instruct the client on relaxation techniques for use when anxiety
Creating an overly dramatic scene of emotional behavior to attract the attention of others is typical of which of the following personalities?
Histrionic
A client has been taking chlorpromazine (Thorazine) for the past 2 weeks. He drools, has hand tremors, and walks with a shuffling gait. The nurse would correctly attribute these behaviors to what?
Pseudoparkinsonism
What are the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
Tachycardia, nausea, restlessness, and tremors
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has bipolar disorder and will be discharged with a prescription for lithium. The nurse should teach the client that what activity could put them at risk for lithium toxicity?
The client runs 4 miles outdoors in a hot environment every afternoon
A nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and is constantly picking up after others in the day room. The nurse should recognize that the client uses this behavior to do which of the following?
Decrease anxiety to a tolerable level
A client diagnosed with schizophrenia, paranoid type, was admitted to the hospital, and haloperidol (Haldol) was begun. The nurse would assess for neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) if the client had what symptoms?
Temperature reading of 104º F (High Temperature)
Sweating.
Unstable blood pressure.