ATI Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
And Psychosis Final Exam Questions
And Answers Practice Questions with
Solutions Newest 2026/ 2027 |
Already Graded A+
1. A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, “The CIA is
monitoring me through my television.” How should the nurse
respond?
A. “That’s impossible. The CIA isn’t watching you.”
B. “I don’t see anyone, but I understand you feel threatened.”
C. “Let’s take the TV out of your room.”
D. “Tell me more about why the CIA chose you.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Validates the client’s feeling without reinforcing the
delusion. Arguing (A) damages trust; removing the TV (C) colludes
with the delusion; exploring content (D) reinforces false beliefs.
2. Which negative symptom of schizophrenia is defined by a lack
of motivation to initiate or persist in goal-directed activities?
A. Anhedonia
B. Avolition
C. Alogia
D. Asociality
,Answer: B
Rationale: Avolition is the inability to start and follow through
with tasks (e.g., poor hygiene, no work/school effort). Anhedonia
is loss of pleasure; alogia is poverty of speech; asociality is lack of
social interest.
3. A client receiving clozapine reports fever, sore throat, and
fatigue. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer acetaminophen.
B. Obtain a complete blood count (CBC) with differential.
C. Encourage oral fluids.
D. Notify the family.
Answer: B
Rationale: Fever and sore throat on clozapine suggest
agranulocytosis (low WBC/ANC). Immediate CBC is needed to
confirm; delaying can lead to fatal infection.
4. Which symptom is considered a positive symptom of
schizophrenia?
A. Flat affect
B. Auditory hallucinations
C. Social withdrawal
D. Avolition
Answer: B
Rationale: Positive symptoms are “added” experiences
(hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech). Flat affect,
withdrawal, and avolition are negative symptoms.
5. A client says, “The voices are telling me to hurt myself.” What is
the nurse’s immediate priority?
,A. Ask, “What are the voices saying exactly?”
B. Perform a suicide risk assessment.
C. Tell the client to ignore the voices.
D. Administer an antipsychotic PRN.
Answer: B
Rationale: Command hallucinations to self-harm require
immediate safety evaluation. Suicide risk assessment is priority;
medication may follow but not before assessing lethality.
6. Which antipsychotic medication requires routine ECG
monitoring due to risk of QT prolongation?
A. Haloperidol
B. Ziprasidone
C. Risperidone
D. Aripiprazole
Answer: B
Rationale: Ziprasidone has the highest risk among atypicals for
QTc prolongation. Baseline and periodic ECGs are recommended.
7. A client with schizophrenia is exhibiting waxy flexibility. Which
nursing intervention is appropriate?
A. Gently reposition the client and monitor for changes.
B. Forcefully straighten the client’s limbs.
C. Restrain the client to prevent injury.
D. Ignore the behavior as attention-seeking.
Answer: A
Rationale: Waxy flexibility (limbs remain in position placed) is a
catatonic sign. Gentle repositioning prevents complications
(contractures, skin breakdown). Force may provoke agitation.
, 8. A client on haloperidol develops torticollis and oculogyric crisis.
Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Lorazepam
B. Diphenhydramine
C. Clozapine
D. Olanzapine
Answer: B
Rationale: Acute dystonia (torticollis, oculogyric crisis) is treated
with anticholinergics (e.g., diphenhydramine or benztropine).
Lorazepam is for agitation or catatonia.
9. Which statement by a client with schizoaffective disorder best
indicates understanding of their diagnosis?
A. “I only have mood swings, not real psychosis.”
B. “I have a severe form of bipolar disorder.”
C. “I experience psychotic symptoms even when my mood is
stable.”
D. “My delusions go away completely when I take an
antidepressant.”
Answer: C
Rationale: Schizoaffective disorder requires at least 2 weeks of
psychotic symptoms without a major mood episode. Psychosis
can occur outside mood episodes.
10. A nurse is assessing a client with schizophrenia who has
alogia. What finding would the nurse expect?
A. Pacing and inability to sit still
B. Brief, empty responses to questions
C. Repeating the same word over and over
D. Inventing new words
And Psychosis Final Exam Questions
And Answers Practice Questions with
Solutions Newest 2026/ 2027 |
Already Graded A+
1. A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, “The CIA is
monitoring me through my television.” How should the nurse
respond?
A. “That’s impossible. The CIA isn’t watching you.”
B. “I don’t see anyone, but I understand you feel threatened.”
C. “Let’s take the TV out of your room.”
D. “Tell me more about why the CIA chose you.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Validates the client’s feeling without reinforcing the
delusion. Arguing (A) damages trust; removing the TV (C) colludes
with the delusion; exploring content (D) reinforces false beliefs.
2. Which negative symptom of schizophrenia is defined by a lack
of motivation to initiate or persist in goal-directed activities?
A. Anhedonia
B. Avolition
C. Alogia
D. Asociality
,Answer: B
Rationale: Avolition is the inability to start and follow through
with tasks (e.g., poor hygiene, no work/school effort). Anhedonia
is loss of pleasure; alogia is poverty of speech; asociality is lack of
social interest.
3. A client receiving clozapine reports fever, sore throat, and
fatigue. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer acetaminophen.
B. Obtain a complete blood count (CBC) with differential.
C. Encourage oral fluids.
D. Notify the family.
Answer: B
Rationale: Fever and sore throat on clozapine suggest
agranulocytosis (low WBC/ANC). Immediate CBC is needed to
confirm; delaying can lead to fatal infection.
4. Which symptom is considered a positive symptom of
schizophrenia?
A. Flat affect
B. Auditory hallucinations
C. Social withdrawal
D. Avolition
Answer: B
Rationale: Positive symptoms are “added” experiences
(hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech). Flat affect,
withdrawal, and avolition are negative symptoms.
5. A client says, “The voices are telling me to hurt myself.” What is
the nurse’s immediate priority?
,A. Ask, “What are the voices saying exactly?”
B. Perform a suicide risk assessment.
C. Tell the client to ignore the voices.
D. Administer an antipsychotic PRN.
Answer: B
Rationale: Command hallucinations to self-harm require
immediate safety evaluation. Suicide risk assessment is priority;
medication may follow but not before assessing lethality.
6. Which antipsychotic medication requires routine ECG
monitoring due to risk of QT prolongation?
A. Haloperidol
B. Ziprasidone
C. Risperidone
D. Aripiprazole
Answer: B
Rationale: Ziprasidone has the highest risk among atypicals for
QTc prolongation. Baseline and periodic ECGs are recommended.
7. A client with schizophrenia is exhibiting waxy flexibility. Which
nursing intervention is appropriate?
A. Gently reposition the client and monitor for changes.
B. Forcefully straighten the client’s limbs.
C. Restrain the client to prevent injury.
D. Ignore the behavior as attention-seeking.
Answer: A
Rationale: Waxy flexibility (limbs remain in position placed) is a
catatonic sign. Gentle repositioning prevents complications
(contractures, skin breakdown). Force may provoke agitation.
, 8. A client on haloperidol develops torticollis and oculogyric crisis.
Which medication should the nurse prepare to administer?
A. Lorazepam
B. Diphenhydramine
C. Clozapine
D. Olanzapine
Answer: B
Rationale: Acute dystonia (torticollis, oculogyric crisis) is treated
with anticholinergics (e.g., diphenhydramine or benztropine).
Lorazepam is for agitation or catatonia.
9. Which statement by a client with schizoaffective disorder best
indicates understanding of their diagnosis?
A. “I only have mood swings, not real psychosis.”
B. “I have a severe form of bipolar disorder.”
C. “I experience psychotic symptoms even when my mood is
stable.”
D. “My delusions go away completely when I take an
antidepressant.”
Answer: C
Rationale: Schizoaffective disorder requires at least 2 weeks of
psychotic symptoms without a major mood episode. Psychosis
can occur outside mood episodes.
10. A nurse is assessing a client with schizophrenia who has
alogia. What finding would the nurse expect?
A. Pacing and inability to sit still
B. Brief, empty responses to questions
C. Repeating the same word over and over
D. Inventing new words
