• ATI RN MENTAL 09/09/2026
HEALTH NURSING
ATI RN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EDITION 2 12.0
Complete Practice Test Bank 300 Exam-Style
Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales All Core Domains Covered | A+
Graded TABLE OF CONTENTS | Section | Topic
Area | Questions
A patient's pharmacotherapy includes valproic acid (Depakene), and the prescriber wants to add carbamazepine
(Tegretol). After the new medication is added, which phenomenon is the nurse most likely to observe in the
patient?
A) Less amnesia after a convulsion
B) Increased number of convulsions
P 1
, • ATI RN MENTAL 09/09/2026
HEALTH NURSING
C) Changes in nature of convulsions
D) Improved level of consciousness –
Correct Answer :C
Concomitant administration of carbamazepine with a benzodiazepine such as temazepam increases the risk of
carbamazepine toxicity because both medications are metabolized in the liver through cytochrome P450
enzymes. As a result, the enzyme supply is exhausted, impairing the removal of these drugs from the blood. This
can cause higher circulating drug levels for longer periods, thereby increasing the risk of toxicity for both drugs.
The patient is more likely to experience deep, prolonged sleep rather than poor sleep and should be less likely to
experience generalized seizures. The patient is likely to experience hypotension after the administration of both
agents; however, circulatory collapse is less likely.
A patient is admitted with bipolar affective disorder. The nurse acknowledges that which medication is used to
treat this disorder for some patients in place of lithium?
a.thiopental
b.gingko biloba
c.fluvoxamine (Luvox)
d.divalproex (Depakote) –
Correct Answer :D
The nurse is administering valproic acid (Depakote) to a patient. The nurse checks the laboratory values and
finds a serum range for valproic acid of 200 mcg/ml. What should the nurse do?
a. Increase the daily dose to get the patient's level to a therapeutic range.
b. Hold the morning dose but give the other scheduled dosages for the day.
c. Ask the patient if he is having any adverse effects from the medication.
d. Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
P 2
, • ATI RN MENTAL 09/09/2026
HEALTH NURSING
- Correct Answer :d. Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
1. Your patient has been switched from valproic acid (Depakote) to gabepentin (Neurontin). Which of the
following is a false statement?
a. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is also used for bipolar disorder therapy
b. Gabapentin (Neurontin) requires more frequent hepatic monitoring
c. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is also used for migraine therapy
d. Gabapentin (Neurontin) should not be given concurrently with antacids containing magnesium
- Correct Answer :b. Gabapentin (Neurontin) requires more frequent hepatic monitoring
24. Your patient is taking valproic acid (Depakote). Which of the following is a false statement?
a. Valproic acid requires hepatic monitoring
b. Valproic acid has the lowest seizure relapse rate when discontinued
c. Valproic acid is also used in migraine therapy
d. Valproic acid is also used in bipolar disorder therapy –
Correct Answer :b. Valproic acid has the lowest seizure relapse rate when discontinued
91. The nurse is assessing a patient receiving valproic acid (Depakene) for potential adverse effects associated
with this drug. Which item represents the most common problem with this drug?
A) Increased risk for infection
B) Reddened, swollen gums
C) Nausea, vomiting, and indigestion
P 3
, • ATI RN MENTAL 09/09/2026
HEALTH NURSING
D) Central nervous system depression - Correct Answer :D) Central nervous system depression
Valproic acid is generally well tolerated.It does not cause hematologic effects resulting in increased risk for
infection nor does it cause gingival hyperplasia.
It causes minimal sedation.
Gastrointestinal effects, which include nausea, vomiting, and indigestion, are the most common problems but
tend to subside with use and can be lessened by giving with food.
A male patient tells the nurse that he wants to stop taking citalopram (Celexa) because of the sexual side
effects. Which instruction should the nurse provide in patient teaching to help relieve the patient's sexual
dysfunction? (Choose all that apply.)
A) Discontinue the medication.
B) Take infrequent "drug holidays."
C) Decrease the regular dosage by 50%.
D) Report complaints to the psychiatrist.
E) Maintain the current pharmacotherapy.
F) Avoid alcoholic beverages. - Correct Answer :B, D, E, F
Sexual dysfunction is managed in several ways, including reduction in the regular dosage, "drug holidays,"
addition of a medication for erectile dysfunction, change of antidepressant, and avoidance of alcohol. The nurse
encourages the patient to continue taking an SSRI such as citalopram because the adverse effects of therapy
often diminish in intensity and frequency over time and this strategy helps prevent disruptions in therapy. After
providing this information the nurse encourages the patient to voice complaints to the psychiatrist who
prescribes the antidepressant, but the nurse does not depend on the patient to ensure that the psychiatrist is
notified of the complaint. The nurse avoids instructing the patient to discontinue therapy or to alter the dosage,
because these actions are not within the scope of nursing practice.
The nurse is teaching a patient who has a new prescription for citalopram [Celexa]. Which statements are
appropriate to include in the teaching plan? (Select all that apply.)
P 4
HEALTH NURSING
ATI RN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EDITION 2 12.0
Complete Practice Test Bank 300 Exam-Style
Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales All Core Domains Covered | A+
Graded TABLE OF CONTENTS | Section | Topic
Area | Questions
A patient's pharmacotherapy includes valproic acid (Depakene), and the prescriber wants to add carbamazepine
(Tegretol). After the new medication is added, which phenomenon is the nurse most likely to observe in the
patient?
A) Less amnesia after a convulsion
B) Increased number of convulsions
P 1
, • ATI RN MENTAL 09/09/2026
HEALTH NURSING
C) Changes in nature of convulsions
D) Improved level of consciousness –
Correct Answer :C
Concomitant administration of carbamazepine with a benzodiazepine such as temazepam increases the risk of
carbamazepine toxicity because both medications are metabolized in the liver through cytochrome P450
enzymes. As a result, the enzyme supply is exhausted, impairing the removal of these drugs from the blood. This
can cause higher circulating drug levels for longer periods, thereby increasing the risk of toxicity for both drugs.
The patient is more likely to experience deep, prolonged sleep rather than poor sleep and should be less likely to
experience generalized seizures. The patient is likely to experience hypotension after the administration of both
agents; however, circulatory collapse is less likely.
A patient is admitted with bipolar affective disorder. The nurse acknowledges that which medication is used to
treat this disorder for some patients in place of lithium?
a.thiopental
b.gingko biloba
c.fluvoxamine (Luvox)
d.divalproex (Depakote) –
Correct Answer :D
The nurse is administering valproic acid (Depakote) to a patient. The nurse checks the laboratory values and
finds a serum range for valproic acid of 200 mcg/ml. What should the nurse do?
a. Increase the daily dose to get the patient's level to a therapeutic range.
b. Hold the morning dose but give the other scheduled dosages for the day.
c. Ask the patient if he is having any adverse effects from the medication.
d. Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
P 2
, • ATI RN MENTAL 09/09/2026
HEALTH NURSING
- Correct Answer :d. Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
1. Your patient has been switched from valproic acid (Depakote) to gabepentin (Neurontin). Which of the
following is a false statement?
a. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is also used for bipolar disorder therapy
b. Gabapentin (Neurontin) requires more frequent hepatic monitoring
c. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is also used for migraine therapy
d. Gabapentin (Neurontin) should not be given concurrently with antacids containing magnesium
- Correct Answer :b. Gabapentin (Neurontin) requires more frequent hepatic monitoring
24. Your patient is taking valproic acid (Depakote). Which of the following is a false statement?
a. Valproic acid requires hepatic monitoring
b. Valproic acid has the lowest seizure relapse rate when discontinued
c. Valproic acid is also used in migraine therapy
d. Valproic acid is also used in bipolar disorder therapy –
Correct Answer :b. Valproic acid has the lowest seizure relapse rate when discontinued
91. The nurse is assessing a patient receiving valproic acid (Depakene) for potential adverse effects associated
with this drug. Which item represents the most common problem with this drug?
A) Increased risk for infection
B) Reddened, swollen gums
C) Nausea, vomiting, and indigestion
P 3
, • ATI RN MENTAL 09/09/2026
HEALTH NURSING
D) Central nervous system depression - Correct Answer :D) Central nervous system depression
Valproic acid is generally well tolerated.It does not cause hematologic effects resulting in increased risk for
infection nor does it cause gingival hyperplasia.
It causes minimal sedation.
Gastrointestinal effects, which include nausea, vomiting, and indigestion, are the most common problems but
tend to subside with use and can be lessened by giving with food.
A male patient tells the nurse that he wants to stop taking citalopram (Celexa) because of the sexual side
effects. Which instruction should the nurse provide in patient teaching to help relieve the patient's sexual
dysfunction? (Choose all that apply.)
A) Discontinue the medication.
B) Take infrequent "drug holidays."
C) Decrease the regular dosage by 50%.
D) Report complaints to the psychiatrist.
E) Maintain the current pharmacotherapy.
F) Avoid alcoholic beverages. - Correct Answer :B, D, E, F
Sexual dysfunction is managed in several ways, including reduction in the regular dosage, "drug holidays,"
addition of a medication for erectile dysfunction, change of antidepressant, and avoidance of alcohol. The nurse
encourages the patient to continue taking an SSRI such as citalopram because the adverse effects of therapy
often diminish in intensity and frequency over time and this strategy helps prevent disruptions in therapy. After
providing this information the nurse encourages the patient to voice complaints to the psychiatrist who
prescribes the antidepressant, but the nurse does not depend on the patient to ensure that the psychiatrist is
notified of the complaint. The nurse avoids instructing the patient to discontinue therapy or to alter the dosage,
because these actions are not within the scope of nursing practice.
The nurse is teaching a patient who has a new prescription for citalopram [Celexa]. Which statements are
appropriate to include in the teaching plan? (Select all that apply.)
P 4
