ATI Mental Health: Schizophrenia and Antipsychotic Medications 2026
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who reports hearing voices
telling them to harm themselves. Which of the following is the priority nursing
action?
A. Ask the client what the voices are saying.
B. Administer a PRN dose of haloperidol.
C. Place the client in a quiet room with low stimulation.
D. Tell the client that the voices are not real.
Answer: A
Rationale: Safety is the priority. The nurse must first determine the content of command
hallucinations to assess the risk of self-harm or violence.
2. Which of the following findings is considered a ‘negative’ symptom of
schizophrenia?
A. Avolition
B. Auditory hallucinations
C. Delusions of grandeur
D. Echolalia
Answer: A
Rationale: Negative symptoms represent a loss of normal function; avolition (lack of
motivation) is a classic negative symptom, while hallucinations and delusions are positive
symptoms.
,3. A client is prescribed clozapine. Which laboratory value must the nurse
monitor most closely?
A. Serum potassium
B. White blood cell count
C. Blood urea nitrogen
D. Platelet count
Answer: B
Rationale: Clozapine carries a high risk of agranulocytosis, requiring weekly or bi-weekly
monitoring of WBC and Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC).
4. A client taking haloperidol for several days develops a high fever, muscle
rigidity, and tachycardia. What complication should the nurse suspect?
A. Acute dystonia
B. Serotonin syndrome
C. Anticholinergic toxicity
D. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is a life-threatening emergency
characterized by high fever, lead-pipe muscle rigidity, and autonomic instability.
5. Which medication is most likely to be used to treat the extrapyramidal side
effect of acute dystonia?
A. Lorazepam
B. Benztropine
C. Lithium carbonate
D. Donepezil
Answer: B
Rationale: Benztropine is an anticholinergic medication used to treat acute dystonic
reactions and parkinsonian symptoms caused by antipsychotics.
, 6. A client with schizophrenia exhibits ‘waxy flexibility.’ The nurse understands
this is a manifestation of which subtype behavior?
A. Catatonic behavior
B. Disorganized behavior
C. Paranoid behavior
D. Residual behavior
Answer: A
Rationale: Waxy flexibility, where a client maintains a specific position for an extended
period, is a hallmark of catatonia.
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has been taking chlorpromazine for several
months. The nurse notes involuntary tongue thrusting and lip-smacking. These
are signs of:
A. Akathisia
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Pseudoparkinsonism
D. Oculogyric crisis
Answer: B
Rationale: Tardive dyskinesia involves involuntary movements of the tongue and face and
can become permanent if the medication is not adjusted.
8. A client is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. The nurse knows this
diagnosis involves symptoms of schizophrenia plus which other disorder?
A. Anxiety disorder
B. Personality disorder
C. A mood disorder
D. Substance use disorder
Answer: C
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who reports hearing voices
telling them to harm themselves. Which of the following is the priority nursing
action?
A. Ask the client what the voices are saying.
B. Administer a PRN dose of haloperidol.
C. Place the client in a quiet room with low stimulation.
D. Tell the client that the voices are not real.
Answer: A
Rationale: Safety is the priority. The nurse must first determine the content of command
hallucinations to assess the risk of self-harm or violence.
2. Which of the following findings is considered a ‘negative’ symptom of
schizophrenia?
A. Avolition
B. Auditory hallucinations
C. Delusions of grandeur
D. Echolalia
Answer: A
Rationale: Negative symptoms represent a loss of normal function; avolition (lack of
motivation) is a classic negative symptom, while hallucinations and delusions are positive
symptoms.
,3. A client is prescribed clozapine. Which laboratory value must the nurse
monitor most closely?
A. Serum potassium
B. White blood cell count
C. Blood urea nitrogen
D. Platelet count
Answer: B
Rationale: Clozapine carries a high risk of agranulocytosis, requiring weekly or bi-weekly
monitoring of WBC and Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC).
4. A client taking haloperidol for several days develops a high fever, muscle
rigidity, and tachycardia. What complication should the nurse suspect?
A. Acute dystonia
B. Serotonin syndrome
C. Anticholinergic toxicity
D. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is a life-threatening emergency
characterized by high fever, lead-pipe muscle rigidity, and autonomic instability.
5. Which medication is most likely to be used to treat the extrapyramidal side
effect of acute dystonia?
A. Lorazepam
B. Benztropine
C. Lithium carbonate
D. Donepezil
Answer: B
Rationale: Benztropine is an anticholinergic medication used to treat acute dystonic
reactions and parkinsonian symptoms caused by antipsychotics.
, 6. A client with schizophrenia exhibits ‘waxy flexibility.’ The nurse understands
this is a manifestation of which subtype behavior?
A. Catatonic behavior
B. Disorganized behavior
C. Paranoid behavior
D. Residual behavior
Answer: A
Rationale: Waxy flexibility, where a client maintains a specific position for an extended
period, is a hallmark of catatonia.
7. A nurse is assessing a client who has been taking chlorpromazine for several
months. The nurse notes involuntary tongue thrusting and lip-smacking. These
are signs of:
A. Akathisia
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Pseudoparkinsonism
D. Oculogyric crisis
Answer: B
Rationale: Tardive dyskinesia involves involuntary movements of the tongue and face and
can become permanent if the medication is not adjusted.
8. A client is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. The nurse knows this
diagnosis involves symptoms of schizophrenia plus which other disorder?
A. Anxiety disorder
B. Personality disorder
C. A mood disorder
D. Substance use disorder
Answer: C
