Test bank for Varcarolis: Chapter 12 - Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia
Spectrum Disorders exam newest 2026/2027 complete questions and correct
verified answers
1. 1. A person has had difficulty keeping a job because of arguing with co-work-
ers and accusing them of conspiracy. Today the person shouts, "They're all
plotting to destroy me. Isn't that true?" Select the nurse's most therapeutic
response.
a. "Everyone here is trying to help you. No one wants to harm you."
b. "Feeling that people want to destroy you must be very frightening."
c. "That is not true. People here are trying to help you if you will let them."
d. "Staff members are health care professionals who are qualified to help
you.": ANS: B
Resist focusing on content; instead, focus on the feelings the patient is expressing. This strategy prevents arguing about
the reality of delusional beliefs. Such arguments increase patient anxiety and the tenacity with which the patient holds
to the delusion. The other options focus on content and provide opportunity for argument.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 205-206 | Page 213-215 (Box 12-4)
2. A newly admitted patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is hypervigilant and
constantly scans the environment. The patient states, "I saw two doctors talk-
ing in the hall. They were plotting to kill me." The nurse may correctly assess
this behavior as:
a. echolalia.
b. an idea of reference.
c. a delusion of infidelity.
d. an auditory hallucination.: ANS: B
Ideas of reference are misinterpretations of the verbalizations or actions of others that give special personal meanings
,Test bank for Varcarolis: Chapter 12 - Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia
Spectrum Disorders exam newest 2026/2027 complete questions and correct
verified answers
to these behaviors; for example, when seeing two people talking, the individual assumes they are talking about him or
her. The other terms do not correspond with the scenario.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: Page 206 (Table 12-1) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
3. 3. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, "My co-workers are out to get
me. I also saw two doctors plotting to kill me." How does this patient perceive
the environment?
a. Disorganized
b. Dangerous
c. Supportive
d. Bizarre: ANS: B
The patient sees the world as hostile and dangerous. This assessment is important because the nurse can be more
ettective by using empathy to respond to the patient. Data are not present to support any of the other options.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: Page 210 (Table 12-3) | Page 213 (Box 12-4)
4. 4. When a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia was discharged 6 months
ago, haloperidol (Haldol) was prescribed. The patient now says, "I stopped
taking those pills. They made me feel like a robot." What are common side
effects the nurse should validate with the patient?
a. Sedation and muscle stiffness
b. Sweating, nausea, and diarrhea
c. Mild fever, sore throat, and skin rash
d. Headache, watery eyes, and runny nose: ANS: A
, Varcarolis: Chapter 12 - Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disor
ders
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8b6ubj
Typical antipsychotic drugs often produce sedation and extrapyramidal side ettects such as stittness and gait distur-
bance, ettects the patient might describe as making him or her feel like a "robot." The side ettects mentioned in the
other options are usually not associated with typical antipsychotic therapy or would not have the ettect described by
the patient.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 215-216 (Table 12-4) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity
5. 5. Which hallucination necessitates the nurse to implement safety measures?
The patient says,
a. "I hear angels playing harps."
b. "The voices say everyone is trying to kill me."
c. "My dead father tells me I am a good person."
d. "The voices talk only at night when I'm trying to sleep.": ANS: B
The correct response indicates the patient is experiencing paranoia. Paranoia often leads to fearfulness, and the patient
may attempt to strike out at others to protect self. The distracters are comforting hallucinations or do not indicate
paranoia.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
REF: Page 207 | Page 212-213 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
6. 6. A patient's care plan includes monitoring for auditory hallucinations. Which
assessment findings suggest the patient may be hallucinating?
Spectrum Disorders exam newest 2026/2027 complete questions and correct
verified answers
1. 1. A person has had difficulty keeping a job because of arguing with co-work-
ers and accusing them of conspiracy. Today the person shouts, "They're all
plotting to destroy me. Isn't that true?" Select the nurse's most therapeutic
response.
a. "Everyone here is trying to help you. No one wants to harm you."
b. "Feeling that people want to destroy you must be very frightening."
c. "That is not true. People here are trying to help you if you will let them."
d. "Staff members are health care professionals who are qualified to help
you.": ANS: B
Resist focusing on content; instead, focus on the feelings the patient is expressing. This strategy prevents arguing about
the reality of delusional beliefs. Such arguments increase patient anxiety and the tenacity with which the patient holds
to the delusion. The other options focus on content and provide opportunity for argument.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 205-206 | Page 213-215 (Box 12-4)
2. A newly admitted patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is hypervigilant and
constantly scans the environment. The patient states, "I saw two doctors talk-
ing in the hall. They were plotting to kill me." The nurse may correctly assess
this behavior as:
a. echolalia.
b. an idea of reference.
c. a delusion of infidelity.
d. an auditory hallucination.: ANS: B
Ideas of reference are misinterpretations of the verbalizations or actions of others that give special personal meanings
,Test bank for Varcarolis: Chapter 12 - Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia
Spectrum Disorders exam newest 2026/2027 complete questions and correct
verified answers
to these behaviors; for example, when seeing two people talking, the individual assumes they are talking about him or
her. The other terms do not correspond with the scenario.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: Page 206 (Table 12-1) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
3. 3. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, "My co-workers are out to get
me. I also saw two doctors plotting to kill me." How does this patient perceive
the environment?
a. Disorganized
b. Dangerous
c. Supportive
d. Bizarre: ANS: B
The patient sees the world as hostile and dangerous. This assessment is important because the nurse can be more
ettective by using empathy to respond to the patient. Data are not present to support any of the other options.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: Page 210 (Table 12-3) | Page 213 (Box 12-4)
4. 4. When a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia was discharged 6 months
ago, haloperidol (Haldol) was prescribed. The patient now says, "I stopped
taking those pills. They made me feel like a robot." What are common side
effects the nurse should validate with the patient?
a. Sedation and muscle stiffness
b. Sweating, nausea, and diarrhea
c. Mild fever, sore throat, and skin rash
d. Headache, watery eyes, and runny nose: ANS: A
, Varcarolis: Chapter 12 - Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disor
ders
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8b6ubj
Typical antipsychotic drugs often produce sedation and extrapyramidal side ettects such as stittness and gait distur-
bance, ettects the patient might describe as making him or her feel like a "robot." The side ettects mentioned in the
other options are usually not associated with typical antipsychotic therapy or would not have the ettect described by
the patient.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 215-216 (Table 12-4) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity
5. 5. Which hallucination necessitates the nurse to implement safety measures?
The patient says,
a. "I hear angels playing harps."
b. "The voices say everyone is trying to kill me."
c. "My dead father tells me I am a good person."
d. "The voices talk only at night when I'm trying to sleep.": ANS: B
The correct response indicates the patient is experiencing paranoia. Paranoia often leads to fearfulness, and the patient
may attempt to strike out at others to protect self. The distracters are comforting hallucinations or do not indicate
paranoia.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
REF: Page 207 | Page 212-213 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
6. 6. A patient's care plan includes monitoring for auditory hallucinations. Which
assessment findings suggest the patient may be hallucinating?
