ESSENTIALS OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING BY
ANN COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ Therapeutic communication technique that encourages a client to
continue talking?
Answer: Open-ended questions and broad openings.
◉ Therapeutic communication technique to be avoided?
Answer: Giving advice, false reassurance, changing the subject, and
"why" questions.
◉ What is transference?
Answer: Client unconsciously transfers feelings about another
person onto the nurse.
◉ What is countertransference?
Answer: Nurse projects personal feelings onto the client.
◉ Nurse's priority during a panic attack?
Answer: Stay with the client, use calm communication, and reduce
environmental stimuli.
,◉ First-line treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
Answer: SSRIs plus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
◉ Medication commonly used for acute anxiety?
Answer: Benzodiazepines (such as lorazepam or alprazolam).
◉ Major adverse effect of benzodiazepines?
Answer: Sedation, respiratory depression, and dependence.
◉ What is serotonin syndrome?
Answer: Excess serotonin causing agitation, hyperthermia, tremor,
diarrhea, and hyperreflexia.
◉ Which medications commonly cause serotonin syndrome?
Answer: SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, St. John's Wort, and tramadol.
◉ How is serotonin syndrome treated?
Answer: Stop serotonergic drugs, provide supportive care, and use
cyproheptadine if severe.
◉ Foods that must be avoided with MAOIs?
, Answer: Tyramine-rich foods: aged cheese, wine, cured meats,
fermented foods, and soy sauce.
◉ Why avoid tyramine with MAOIs?
Answer: To prevent a hypertensive crisis.
◉ What is the antidote for lithium toxicity?
Answer: No specific antidote; stop lithium, give IV fluids, or use
hemodialysis.
◉ Normal lithium therapeutic range?
Answer: 0.6-1.2 mEq/L.
◉ Signs of mild lithium toxicity?
Answer: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fine tremor.
◉ Signs of severe lithium toxicity?
Answer: Confusion, seizures, coma, and severe tremor.
◉ What sodium teaching is important with lithium?
Answer: Maintain consistent sodium and fluid intake.
ANN COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ Therapeutic communication technique that encourages a client to
continue talking?
Answer: Open-ended questions and broad openings.
◉ Therapeutic communication technique to be avoided?
Answer: Giving advice, false reassurance, changing the subject, and
"why" questions.
◉ What is transference?
Answer: Client unconsciously transfers feelings about another
person onto the nurse.
◉ What is countertransference?
Answer: Nurse projects personal feelings onto the client.
◉ Nurse's priority during a panic attack?
Answer: Stay with the client, use calm communication, and reduce
environmental stimuli.
,◉ First-line treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
Answer: SSRIs plus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
◉ Medication commonly used for acute anxiety?
Answer: Benzodiazepines (such as lorazepam or alprazolam).
◉ Major adverse effect of benzodiazepines?
Answer: Sedation, respiratory depression, and dependence.
◉ What is serotonin syndrome?
Answer: Excess serotonin causing agitation, hyperthermia, tremor,
diarrhea, and hyperreflexia.
◉ Which medications commonly cause serotonin syndrome?
Answer: SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, St. John's Wort, and tramadol.
◉ How is serotonin syndrome treated?
Answer: Stop serotonergic drugs, provide supportive care, and use
cyproheptadine if severe.
◉ Foods that must be avoided with MAOIs?
, Answer: Tyramine-rich foods: aged cheese, wine, cured meats,
fermented foods, and soy sauce.
◉ Why avoid tyramine with MAOIs?
Answer: To prevent a hypertensive crisis.
◉ What is the antidote for lithium toxicity?
Answer: No specific antidote; stop lithium, give IV fluids, or use
hemodialysis.
◉ Normal lithium therapeutic range?
Answer: 0.6-1.2 mEq/L.
◉ Signs of mild lithium toxicity?
Answer: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fine tremor.
◉ Signs of severe lithium toxicity?
Answer: Confusion, seizures, coma, and severe tremor.
◉ What sodium teaching is important with lithium?
Answer: Maintain consistent sodium and fluid intake.
