VATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR
REMEDIATION EXAM SCRIPT 2026 FULL STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE RESPONSES
◉ What is the definition of schizophrenia? Answer: Psychotic
symptoms ≥6 months with major impairment in functioning.
◉ What are positive vs. negative symptoms in schizophrenia?
Answer: Positive = added behaviors (hallucinations, delusions);
Negative = losses (flat affect, anhedonia, avolition).
◉ What neurotransmitter is primarily involved in psychosis?
Answer: Dopamine dysregulation.
◉ What are command hallucinations? Answer: Urgent safety
priority; voices telling client to harm self/others → ensure safety.
◉ What are persecutory delusions? Answer: Client believes they are
being harmed or targeted (e.g., FBI chasing them).
◉ What is avolition? Answer: Lack of motivation; difficulty
completing tasks and hygiene.
,◉ What is associative looseness? Answer: Jumping between
unrelated topics; speech becomes disorganized.
◉ What are hallucinations? Answer: Sensory experiences without
external stimulus (auditory most common).
◉ What is the AIMS scale used for? Answer: To monitor for EPS and
tardive dyskinesia from antipsychotics.
◉ What do first-generation antipsychotics treat? Answer: Positive
symptoms only; higher EPS and anticholinergic effects.
◉ What is acute dystonia? Answer: Emergency muscle spasms; treat
with benztropine or diphenhydramine.
◉ What is akathisia? Answer: Restlessness/pacing; treat with beta-
blockers or benzodiazepines.
◉ What is tardive dyskinesia? Answer: Late irreversible movement
disorder (lip smacking, tongue movements) → switch to atypical
antipsychotic.
,◉ What is Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome? Answer: High fever +
rigidity + BP fluctuations → stop antipsychotic, give dantrolene, ICU
care.
◉ What do second-generation antipsychotics treat? Answer: Positive
+ negative symptoms; fewer EPS.
◉ What is metabolic syndrome associated with atypicals? Answer:
Weight gain, diabetes, dyslipidemia → monitor glucose & lipids.
◉ What is the risk associated with Clozapine? Answer: Life-
threatening agranulocytosis → monitor WBC weekly → report
fever/sore throat.
◉ Why is Risperidone cautioned in dementia? Answer: Not used due
to ↑ stroke/death risk; monitor for hyperglycemia.
◉ What is the administration requirement for Ziprasidone? Answer:
Must take with food; risk for QT prolongation.
◉ What is milieu therapy? Answer: Safe, structured environment to
decrease anxiety and improve functioning.
, ◉ What is the therapeutic communication approach for delusions?
Answer: Do not argue; acknowledge feelings and redirect to reality-
based topics.
◉ What are the signs of a febrile reaction during a transfusion?
Answer: Fever increase ≥1°C, chills, tachycardia; action: STOP
transfusion and give antipyretics.
◉ What signs indicate an allergic reaction during a transfusion?
Answer: Hives, itching, flushing; action: STOP transfusion and give
antihistamine.
◉ What is the action for an anaphylactic reaction during a
transfusion? Answer: Airway compromise (bronchospasm, laryngeal
edema); action: STOP transfusion and administer epinephrine and
emergency care.
◉ What causes a bacterial reaction during a transfusion? Answer:
Contaminated blood; action: STOP transfusion, administer
antibiotics, and use new NS tubing.
◉ Who is at risk for circulatory overload during a transfusion?
Answer: Elderly, renal/cardiac disease patients; action: slow rate
and monitor lungs for crackles, dyspnea, JVD.
REMEDIATION EXAM SCRIPT 2026 FULL STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE RESPONSES
◉ What is the definition of schizophrenia? Answer: Psychotic
symptoms ≥6 months with major impairment in functioning.
◉ What are positive vs. negative symptoms in schizophrenia?
Answer: Positive = added behaviors (hallucinations, delusions);
Negative = losses (flat affect, anhedonia, avolition).
◉ What neurotransmitter is primarily involved in psychosis?
Answer: Dopamine dysregulation.
◉ What are command hallucinations? Answer: Urgent safety
priority; voices telling client to harm self/others → ensure safety.
◉ What are persecutory delusions? Answer: Client believes they are
being harmed or targeted (e.g., FBI chasing them).
◉ What is avolition? Answer: Lack of motivation; difficulty
completing tasks and hygiene.
,◉ What is associative looseness? Answer: Jumping between
unrelated topics; speech becomes disorganized.
◉ What are hallucinations? Answer: Sensory experiences without
external stimulus (auditory most common).
◉ What is the AIMS scale used for? Answer: To monitor for EPS and
tardive dyskinesia from antipsychotics.
◉ What do first-generation antipsychotics treat? Answer: Positive
symptoms only; higher EPS and anticholinergic effects.
◉ What is acute dystonia? Answer: Emergency muscle spasms; treat
with benztropine or diphenhydramine.
◉ What is akathisia? Answer: Restlessness/pacing; treat with beta-
blockers or benzodiazepines.
◉ What is tardive dyskinesia? Answer: Late irreversible movement
disorder (lip smacking, tongue movements) → switch to atypical
antipsychotic.
,◉ What is Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome? Answer: High fever +
rigidity + BP fluctuations → stop antipsychotic, give dantrolene, ICU
care.
◉ What do second-generation antipsychotics treat? Answer: Positive
+ negative symptoms; fewer EPS.
◉ What is metabolic syndrome associated with atypicals? Answer:
Weight gain, diabetes, dyslipidemia → monitor glucose & lipids.
◉ What is the risk associated with Clozapine? Answer: Life-
threatening agranulocytosis → monitor WBC weekly → report
fever/sore throat.
◉ Why is Risperidone cautioned in dementia? Answer: Not used due
to ↑ stroke/death risk; monitor for hyperglycemia.
◉ What is the administration requirement for Ziprasidone? Answer:
Must take with food; risk for QT prolongation.
◉ What is milieu therapy? Answer: Safe, structured environment to
decrease anxiety and improve functioning.
, ◉ What is the therapeutic communication approach for delusions?
Answer: Do not argue; acknowledge feelings and redirect to reality-
based topics.
◉ What are the signs of a febrile reaction during a transfusion?
Answer: Fever increase ≥1°C, chills, tachycardia; action: STOP
transfusion and give antipyretics.
◉ What signs indicate an allergic reaction during a transfusion?
Answer: Hives, itching, flushing; action: STOP transfusion and give
antihistamine.
◉ What is the action for an anaphylactic reaction during a
transfusion? Answer: Airway compromise (bronchospasm, laryngeal
edema); action: STOP transfusion and administer epinephrine and
emergency care.
◉ What causes a bacterial reaction during a transfusion? Answer:
Contaminated blood; action: STOP transfusion, administer
antibiotics, and use new NS tubing.
◉ Who is at risk for circulatory overload during a transfusion?
Answer: Elderly, renal/cardiac disease patients; action: slow rate
and monitor lungs for crackles, dyspnea, JVD.
