1
Focused Exam: Schizophrenia – Eric Ford (Shadow Health) Practice Questions
Below are 100 practice questions based on the Eric Ford Shadow Health Focused Exam
Schizophrenia case. Eric Ford is a 28-year-old African American male with a history of chronic
paranoid schizophrenia (onset age 23), brought to the ER by his mother for acute auditory
hallucinations and paranoia. He has three previous hospitalizations, with the most recent 2
years ago, and a suicide attempt by overdose at age 25.
Section 1: Chief Complaint & History of Present Illness
Q1. When establishing the chief complaint for Eric Ford, which finding should the nurse
document?
A. Reports visual hallucinations of his deceased father
B. Reports auditory hallucinations and paranoid thoughts
C. Reports feeling "on top of the world" for the past month
D. Reports inability to remember his own name
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric Ford's chief complaint includes auditory hallucinations and paranoid
thoughts. He reports hearing voices for the past 7 days, with the voices increasing over the
last week.
Q2. Eric reports that the voices have been present for how long?
A. 2 to 3 days
B. 7 days
C. 2 weeks
D. 1 month
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric reports hearing voices for the past 7 days, with the voices increasing over the
last week.
Q3. Which statement best describes Eric's medication history?
A. He has never been prescribed antipsychotic medication
B. He stopped taking his medication because of intolerable side effects
C. He is unable to afford his previously effective schizophrenia medication
D. He intentionally overdosed on his medication
Answer: C
Rationale: Eric's distress is caused by his auditory hallucinations and his inability to afford his
previously effective schizophrenia medication.
Q4. What is Eric's psychiatric diagnosis history?
,2
A. Schizoaffective disorder
B. Chronic paranoid schizophrenia
C. Bipolar disorder with psychotic features
D. Brief psychotic disorder
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric has a history of chronic paranoid schizophrenia with onset at age 23. He has
had three previous hospitalizations, most recently 2 years ago.
Q5. Eric has a significant medical history at age 25. What was it?
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Suicide attempt by overdose requiring ICU admission
C. Motor vehicle accident with head injury
D. First episode of psychosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric's history is significant for a suicide attempt by overdose at age 25, requiring
ICU admission.
Q6. Eric's mother is present during the interview. What is her role in Eric's care?
A. She is the primary decision-maker for Eric's treatment
B. She is Eric's primary support person and brought him to the ER
C. She has no involvement in Eric's care
D. She is a healthcare proxy with full legal authority
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric's mother brought him to the ER and is his primary support person. She
provides collateral history and support.
Q7. Which question best assesses Eric's insight into his illness?
A. "Do you know what day of the week it is?"
B. "Do you believe you have a mental health condition that needs treatment?"
C. "Can you tell me where you are right now?"
D. "Do you remember your last hospitalization?"
Answer: B
Rationale: Insight refers to the client's awareness of having a mental health condition and
need for treatment. This question directly assesses insight.
Q8. Eric reports, "I stopped taking my medication because I felt better." This statement
indicates:
A. Adequate insight into his illness
B. Poor insight and increased risk for relapse
, 3
C. Medication effectiveness
D. Readiness for discharge
Answer: B
Rationale: Stopping medication because one feels better indicates poor insight into the
chronic nature of schizophrenia and significantly increases relapse risk.
Q9. When documenting Eric's history of present illness, which information is most important
to include?
A. His favorite foods
B. Duration and frequency of hallucinations
C. His childhood immunization history
D. His preferred sleep position
Answer: B
Rationale: The duration, frequency, and nature of hallucinations are critical components of
the history of present illness in schizophrenia.
Q10. Which factor most likely contributed to Eric's current exacerbation?
A. Recent travel
B. Inability to afford medication
C. New job stress
D. Dietary changes
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric's inability to afford his previously effective schizophrenia medication is the
primary contributing factor to his current exacerbation.
Section 2: Symptom Assessment – Hallucinations
Q11. During a focused psychiatric assessment, which question best assesses auditory
hallucinations?
A. "Do you ever feel unusually energetic?"
B. "Do you hear voices or sounds that other people do not hear?"
C. "Have you recently lost interest in activities?"
D. "Do you have difficulty remembering appointments?"
Answer: B
Rationale: Auditory hallucinations involve perceiving sounds or voices without an external
stimulus. Direct, nonjudgmental questioning is appropriate.
Q12. Eric reports that two voices are discussing his behavior. This finding is most consistent
with:
Focused Exam: Schizophrenia – Eric Ford (Shadow Health) Practice Questions
Below are 100 practice questions based on the Eric Ford Shadow Health Focused Exam
Schizophrenia case. Eric Ford is a 28-year-old African American male with a history of chronic
paranoid schizophrenia (onset age 23), brought to the ER by his mother for acute auditory
hallucinations and paranoia. He has three previous hospitalizations, with the most recent 2
years ago, and a suicide attempt by overdose at age 25.
Section 1: Chief Complaint & History of Present Illness
Q1. When establishing the chief complaint for Eric Ford, which finding should the nurse
document?
A. Reports visual hallucinations of his deceased father
B. Reports auditory hallucinations and paranoid thoughts
C. Reports feeling "on top of the world" for the past month
D. Reports inability to remember his own name
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric Ford's chief complaint includes auditory hallucinations and paranoid
thoughts. He reports hearing voices for the past 7 days, with the voices increasing over the
last week.
Q2. Eric reports that the voices have been present for how long?
A. 2 to 3 days
B. 7 days
C. 2 weeks
D. 1 month
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric reports hearing voices for the past 7 days, with the voices increasing over the
last week.
Q3. Which statement best describes Eric's medication history?
A. He has never been prescribed antipsychotic medication
B. He stopped taking his medication because of intolerable side effects
C. He is unable to afford his previously effective schizophrenia medication
D. He intentionally overdosed on his medication
Answer: C
Rationale: Eric's distress is caused by his auditory hallucinations and his inability to afford his
previously effective schizophrenia medication.
Q4. What is Eric's psychiatric diagnosis history?
,2
A. Schizoaffective disorder
B. Chronic paranoid schizophrenia
C. Bipolar disorder with psychotic features
D. Brief psychotic disorder
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric has a history of chronic paranoid schizophrenia with onset at age 23. He has
had three previous hospitalizations, most recently 2 years ago.
Q5. Eric has a significant medical history at age 25. What was it?
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Suicide attempt by overdose requiring ICU admission
C. Motor vehicle accident with head injury
D. First episode of psychosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric's history is significant for a suicide attempt by overdose at age 25, requiring
ICU admission.
Q6. Eric's mother is present during the interview. What is her role in Eric's care?
A. She is the primary decision-maker for Eric's treatment
B. She is Eric's primary support person and brought him to the ER
C. She has no involvement in Eric's care
D. She is a healthcare proxy with full legal authority
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric's mother brought him to the ER and is his primary support person. She
provides collateral history and support.
Q7. Which question best assesses Eric's insight into his illness?
A. "Do you know what day of the week it is?"
B. "Do you believe you have a mental health condition that needs treatment?"
C. "Can you tell me where you are right now?"
D. "Do you remember your last hospitalization?"
Answer: B
Rationale: Insight refers to the client's awareness of having a mental health condition and
need for treatment. This question directly assesses insight.
Q8. Eric reports, "I stopped taking my medication because I felt better." This statement
indicates:
A. Adequate insight into his illness
B. Poor insight and increased risk for relapse
, 3
C. Medication effectiveness
D. Readiness for discharge
Answer: B
Rationale: Stopping medication because one feels better indicates poor insight into the
chronic nature of schizophrenia and significantly increases relapse risk.
Q9. When documenting Eric's history of present illness, which information is most important
to include?
A. His favorite foods
B. Duration and frequency of hallucinations
C. His childhood immunization history
D. His preferred sleep position
Answer: B
Rationale: The duration, frequency, and nature of hallucinations are critical components of
the history of present illness in schizophrenia.
Q10. Which factor most likely contributed to Eric's current exacerbation?
A. Recent travel
B. Inability to afford medication
C. New job stress
D. Dietary changes
Answer: B
Rationale: Eric's inability to afford his previously effective schizophrenia medication is the
primary contributing factor to his current exacerbation.
Section 2: Symptom Assessment – Hallucinations
Q11. During a focused psychiatric assessment, which question best assesses auditory
hallucinations?
A. "Do you ever feel unusually energetic?"
B. "Do you hear voices or sounds that other people do not hear?"
C. "Have you recently lost interest in activities?"
D. "Do you have difficulty remembering appointments?"
Answer: B
Rationale: Auditory hallucinations involve perceiving sounds or voices without an external
stimulus. Direct, nonjudgmental questioning is appropriate.
Q12. Eric reports that two voices are discussing his behavior. This finding is most consistent
with:
