Assessment & Safety
Medications & Side Effects
Therapeutic Communication
Crisis & Legal
Neurobiology & Disorders
100

A patient with bulimia has become dehydrated from self‑induced vomiting. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely?  

What is hypokalemia?

100

Which mood stabilizer requires consistent sodium intake and level monitoring?  

What is lithium (Eskalith)?

100

Patient: “I wasn’t drunk.” Best factual nurse reply referencing BAL 0.11%?  

What is “Your BAL was 0.11%. That indicates alcohol intoxication”?

100

If a patient threatens to bomb a church, what legal duty applies?  

What is the duty to warn and protect?

100

Which brain structure is called the “emotional brain”?  

What is the limbic system?

200

A patient says, “I hope I just go to sleep and never wake up.” Best immediate nursing action?  

What is stay with the patient, call supervisor, and arrange continuous monitoring?

200

Which antipsychotic requires WBC monitoring for agranulocytosis?  

What is clozapine (Clozaril)?

200

Which response demonstrates empathy for a suicide attempter: “You must have been very upset when you tried to hurt yourself.” True or false?  

What is True?

200

Which situation should be prioritized for inpatient admission: side effects from haloperidol; sadness after separation; superficial cut; or a parent hearing voices saying “Smother your infant”?  

What is the parent hearing voices saying “Smother your infant”?

200

Decreased norepinephrine is most associated with which condition?

What is major depressive episode?

300

A client in four‑point restraints is still a safety risk. Which nursing measure next?

What is have a staff member stay with the client at all times?

300

Why can’t an MAOI be added to an SSRI or tricyclic without caution?  

What is combined use can cause a hypertensive crisis?

300

Patient: “Please don't share information about me.” Best nurse reply about confidentiality and staff?  

What is “I won't share information without your permission, but I will share necessary information with staff involved in your care”?

300

Which nursing action is inappropriate during a crisis: take active role in problem solving; guide to resources; encourage independent thinking; create a highly structured environment?  

What is encouraging independent thinking to promote insight?

300

Increased dopamine activity is most implicated in which disorder?  

What is schizophrenia spectrum disorder?

400

A patient becomes loud and visibly anxious on the unit. Best initial nurse action?

What is say, “Let’s go talk in your room”?

400

Which medication does NOT require periodic blood‑level monitoring: lithium, valproate, clozapine, or paroxetine?  

What is paroxetine (Paxil)?

400

Which nonjudgmental response to “I've done a lot of cheating and manipulating” is best?*

What is “How do you feel about that?”

400

Ms. T. lost her home and goods in a fire and is disorganized and without shelter. What type of crisis is this?  

What is an adventitious crisis?

400

Which structure assigns time and place to memories and is involved in learning?  

What is the hippocampus?

500

Which sign is an important clue when assessing for possible suicide risk?  

What is the client seems satisfied and detached?

500

Key discharge teaching for a patient on lithium regarding diet?  

What is maintain a consistent sodium intake?

500

Therapeutic response to “I should have died…I've always been a failure.” Which demonstrates therapeutic communication?  

What is “You've been feeling like a failure for a while?”

500

A patient reveals past sexual abuse of a child. What is the nurse’s legal obligation?

What is report to child protective services / file a written report?

500

Which structure forms emotional memories and is involved with rage and fear?  

What is the amygdala?