NSG 3450 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2 UNIT 4 REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
| NSG 3450 STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
A client asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced." What is the nurse's
best response?
a. "How do you feel about having imbalanced neurotransmitters?"
b. "Neurotransmitters protect us from harmful effects of free radicals."
c. "Neurotransmitters are substances we consume that influence memory and mood."
d. "Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between brain cells." - ANS ✔✔d.
"Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between brain cells.
The parent of an adolescent diagnosed with schizophrenia asks the nurse, "My child's doctor ordered a
PET. What kind of test is that?" What is the nurse's best reply?
a. "This test uses a magnetic field and gamma waves to identify problem areas in the brain.
Does your teenager have any metal implants?"
b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a special type of scan that shows blood
flow and activity in the brain."
c. "A PET scan passes an electrical current through the brain and shows brain-wave activity.
It can help diagnose seizures."
d. "It's a special x-ray that shows structures of the brain and whether there has ever been a
brain injury." - ANS ✔✔b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a special type of scan that
shows blood flow and activity in the brain."
A client with a long history of hypertension and diabetes now develops confusion. The health care
provider wants to make a differential diagnosis between Alzheimer's disease and multiple cerebral
infarcts. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse expect to prepare
the client for first?
a. Skull x-rays
b. Computerized axial tomography (CT) scan
c. Positron-emission tomography (PET)
d. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) - ANS ✔✔b. Computerized axial tomography
(CT) scan
A client's history shows drinking 4 to 6 L of fluid and eating more than 6,000 calories per day. Which part
of the central nervous system is most likely dysfunctional for this client?
a. Amygdala
b. Parietal lobe
c. Hippocampus
d. Hypothalamus - ANS ✔✔d. Hypothalamus
The nurse prepares to assess a client diagnosed with major depressive disorder for disturbances in
circadian rhythms. Which question should the nurse ask this client?
a. "Have you ever seen or heard things that others do not?"
b. "What are your worst and best times of the day?"
c. "How would you describe your thinking?"
,d. "Do you think your memory is failing?" - ANS ✔✔b. "What are your worst and best times of the day?"
The nurse administers a medication that potentiates the action of ã-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Which
effect would be expected?
a. Reduced anxiety
b. Improved memory
c. More organized thinking
d. Fewer sensory perceptual alterations - ANS ✔✔a. Reduced anxiety
A nurse would anticipate that treatment for a client with memory difficulties might include medications
designed to do what?
a. inhibit GABA.
b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
c. reduce serotonin metabolism.
d. increase dopamine activity. - ANS ✔✔b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
A client has disorganized thinking associated with schizophrenia. Neuroimaging would likely show
dysfunction in which part of the brain?
a. Hippocampus
b. Frontal lobe
c. Cerebellum
d. Brainstem - ANS ✔✔b. frontal lobe
The nurse should assess a client taking a drug with anticholinergic properties for inhibited function of
which system or structure?
a. parasympathetic
b. sympathetic
c. reticular activating
d. medulla oblongata. - ANS ✔✔a. parasympathetic
The therapeutic action of neurotransmitter inhibitors that block reuptake bring about what response?
a. decreased concentration of the blocked neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
b. increased concentration of the blocked neurotransmitter in the synaptic gap.
c. destruction of receptor sites specific to the blocked neurotransmitter.
d. limbic system stimulation. - ANS ✔✔b. increased concentration of the blocked neurotransmitter in the
synaptic gap.
A client taking medication for mental illness develops restlessness and an uncontrollable need to be in
motion. Which drug action causes these symptoms to develop?
a. Anticholinergic effects
b. Dopamine-blocking effects
c. Endocrine-stimulating effects
d. Ability to stimulate spinal nerves - ANS ✔✔b. Dopamine-blocking effects
, A fearful client has an increased heart rate and blood pressure. The nurse suspects increased activity of
which neurotransmitter?
a. GABA
b. Norepinephrine
c. Acetylcholine
d. Histamine - ANS ✔✔b. Norepinephrine
A client has acute anxiety related to an automobile accident 2 hours ago. The nurse should teach the
client about medication from which group?
a. Tricyclic antidepressants
b. Antipsychotic drugs
c. Mood stabilizers
d. Benzodiazepines - ANS ✔✔D. Benzodiazepines
A client is hospitalized for severe major depressive disorder. The nurse can expect to provide the client
with teaching about what medication?
a. chlordiazepoxide.
b. clozapine.
c. sertraline.
d. tacrine. - ANS ✔✔c. sertraline.
A client diagnosed with bipolar disorder displays aggressiveness, agitation, talkativeness, and irritability.
The nurse expects the health care provider to prescribe a medication from which
group?
a. Psychostimulants
b. Mood stabilizers
c. Anticholinergics
d. Antidepressants - ANS ✔✔B. Mood stabilizers
A drug causes muscarinic receptor blockade. The nurse will assess the client for what side effect?
a. dry mouth.
b. gynecomastia.
c. pseudoparkinsonism.
d. orthostatic hypotension. - ANS ✔✔a. dry mouth
A client begins therapy with a phenothiazine medication. What teaching should the nurse provide
related to the drug's strong dopaminergic effect?
a. Chew sugarless gum.
b. Increase dietary fiber.
c. Arise slowly from bed.
d. Report changes in muscle movement. - ANS ✔✔d. Report changes in muscle movement.
| NSG 3450 STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
A client asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced." What is the nurse's
best response?
a. "How do you feel about having imbalanced neurotransmitters?"
b. "Neurotransmitters protect us from harmful effects of free radicals."
c. "Neurotransmitters are substances we consume that influence memory and mood."
d. "Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between brain cells." - ANS ✔✔d.
"Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between brain cells.
The parent of an adolescent diagnosed with schizophrenia asks the nurse, "My child's doctor ordered a
PET. What kind of test is that?" What is the nurse's best reply?
a. "This test uses a magnetic field and gamma waves to identify problem areas in the brain.
Does your teenager have any metal implants?"
b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a special type of scan that shows blood
flow and activity in the brain."
c. "A PET scan passes an electrical current through the brain and shows brain-wave activity.
It can help diagnose seizures."
d. "It's a special x-ray that shows structures of the brain and whether there has ever been a
brain injury." - ANS ✔✔b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a special type of scan that
shows blood flow and activity in the brain."
A client with a long history of hypertension and diabetes now develops confusion. The health care
provider wants to make a differential diagnosis between Alzheimer's disease and multiple cerebral
infarcts. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse expect to prepare
the client for first?
a. Skull x-rays
b. Computerized axial tomography (CT) scan
c. Positron-emission tomography (PET)
d. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) - ANS ✔✔b. Computerized axial tomography
(CT) scan
A client's history shows drinking 4 to 6 L of fluid and eating more than 6,000 calories per day. Which part
of the central nervous system is most likely dysfunctional for this client?
a. Amygdala
b. Parietal lobe
c. Hippocampus
d. Hypothalamus - ANS ✔✔d. Hypothalamus
The nurse prepares to assess a client diagnosed with major depressive disorder for disturbances in
circadian rhythms. Which question should the nurse ask this client?
a. "Have you ever seen or heard things that others do not?"
b. "What are your worst and best times of the day?"
c. "How would you describe your thinking?"
,d. "Do you think your memory is failing?" - ANS ✔✔b. "What are your worst and best times of the day?"
The nurse administers a medication that potentiates the action of ã-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Which
effect would be expected?
a. Reduced anxiety
b. Improved memory
c. More organized thinking
d. Fewer sensory perceptual alterations - ANS ✔✔a. Reduced anxiety
A nurse would anticipate that treatment for a client with memory difficulties might include medications
designed to do what?
a. inhibit GABA.
b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
c. reduce serotonin metabolism.
d. increase dopamine activity. - ANS ✔✔b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
A client has disorganized thinking associated with schizophrenia. Neuroimaging would likely show
dysfunction in which part of the brain?
a. Hippocampus
b. Frontal lobe
c. Cerebellum
d. Brainstem - ANS ✔✔b. frontal lobe
The nurse should assess a client taking a drug with anticholinergic properties for inhibited function of
which system or structure?
a. parasympathetic
b. sympathetic
c. reticular activating
d. medulla oblongata. - ANS ✔✔a. parasympathetic
The therapeutic action of neurotransmitter inhibitors that block reuptake bring about what response?
a. decreased concentration of the blocked neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
b. increased concentration of the blocked neurotransmitter in the synaptic gap.
c. destruction of receptor sites specific to the blocked neurotransmitter.
d. limbic system stimulation. - ANS ✔✔b. increased concentration of the blocked neurotransmitter in the
synaptic gap.
A client taking medication for mental illness develops restlessness and an uncontrollable need to be in
motion. Which drug action causes these symptoms to develop?
a. Anticholinergic effects
b. Dopamine-blocking effects
c. Endocrine-stimulating effects
d. Ability to stimulate spinal nerves - ANS ✔✔b. Dopamine-blocking effects
, A fearful client has an increased heart rate and blood pressure. The nurse suspects increased activity of
which neurotransmitter?
a. GABA
b. Norepinephrine
c. Acetylcholine
d. Histamine - ANS ✔✔b. Norepinephrine
A client has acute anxiety related to an automobile accident 2 hours ago. The nurse should teach the
client about medication from which group?
a. Tricyclic antidepressants
b. Antipsychotic drugs
c. Mood stabilizers
d. Benzodiazepines - ANS ✔✔D. Benzodiazepines
A client is hospitalized for severe major depressive disorder. The nurse can expect to provide the client
with teaching about what medication?
a. chlordiazepoxide.
b. clozapine.
c. sertraline.
d. tacrine. - ANS ✔✔c. sertraline.
A client diagnosed with bipolar disorder displays aggressiveness, agitation, talkativeness, and irritability.
The nurse expects the health care provider to prescribe a medication from which
group?
a. Psychostimulants
b. Mood stabilizers
c. Anticholinergics
d. Antidepressants - ANS ✔✔B. Mood stabilizers
A drug causes muscarinic receptor blockade. The nurse will assess the client for what side effect?
a. dry mouth.
b. gynecomastia.
c. pseudoparkinsonism.
d. orthostatic hypotension. - ANS ✔✔a. dry mouth
A client begins therapy with a phenothiazine medication. What teaching should the nurse provide
related to the drug's strong dopaminergic effect?
a. Chew sugarless gum.
b. Increase dietary fiber.
c. Arise slowly from bed.
d. Report changes in muscle movement. - ANS ✔✔d. Report changes in muscle movement.
