, NSG 552 Exams 1–3 WU Psychopharmacology
Actual Questions, Verified Answers with
Rationales | Guarantee Pass
Table of Contents
• NSG 552 Exam 1
• NSG 552 Exam 2
• NSG 552 Exam 3
NSG 552 Exam 1
1. A patient with depression asks the nurse, "My mother says depression is a
chemical disorder. What does she mean?" The nurse's response is based on the
theory that depression primarily involves which neurotransmitters?
a) Cortisol and GABA
b) COMT and glutamate
c) Monoamine and glycine
d) Serotonin and norepinephrine
Answer: d) Serotonin and norepinephrine
Rationale: Depression is associated with deficiencies in serotonin and norepinephrine. This
monoamine hypothesis forms the basis for SSRI and SNRI antidepressant therapy.
Dysregulation in these neurotransmitter systems contributes to mood, sleep, appetite, and
energy disturbances .
2. The therapeutic action of psychotropic medications is primarily the result of
their effect on:
,a) The temporal lobe, especially Wernicke's area
b) Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c) The regulation of neurotransmitters
d) The peripheral nervous system
Answer: c) The regulation of neurotransmitters
Rationale: Psychotropic medications work by modulating neurotransmitter systems—
altering synthesis, release, receptor binding, reuptake, or metabolism. This is the core
mechanism of action across all psychotropic drug classes .
3. A patient has experienced a stroke resulting in damage to the Broca area. Which
evaluation does the nurse conduct to reinforce this diagnosis?
a) Observing the patient pick up a spoon
b) Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
c) Monitoring the patient's blood pressure
d) Comparing the patient's grip strength in both hands
Answer: b) Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
Rationale: Broca's area is responsible for speech production. Damage results in expressive
(non-fluent) aphasia, where the patient knows what they want to say but cannot produce
the words. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet assesses speech production .
4. A student nurse questions the need to understand neuroanatomy. The mentor's
response should be based on the understanding that it is:
a) Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on behavioral
interventions
b) A complex undertaking that advanced practice psychiatric nurses frequently use in
their practice
c) Important primarily for nursing assessment of patients with brain trauma-caused
cognitive symptoms
d) Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients, especially those experiencing
psychiatric disorders
, Answer: d) Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients, especially those
experiencing psychiatric disorders
Rationale: Understanding neuroanatomy is essential for planning psychiatric care for all
patients, as psychiatric disorders have neurobiological underpinnings. This knowledge
guides medication selection, side effect monitoring, and patient education .
5. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are
always prescribed. The nurse's answer will be based on the understanding that the
therapeutic action of psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
a) The temporal lobe, especially Wernicke's area
b) Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c) The regulation of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine
d) The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to psychotropic medications
Answer: c) The regulation of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine
Rationale: Schizophrenia is associated with dopamine dysregulation, particularly
hyperactivity in the mesolimbic pathway (positive symptoms) and hypoactivity in the
mesocortical pathway (negative symptoms). Antipsychotics target dopamine receptors to
manage symptoms .
6. Which part of the neuron is primarily responsible for receiving signals from
other neurons?
a) Axon
b) Dendrites
c) Myelin sheath
d) Soma
Answer: b) Dendrites
Rationale: Dendrites receive incoming electrical and chemical signals from other neurons
and transmit them toward the cell body (soma). The axon transmits signals away from the
cell body. The myelin sheath insulates the axon to speed conduction.
Actual Questions, Verified Answers with
Rationales | Guarantee Pass
Table of Contents
• NSG 552 Exam 1
• NSG 552 Exam 2
• NSG 552 Exam 3
NSG 552 Exam 1
1. A patient with depression asks the nurse, "My mother says depression is a
chemical disorder. What does she mean?" The nurse's response is based on the
theory that depression primarily involves which neurotransmitters?
a) Cortisol and GABA
b) COMT and glutamate
c) Monoamine and glycine
d) Serotonin and norepinephrine
Answer: d) Serotonin and norepinephrine
Rationale: Depression is associated with deficiencies in serotonin and norepinephrine. This
monoamine hypothesis forms the basis for SSRI and SNRI antidepressant therapy.
Dysregulation in these neurotransmitter systems contributes to mood, sleep, appetite, and
energy disturbances .
2. The therapeutic action of psychotropic medications is primarily the result of
their effect on:
,a) The temporal lobe, especially Wernicke's area
b) Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c) The regulation of neurotransmitters
d) The peripheral nervous system
Answer: c) The regulation of neurotransmitters
Rationale: Psychotropic medications work by modulating neurotransmitter systems—
altering synthesis, release, receptor binding, reuptake, or metabolism. This is the core
mechanism of action across all psychotropic drug classes .
3. A patient has experienced a stroke resulting in damage to the Broca area. Which
evaluation does the nurse conduct to reinforce this diagnosis?
a) Observing the patient pick up a spoon
b) Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
c) Monitoring the patient's blood pressure
d) Comparing the patient's grip strength in both hands
Answer: b) Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
Rationale: Broca's area is responsible for speech production. Damage results in expressive
(non-fluent) aphasia, where the patient knows what they want to say but cannot produce
the words. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet assesses speech production .
4. A student nurse questions the need to understand neuroanatomy. The mentor's
response should be based on the understanding that it is:
a) Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on behavioral
interventions
b) A complex undertaking that advanced practice psychiatric nurses frequently use in
their practice
c) Important primarily for nursing assessment of patients with brain trauma-caused
cognitive symptoms
d) Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients, especially those experiencing
psychiatric disorders
, Answer: d) Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients, especially those
experiencing psychiatric disorders
Rationale: Understanding neuroanatomy is essential for planning psychiatric care for all
patients, as psychiatric disorders have neurobiological underpinnings. This knowledge
guides medication selection, side effect monitoring, and patient education .
5. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are
always prescribed. The nurse's answer will be based on the understanding that the
therapeutic action of psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
a) The temporal lobe, especially Wernicke's area
b) Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c) The regulation of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine
d) The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to psychotropic medications
Answer: c) The regulation of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine
Rationale: Schizophrenia is associated with dopamine dysregulation, particularly
hyperactivity in the mesolimbic pathway (positive symptoms) and hypoactivity in the
mesocortical pathway (negative symptoms). Antipsychotics target dopamine receptors to
manage symptoms .
6. Which part of the neuron is primarily responsible for receiving signals from
other neurons?
a) Axon
b) Dendrites
c) Myelin sheath
d) Soma
Answer: b) Dendrites
Rationale: Dendrites receive incoming electrical and chemical signals from other neurons
and transmit them toward the cell body (soma). The axon transmits signals away from the
cell body. The myelin sheath insulates the axon to speed conduction.
