Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Exam
2026 Questions and Answers
They combat the extrapyramidal side effects of the neuroleptic drug. - Correct
answer-A nurse is administering medications to clients on a psychiatric unit. What
does the nurse identify as the reason that so many psychiatric clients are given the
drug benztropine or trihexyphenidyl in conjunction with the phenothiazine-
derivative neuroleptic medications?
Torticollis - Correct answer-acute dystonia that involves muscle spasms of the
neck; develops within 1 to 5 days after beginning therapy with a conventional
antipsychotic
Tardive dyskinesia - Correct answer-involuntary repetitious tonic muscular spasms
that involve the face, tongue, lips, limbs, and trunk; takes several months to years
to develop after the start of therapy with a conventional antipsychotic
d/c if observed, may be reversible
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, Pseudoparkinsonism - Correct answer-extrapyramidal tract response that includes
masklike facies, shuffling gait, pill-rolling tremors, stooped posture, and drooling;
develops within several days to 1 month after the start of therapy with a
conventional antipsychotic
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome - Correct answer-severe, potentially fatal
response to conventional antipsychotics
caused by acute reduction in dopamine activity, precipitating hyperthermia/pyrexia,
tachycardia, tachypnea, unstable blood pressure, dyskinesia, incontinence,
decreased level of consciousness
Clozapine - Correct answer-2nd gen atypical antipsychotic drug that is more
effective than other second-generation antipsychotics
Seizures, sedation, and akathisia are common side effects
contraindicated in clients with bone marrow depression
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
2026 Questions and Answers
They combat the extrapyramidal side effects of the neuroleptic drug. - Correct
answer-A nurse is administering medications to clients on a psychiatric unit. What
does the nurse identify as the reason that so many psychiatric clients are given the
drug benztropine or trihexyphenidyl in conjunction with the phenothiazine-
derivative neuroleptic medications?
Torticollis - Correct answer-acute dystonia that involves muscle spasms of the
neck; develops within 1 to 5 days after beginning therapy with a conventional
antipsychotic
Tardive dyskinesia - Correct answer-involuntary repetitious tonic muscular spasms
that involve the face, tongue, lips, limbs, and trunk; takes several months to years
to develop after the start of therapy with a conventional antipsychotic
d/c if observed, may be reversible
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, Pseudoparkinsonism - Correct answer-extrapyramidal tract response that includes
masklike facies, shuffling gait, pill-rolling tremors, stooped posture, and drooling;
develops within several days to 1 month after the start of therapy with a
conventional antipsychotic
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome - Correct answer-severe, potentially fatal
response to conventional antipsychotics
caused by acute reduction in dopamine activity, precipitating hyperthermia/pyrexia,
tachycardia, tachypnea, unstable blood pressure, dyskinesia, incontinence,
decreased level of consciousness
Clozapine - Correct answer-2nd gen atypical antipsychotic drug that is more
effective than other second-generation antipsychotics
Seizures, sedation, and akathisia are common side effects
contraindicated in clients with bone marrow depression
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
