Chapter 14: Antipsychotic Drugs
Steele: Keltner’s Psychiatric Nursing,
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Considering potency, what should the nurse closely monitor a patient receiving a traditional high-
potency antipsychotic medication for?
a. adrenergic effects.
b. extrapyramidal side effects. c. anticholinergic side effects. d. changes in pain perception.
ANS: B
High-potency antipsychotics are more likely to cause extrapyramidal side effects (EPSEs)
than low-potency antipsychotics. The other effects are not related to potency classification.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity
2. A patient receiving a traditional low-potency antipsychotic medication should assess closely for
what possible peripheral nervous system related side effect?
a. Urinary frequency
b. Urinary retention
c. Hypertension
d. Diarrhea
ANS: B
Low-potency antipsychotics tend to cause anticholinergic side effects. Urinary retention and
other anticholinergic effects are important findings for which the nurse should be alert. The other
effects would not be expected.
, DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity
3. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has experienced good symptom control through
medication therapy. Today, the patient is admitted with paranoia and auditory hallucinations. The
nurse should initially determine if the patient‘s symptoms are related to which possible trigger?
a. Not taking the drug as prescribed
b. Activation of serotonin receptors
c. Development of tolerance to the drug
d. An expected illness-exacerbation cycle
ANS: A
When a patient does not respond to a drug, or when symptoms reappear after a good response to
the drug, the nurse should assess for compliance. Is the patient taking the drug? Is the patient
taking less of the drug than ordered? The other options are less relevant or of no value to the
development of the stated symptoms.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity
4. When assessing for a positive outcome to drug therapy with fluphenazine, the nurse would look
primarily for improvement in which focus area?
a. Hallucinations
b. Range of affect
c. Personal hygiene
d. Social interactions
ANS: A
Fluphenazine, a typical antipsychotic, will produce improvement in the positive symptoms
associated with schizophrenia, such as hallucinations. Less improvement is expected in negative
symptoms such as affect, activity, and grooming.
, DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia and well managed with medication therapy tellsthe clinic
nurse, ―I stopped taking my antipsychotic medication 2 days ago.‖ What assessment finding
would the nurse expect at this visit?
a. Mood instability
b. Paranoid delusions
c. No evidence of symptoms
d. Mental clouding and confusion
ANS: C
Antipsychotic drugs accumulate in fatty tissue and are released slowly. This explains why
symptoms might still be controlled for several days after discontinuing the drug.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity
Steele: Keltner’s Psychiatric Nursing,
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Considering potency, what should the nurse closely monitor a patient receiving a traditional high-
potency antipsychotic medication for?
a. adrenergic effects.
b. extrapyramidal side effects. c. anticholinergic side effects. d. changes in pain perception.
ANS: B
High-potency antipsychotics are more likely to cause extrapyramidal side effects (EPSEs)
than low-potency antipsychotics. The other effects are not related to potency classification.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity
2. A patient receiving a traditional low-potency antipsychotic medication should assess closely for
what possible peripheral nervous system related side effect?
a. Urinary frequency
b. Urinary retention
c. Hypertension
d. Diarrhea
ANS: B
Low-potency antipsychotics tend to cause anticholinergic side effects. Urinary retention and
other anticholinergic effects are important findings for which the nurse should be alert. The other
effects would not be expected.
, DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity
3. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has experienced good symptom control through
medication therapy. Today, the patient is admitted with paranoia and auditory hallucinations. The
nurse should initially determine if the patient‘s symptoms are related to which possible trigger?
a. Not taking the drug as prescribed
b. Activation of serotonin receptors
c. Development of tolerance to the drug
d. An expected illness-exacerbation cycle
ANS: A
When a patient does not respond to a drug, or when symptoms reappear after a good response to
the drug, the nurse should assess for compliance. Is the patient taking the drug? Is the patient
taking less of the drug than ordered? The other options are less relevant or of no value to the
development of the stated symptoms.
DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity
4. When assessing for a positive outcome to drug therapy with fluphenazine, the nurse would look
primarily for improvement in which focus area?
a. Hallucinations
b. Range of affect
c. Personal hygiene
d. Social interactions
ANS: A
Fluphenazine, a typical antipsychotic, will produce improvement in the positive symptoms
associated with schizophrenia, such as hallucinations. Less improvement is expected in negative
symptoms such as affect, activity, and grooming.
, DIF: Cognitive level: Applying TOP: Nursing process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia and well managed with medication therapy tellsthe clinic
nurse, ―I stopped taking my antipsychotic medication 2 days ago.‖ What assessment finding
would the nurse expect at this visit?
a. Mood instability
b. Paranoid delusions
c. No evidence of symptoms
d. Mental clouding and confusion
ANS: C
Antipsychotic drugs accumulate in fatty tissue and are released slowly. This explains why
symptoms might still be controlled for several days after discontinuing the drug.
DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing TOP: Nursing process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiologic Integrity
