ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FINAL 2026
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SCRIPT
SOLVED QUESTIONS ANSWERS UPDATED
REVIEW SET
◉ A patient is taking an FGA for schizophrenia. The nurse notes that
the patient has trouble speaking and chewing and observes slow,
wormlike-movements of the patient's tongue. The nurse recognizes
which adverse effect in this patient?
Answer: Tardive dyskinesia
◉ A nurse and a nursing student are discussing the plan of care for a
patient with schizophrenia. The patient, who has been taking a high-
potency FGA for 2 months, has become restless and constantly needs
to be in motion. Which statement by the student indicates a need for
further education?
Answer: "Because this may be an exacerbation of psychosis, the
provider may increase the dose of the FGA."
◉ A patient who is taking a first-generation antipsychotic (FGA)
drug for schizophrenia comes to the clinic for evaluation. The nurse
observes that the patient has a shuffling gait and mild tremors. The
nurse will ask the patient's provider about which course of action?
Answer: Giving an anticholinergic medication
,◉ A patient with schizophrenia has been taking an oral FGA for 1
week. The patient has been taking the drug daily in two divided
doses. The individual complains of daytime drowsiness. The
patient's family reports a decrease in the person's hostility and
anxiety but states that the patient remains antisocial with
disordered thinking. What will the nurse tell the patient and the
family?
Answer: Some symptoms take months to improve.
◉ A patient with schizophrenia has been taking an antipsychotic
drug for several days. The nurse enters the patient's room to
administer a dose of haloperidol [Haldol] and finds the patient
having facial spasms. The patient's head is thrust back, and the
patient is unable to speak. What will the nurse do?
Answer: Request an order to give diphenhydramine.
◉ A parent reports being afraid that a child may have schizophrenia
because of disorganized speech and asocial behaviors. The nurse
will tell this parent that which of the following must also be present
to make a diagnosis? Select all that apply.
Answer: A decrease in self-care, job, or school function
A 1-month duration of active phase symptoms
Continuous signs of disturbance for longer than 6 months
,◉ Which side effects are more common in second-generation
antipsychotic medications than in first-generation antipsychotic
medications? Select all that apply.
Answer: Agranulocytosis
Anticholinergic effects
Metabolism by CYP3A4
◉ A nurse in a mental health hospital finds a patient with
schizophrenia who takes haloperidol [Haldol] lying rigid in bed with
a temperature of 41.3°C. A cardiac monitor shows cardiac
dysrhythmias. What will be included in the treatment of this patient?
Select all that apply.
Answer: Dantrolene
Intravenous fluids
Withdrawal of haloperidol
◉ A patient who has diabetes mellitus is diagnosed with
schizophrenia and the provider orders thioridazine. The patient asks
the nurse why the provider has not ordered olanzapine [Zyprexa],
which the patient has seen advertised on television. Which response
by the nurse is the most important reason that this patient is not
receiving olanzapine?
Answer: "Olanzapine causes more metabolic side effects than
thioridazine."
, ◉ A patient who has been taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) for depression for several months tells the provider that the
medication has not helped with symptoms. The provider plans to
switch the patient to an SSRI. The nurse will teach this patient to:
Answer: stop taking the MAOI 2 weeks before starting the SSRI.
◉ A young adult patient has been taking an antidepressant
medication for several weeks and reports having increased thoughts
of suicide. The nurse questions further and learns that the patient
has attempted suicide more than once in the past. The patient
identifies a concrete plan for committing suicide. The nurse will
contact the provider to discuss:
Answer: hospitalizing the patient for closer monitoring.
◉ An older adult patient who is to begin taking imipramine
[Tofranil] asks the nurse when the drug should be taken. The nurse
will instruct the patient to:
Answer: divide the daily dose into two equal doses 12 hours apart.
◉ A patient has been taking an SSRI antidepressant for major
depression and reports having headaches and jaw pain. What will
the nurse tell the patient?
Answer: Discuss these symptoms with a dentist.
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SCRIPT
SOLVED QUESTIONS ANSWERS UPDATED
REVIEW SET
◉ A patient is taking an FGA for schizophrenia. The nurse notes that
the patient has trouble speaking and chewing and observes slow,
wormlike-movements of the patient's tongue. The nurse recognizes
which adverse effect in this patient?
Answer: Tardive dyskinesia
◉ A nurse and a nursing student are discussing the plan of care for a
patient with schizophrenia. The patient, who has been taking a high-
potency FGA for 2 months, has become restless and constantly needs
to be in motion. Which statement by the student indicates a need for
further education?
Answer: "Because this may be an exacerbation of psychosis, the
provider may increase the dose of the FGA."
◉ A patient who is taking a first-generation antipsychotic (FGA)
drug for schizophrenia comes to the clinic for evaluation. The nurse
observes that the patient has a shuffling gait and mild tremors. The
nurse will ask the patient's provider about which course of action?
Answer: Giving an anticholinergic medication
,◉ A patient with schizophrenia has been taking an oral FGA for 1
week. The patient has been taking the drug daily in two divided
doses. The individual complains of daytime drowsiness. The
patient's family reports a decrease in the person's hostility and
anxiety but states that the patient remains antisocial with
disordered thinking. What will the nurse tell the patient and the
family?
Answer: Some symptoms take months to improve.
◉ A patient with schizophrenia has been taking an antipsychotic
drug for several days. The nurse enters the patient's room to
administer a dose of haloperidol [Haldol] and finds the patient
having facial spasms. The patient's head is thrust back, and the
patient is unable to speak. What will the nurse do?
Answer: Request an order to give diphenhydramine.
◉ A parent reports being afraid that a child may have schizophrenia
because of disorganized speech and asocial behaviors. The nurse
will tell this parent that which of the following must also be present
to make a diagnosis? Select all that apply.
Answer: A decrease in self-care, job, or school function
A 1-month duration of active phase symptoms
Continuous signs of disturbance for longer than 6 months
,◉ Which side effects are more common in second-generation
antipsychotic medications than in first-generation antipsychotic
medications? Select all that apply.
Answer: Agranulocytosis
Anticholinergic effects
Metabolism by CYP3A4
◉ A nurse in a mental health hospital finds a patient with
schizophrenia who takes haloperidol [Haldol] lying rigid in bed with
a temperature of 41.3°C. A cardiac monitor shows cardiac
dysrhythmias. What will be included in the treatment of this patient?
Select all that apply.
Answer: Dantrolene
Intravenous fluids
Withdrawal of haloperidol
◉ A patient who has diabetes mellitus is diagnosed with
schizophrenia and the provider orders thioridazine. The patient asks
the nurse why the provider has not ordered olanzapine [Zyprexa],
which the patient has seen advertised on television. Which response
by the nurse is the most important reason that this patient is not
receiving olanzapine?
Answer: "Olanzapine causes more metabolic side effects than
thioridazine."
, ◉ A patient who has been taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) for depression for several months tells the provider that the
medication has not helped with symptoms. The provider plans to
switch the patient to an SSRI. The nurse will teach this patient to:
Answer: stop taking the MAOI 2 weeks before starting the SSRI.
◉ A young adult patient has been taking an antidepressant
medication for several weeks and reports having increased thoughts
of suicide. The nurse questions further and learns that the patient
has attempted suicide more than once in the past. The patient
identifies a concrete plan for committing suicide. The nurse will
contact the provider to discuss:
Answer: hospitalizing the patient for closer monitoring.
◉ An older adult patient who is to begin taking imipramine
[Tofranil] asks the nurse when the drug should be taken. The nurse
will instruct the patient to:
Answer: divide the daily dose into two equal doses 12 hours apart.
◉ A patient has been taking an SSRI antidepressant for major
depression and reports having headaches and jaw pain. What will
the nurse tell the patient?
Answer: Discuss these symptoms with a dentist.
