N310 UNIT 3 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FULLY SOLVED LATEST UPDATE 2025-2026
By what mechanism does lorazepam reduce anxiety?
a) Increasing serotonin levels
b) Blocking dopamine receptors
c) Depressing norepinephrine levels
d) Potentiating gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) - Answers d
A patient started diazepam 5 mg twice daily 6 months ago. Now, the patient requires 10 mg to
achieve the same effect. What phenomenon is responsible for this situation?a. Addiction
b. Tolerance
c. Dependence
d. Disinhibition - Answers b
A patient diagnosed with agoraphobia took alprazolam 0.5 mg three times daily for 3 months
and then discontinued it. The next day the patient called the nurse reporting insomnia,
shakiness, and sweating. What should be the focus of the nurse's assessment questions?
a. Whether the patient may have also been drinking alcohol or taking antihistamines.
b. The possibility that the patient has built up tolerance to alprazolam and needs an increased
dose.
c. The likelihood that the patient is having withdrawal symptoms from abrupt discontinuation of
the drug.
d. Whether the patient has progressed to panic attacks and needs a nonbenzodiazepine
medication. - Answers c
An emergency room patient was very anxious after a serious car accident. Lorazepam 2 mg
intramuscularly was administered. One hour later, which finding indicates to the nurse that the
medication was effective?
a. Improved problem-solving skills
b. Increased alertness
c. Increased verbalization
d. Reduced environmental scanning - Answers d
A patient has taken diazepam for 1 week for back spasms. The patient reports "feeling sleepy
,all the time." Which response will best address the patient's concern?
a. "The dosage probably needs to be decreased."
b. "Drowsiness indicates a paradoxical reaction to the drug."
c. "Tolerance to the sedative effect of the drug will develop quickly."
d. "Sleepiness is an unavoidable side effect of nonbenzodiazepine drugs." - Answers c
A patient has taken clonazepam for years to manage panic attacks but impulsively stopped the
drug. Thirty hours later, the patient comes to the emergency room in distress. What is the
nurse's priority action?
a. Begin seizure precautions.
b. Refer the patient for addiction counseling.
c. Institute a behavior modification program.
d. Prepare to administer flumazenil. - Answers a
Which patient behavior should the nurse identify as the greatest risk for overdose with a
benzodiazepine?
a. Taking the drug with antacids
b. Taking the drug before meals
c. Combining the drug with alcohol
d. Experiencing depression as well as anxiety - Answers c
The nurse would expect to administer flumazenil for a patient with which diagnosis?
a. Acute alcohol withdrawal
b. Benzodiazepine overdose
c. Benzodiazepine-resistant anxiety
d. Psychotic disorder - Answers b
A patient received one dose of flumazenil. What is the nurse's next action?
a. Carefully observe for benzodiazepine overdose symptoms.
b. Teach the patient about dietary restrictions.
c. Prevent injury during seizure activity.
, d. Force 500 mL oral fluids over 2 hours. - Answers a
The nurse would expect a patient with which comorbid diagnosis to have a magnified response
to the usual dose of a benzodiazepine drug?
a. Rheumatoid arthritis
b. Migraine headache
c. Hepatic cirrhosis
d. Osteoporosis - Answers c
A patient in the emergency room has status epilepticus. The nurse should anticipate
administration of what medication?
a. Diazepam (Valium)
b. Buspirone (BuSpar)
c. Clorazepate (Tranxene)
d. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) - Answers a
The teaching plan for a patient beginning buspirone should include information identifying this
drug as having what property?
a. Norepinephrine inhibitor
b. Serotonergic antagonist
c. Serotonin agonist
d. GABA inhibitor - Answers c
A patient seeking treatment for anxiety says, "I can't think. My job depends on my ability to think.
I need medicine, but the drugs I took a few years ago made me too sleepy. I could lose my job."
What information is most important for the nurse to consider when formulating a response?
a. All antianxiety medication has sedating properties.
b. Buspirone alleviates anxiety without sedation or cognitive clouding.
c. The patient's description of anxiety does not warrant treatment with medication.
d. The patient may be trying to manipulate the nurse to assist with getting the desired
prescription. - Answers b
By what mechanism does lorazepam reduce anxiety?
a) Increasing serotonin levels
b) Blocking dopamine receptors
c) Depressing norepinephrine levels
d) Potentiating gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) - Answers d
A patient started diazepam 5 mg twice daily 6 months ago. Now, the patient requires 10 mg to
achieve the same effect. What phenomenon is responsible for this situation?a. Addiction
b. Tolerance
c. Dependence
d. Disinhibition - Answers b
A patient diagnosed with agoraphobia took alprazolam 0.5 mg three times daily for 3 months
and then discontinued it. The next day the patient called the nurse reporting insomnia,
shakiness, and sweating. What should be the focus of the nurse's assessment questions?
a. Whether the patient may have also been drinking alcohol or taking antihistamines.
b. The possibility that the patient has built up tolerance to alprazolam and needs an increased
dose.
c. The likelihood that the patient is having withdrawal symptoms from abrupt discontinuation of
the drug.
d. Whether the patient has progressed to panic attacks and needs a nonbenzodiazepine
medication. - Answers c
An emergency room patient was very anxious after a serious car accident. Lorazepam 2 mg
intramuscularly was administered. One hour later, which finding indicates to the nurse that the
medication was effective?
a. Improved problem-solving skills
b. Increased alertness
c. Increased verbalization
d. Reduced environmental scanning - Answers d
A patient has taken diazepam for 1 week for back spasms. The patient reports "feeling sleepy
,all the time." Which response will best address the patient's concern?
a. "The dosage probably needs to be decreased."
b. "Drowsiness indicates a paradoxical reaction to the drug."
c. "Tolerance to the sedative effect of the drug will develop quickly."
d. "Sleepiness is an unavoidable side effect of nonbenzodiazepine drugs." - Answers c
A patient has taken clonazepam for years to manage panic attacks but impulsively stopped the
drug. Thirty hours later, the patient comes to the emergency room in distress. What is the
nurse's priority action?
a. Begin seizure precautions.
b. Refer the patient for addiction counseling.
c. Institute a behavior modification program.
d. Prepare to administer flumazenil. - Answers a
Which patient behavior should the nurse identify as the greatest risk for overdose with a
benzodiazepine?
a. Taking the drug with antacids
b. Taking the drug before meals
c. Combining the drug with alcohol
d. Experiencing depression as well as anxiety - Answers c
The nurse would expect to administer flumazenil for a patient with which diagnosis?
a. Acute alcohol withdrawal
b. Benzodiazepine overdose
c. Benzodiazepine-resistant anxiety
d. Psychotic disorder - Answers b
A patient received one dose of flumazenil. What is the nurse's next action?
a. Carefully observe for benzodiazepine overdose symptoms.
b. Teach the patient about dietary restrictions.
c. Prevent injury during seizure activity.
, d. Force 500 mL oral fluids over 2 hours. - Answers a
The nurse would expect a patient with which comorbid diagnosis to have a magnified response
to the usual dose of a benzodiazepine drug?
a. Rheumatoid arthritis
b. Migraine headache
c. Hepatic cirrhosis
d. Osteoporosis - Answers c
A patient in the emergency room has status epilepticus. The nurse should anticipate
administration of what medication?
a. Diazepam (Valium)
b. Buspirone (BuSpar)
c. Clorazepate (Tranxene)
d. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) - Answers a
The teaching plan for a patient beginning buspirone should include information identifying this
drug as having what property?
a. Norepinephrine inhibitor
b. Serotonergic antagonist
c. Serotonin agonist
d. GABA inhibitor - Answers c
A patient seeking treatment for anxiety says, "I can't think. My job depends on my ability to think.
I need medicine, but the drugs I took a few years ago made me too sleepy. I could lose my job."
What information is most important for the nurse to consider when formulating a response?
a. All antianxiety medication has sedating properties.
b. Buspirone alleviates anxiety without sedation or cognitive clouding.
c. The patient's description of anxiety does not warrant treatment with medication.
d. The patient may be trying to manipulate the nurse to assist with getting the desired
prescription. - Answers b
