,NUR 253 EXAM 4 Mental Health Nursing Questions And Answers
2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which finding is most consistent with alcohol intoxication?
A) Slurred speech and impaired coordination
B) Severe diaphoresis with tremors from withdrawal
C) Hyperreflexia caused by serotonin syndrome
D) Fixed false beliefs
Correct Answer: A) Slurred speech and impaired coordination
Rationale: Alcohol intoxication commonly produces impaired judgment,
slowed reaction time, slurred speech, and impaired coordination.
Q2. Which symptom is commonly associated with alcohol
withdrawal?
A) Bradycardia and hypothermia
B) Tremors, anxiety, and diaphoresis
C) Complete muscle paralysis
D) Persistent euphoria
Correct Answer: B) Tremors, anxiety, and diaphoresis
Rationale: Early alcohol withdrawal commonly causes tremor, anxiety,
sweating, insomnia, nausea, and autonomic hyperactivity.
Q3. Which finding suggests severe alcohol withdrawal progressing
toward delirium tremens?
A) Mild headache
B) Increased appetite
C) Fluctuating consciousness with severe agitation and hallucinations
D) Improved coordination
Correct Answer: C) Fluctuating consciousness with severe agitation and
hallucinations
Rationale: Delirium tremens is a severe alcohol-withdrawal syndrome
characterized by marked autonomic activation, agitation, confusion,
hallucinations, and fluctuating consciousness.
Q4. What is the priority nursing concern during severe alcohol
withdrawal?
,A) Maintaining safety and monitoring for seizures or delirium
B) Encouraging strenuous activity
C) Restricting fluids
D) Promoting social interaction
Correct Answer: A) Maintaining safety and monitoring for seizures or delirium
Rationale: Severe withdrawal can cause seizures, delirium, dysrhythmias,
and other life-threatening complications, making close monitoring essential.
Q5. Which medication is commonly used to manage alcohol
withdrawal?
A) Benzodiazepines
B) SSRIs
C) Antipsychotics as the sole routine treatment
D) Stimulants
Correct Answer: A) Benzodiazepines
Rationale: Benzodiazepines reduce central nervous system hyperexcitability
and are commonly used to prevent or treat alcohol-withdrawal seizures and
delirium.
Q6. Why is thiamine commonly administered to a patient with
chronic alcohol use disorder?
A) To prevent or treat thiamine deficiency and reduce the risk of Wernicke
encephalopathy
B) To reverse opioid overdose
C) To induce sleep
D) To treat hypertension
Correct Answer: A) To prevent or treat thiamine deficiency and reduce the
risk of Wernicke encephalopathy
Rationale: Chronic alcohol misuse is associated with poor nutrition and
impaired thiamine absorption, increasing the risk of neurologic complications
such as Wernicke encephalopathy.
Q7. Which assessment finding is associated with Wernicke
encephalopathy?
A) Confusion, ataxia, and ocular abnormalities
B) Severe hypertension alone
, C) Increased appetite
D) Hyperactive bowel sounds only
Correct Answer: A) Confusion, ataxia, and ocular abnormalities
Rationale: Wernicke encephalopathy classically involves altered mental
status, gait abnormalities, and eye-movement abnormalities related to
thiamine deficiency.
Q8. A patient with alcohol use disorder is at risk for malnutrition.
Which nursing intervention is appropriate?
A) Assess nutritional status and encourage adequate nutrient intake
B) Restrict protein routinely
C) Avoid vitamin supplementation
D) Encourage prolonged fasting
Correct Answer: A) Assess nutritional status and encourage adequate
nutrient intake
Rationale: Chronic alcohol use can replace nutritious food intake and impair
absorption and metabolism of nutrients, making nutritional assessment
important.
Q9. Which sign is characteristic of opioid intoxication?
A) Pinpoint pupils and respiratory depression
B) Severe hypertension and hyperactivity
C) Dilated pupils with insomnia
D) Profuse diarrhea and piloerection
Correct Answer: A) Pinpoint pupils and respiratory depression
Rationale: Opioid intoxication commonly causes central nervous system
depression, miosis, decreased respiratory rate, and decreased level of
consciousness.
Q10. A patient arrives with suspected opioid overdose and
significant respiratory depression. Which intervention is the
priority?
A) Administer naloxone as prescribed and support ventilation
B) Administer methadone
C) Encourage oral fluids
D) Place the patient in seclusion
2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which finding is most consistent with alcohol intoxication?
A) Slurred speech and impaired coordination
B) Severe diaphoresis with tremors from withdrawal
C) Hyperreflexia caused by serotonin syndrome
D) Fixed false beliefs
Correct Answer: A) Slurred speech and impaired coordination
Rationale: Alcohol intoxication commonly produces impaired judgment,
slowed reaction time, slurred speech, and impaired coordination.
Q2. Which symptom is commonly associated with alcohol
withdrawal?
A) Bradycardia and hypothermia
B) Tremors, anxiety, and diaphoresis
C) Complete muscle paralysis
D) Persistent euphoria
Correct Answer: B) Tremors, anxiety, and diaphoresis
Rationale: Early alcohol withdrawal commonly causes tremor, anxiety,
sweating, insomnia, nausea, and autonomic hyperactivity.
Q3. Which finding suggests severe alcohol withdrawal progressing
toward delirium tremens?
A) Mild headache
B) Increased appetite
C) Fluctuating consciousness with severe agitation and hallucinations
D) Improved coordination
Correct Answer: C) Fluctuating consciousness with severe agitation and
hallucinations
Rationale: Delirium tremens is a severe alcohol-withdrawal syndrome
characterized by marked autonomic activation, agitation, confusion,
hallucinations, and fluctuating consciousness.
Q4. What is the priority nursing concern during severe alcohol
withdrawal?
,A) Maintaining safety and monitoring for seizures or delirium
B) Encouraging strenuous activity
C) Restricting fluids
D) Promoting social interaction
Correct Answer: A) Maintaining safety and monitoring for seizures or delirium
Rationale: Severe withdrawal can cause seizures, delirium, dysrhythmias,
and other life-threatening complications, making close monitoring essential.
Q5. Which medication is commonly used to manage alcohol
withdrawal?
A) Benzodiazepines
B) SSRIs
C) Antipsychotics as the sole routine treatment
D) Stimulants
Correct Answer: A) Benzodiazepines
Rationale: Benzodiazepines reduce central nervous system hyperexcitability
and are commonly used to prevent or treat alcohol-withdrawal seizures and
delirium.
Q6. Why is thiamine commonly administered to a patient with
chronic alcohol use disorder?
A) To prevent or treat thiamine deficiency and reduce the risk of Wernicke
encephalopathy
B) To reverse opioid overdose
C) To induce sleep
D) To treat hypertension
Correct Answer: A) To prevent or treat thiamine deficiency and reduce the
risk of Wernicke encephalopathy
Rationale: Chronic alcohol misuse is associated with poor nutrition and
impaired thiamine absorption, increasing the risk of neurologic complications
such as Wernicke encephalopathy.
Q7. Which assessment finding is associated with Wernicke
encephalopathy?
A) Confusion, ataxia, and ocular abnormalities
B) Severe hypertension alone
, C) Increased appetite
D) Hyperactive bowel sounds only
Correct Answer: A) Confusion, ataxia, and ocular abnormalities
Rationale: Wernicke encephalopathy classically involves altered mental
status, gait abnormalities, and eye-movement abnormalities related to
thiamine deficiency.
Q8. A patient with alcohol use disorder is at risk for malnutrition.
Which nursing intervention is appropriate?
A) Assess nutritional status and encourage adequate nutrient intake
B) Restrict protein routinely
C) Avoid vitamin supplementation
D) Encourage prolonged fasting
Correct Answer: A) Assess nutritional status and encourage adequate
nutrient intake
Rationale: Chronic alcohol use can replace nutritious food intake and impair
absorption and metabolism of nutrients, making nutritional assessment
important.
Q9. Which sign is characteristic of opioid intoxication?
A) Pinpoint pupils and respiratory depression
B) Severe hypertension and hyperactivity
C) Dilated pupils with insomnia
D) Profuse diarrhea and piloerection
Correct Answer: A) Pinpoint pupils and respiratory depression
Rationale: Opioid intoxication commonly causes central nervous system
depression, miosis, decreased respiratory rate, and decreased level of
consciousness.
Q10. A patient arrives with suspected opioid overdose and
significant respiratory depression. Which intervention is the
priority?
A) Administer naloxone as prescribed and support ventilation
B) Administer methadone
C) Encourage oral fluids
D) Place the patient in seclusion
