Grade A+ Schizophrenia NCLEX-style questions and answers 2025
Recent research on the RAISE approach to the treatment of
schizophrenia incorporates which of the following elements as
important to improving outcomes? (Select all that apply.)
a. Early intervention at the first episode of psychosis
A,B,E
b. Support for employment or educational pursuits
c. Rapid high-dose loading with antipsychotic medication
d. Court-ordered sanctions for treatment
e. Recovery-focused psychotherapy
Which of the following is the primary goal in working with an
actively psychotic, suspicious client?
a. Promote interaction with others.
B
b. Decrease his anxiety and increase trust.
c. Improve his relationship with his parents.
d. Encourage participation in therapy activities.
A client with schizophrenia has physician's orders for haloperidol
(Haldol) 5 mg IM STAT and then 3 mg PO tid; 2 mg benztropine
PO bid prn. Why is benztropine ordered?
a. To treat extrapyramidal symptoms A
b. To prevent neuroleptic malignant syndrome
c. To decrease psychotic symptoms
d. To induce sleep
A client on the psychiatric unit tells the nurse that the CIA is looking
for him and will kill him if they find him. The client's false belief is
an example of a:
a. Delusion of persecution. A
b. Delusion of reference.
c. Delusion of control or influence.
d. Delusion of grandeur.
The primary focus of family therapy for clients with schizophrenia
and their families is:
a. To discuss problem-solving and adaptive behaviors for coping
with stress.
b. To introduce the family to others with the same problem. D
c. To keep the client and family in touch with the health-care
systeterm-4m.
d. To promote family interaction and increase understanding of the
illness.
A client recently admitted to the hospital reports to the nurse, "I
don't understand why I was brought here. I was simply hanging
out in my apartment and the police said I had to come with them."
This is an example of what symptom of schizophrenia?
a. Delusions of reference C
b. Loose association
c. Anosognosia
d. Auditory hallucinations
Which of the following assessments by the nurse would convey a
need for prn benztropine?
a. Increased level of agitation
b. Complaints of a sore throat D
c. A yellowish cast to the skin
d. Muscle spasms
A client on the psychiatric unit has been diagnosed with schiz-
ophrenia. He tells the nurse that the CIA is looking for him and
will kill him if they find him. The most appropriate response by the
nurse is:
a. "That's ridiculous. No one is going to hurt you." D
b. "The CIA isn't interested in people like you."
c. "Why do you think the CIA wants to kill you?"
d. "I know you believe that, but it's really hard for me to believe."
1/6
, The nurse is interviewing a client on the psychiatric unit. The client
tilts his head to the side, stops talking in midsentence, and listens
intently. Which of the following is the most appropriate follow-up
assessment based on this information?
a. Ask the patient if he is experiencing loose associations. C
b. Ask the patient if he needs more medication.
c. Ask the patient if he is hearing something or someone other
than the nurse's voice.
d. Ask the patient if his neck is stiff.
A client reports to the nurse that his foot is on fire and he thinks
the demons are trying to burn off his flesh. The priority nursing
intervention for this symptom is to:
a. Administer prn haloperidol as ordered.
B
b. Evaluate the client's foot to rule out physical causes for his
complaint.
c. Administer prn benztropine as ordered.
d. Ask the client if he would like to speak with a chaplain.
When a client suddenly becomes aggressive and violent on the
unit, which of the following approaches would be best for the nurse
to use first?
a. Provide large motor activities to relieve the client's pent-up
tension. C
b. Administer a dose of prn haloperidol to keep the patient calm.
c. Call for adequate help to control the situation safely.
d. Convey to the client that his behavior is unacceptable and will
not be permitted.
A client has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He has been
socially isolated and is hearing voices telling him to kill his parents.
He has been admitted to the psychiatric unit from the emergency
department. The initial nursing intervention for Josh is to:
B
a. Give him an injection of haloperidol.
b. Assess his safety toward himself and others.
c. Place him in restraints.
d. Order him a nutritious diet.
A newly admitted patient has the diagnosis of catatonic schiz-
ophrenia. Which behavior observed in the patient supports that
D
diagnosis?
Catatonic schizophrenia is characterized by extremes of psy-
a. Uses a rhyming form of speech
chomotor activity ranging from frenzied behavior to immobilization
b. Refuses to eat any unwrapped foods
and may include echopraxia and posturing.
c. Laughs when watching a sad movie
d. Maintains an immobilized state for hours
What would be an appropriate short-term outcome for a patient
diagnosed with residual schizophrenia who exhibits ambivalence?
D
a. Decide their own daily schedule.
An early step would be to make choices about nonthreatening
b. Decide which unit groups they will attend.
matters when presented with limited alternatives
c. Choose which clinic staff member to work with.
d. Choose between two outfits to wear each morning.
What is the priority nursing diagnosis for a catatonic patient?
D
a. Ineffective coping
The highest priority for the patient is maintenance of basic physi-
b. Impaired physical mobility
ologic needs, such as hydration. Mobility is of lesser physiological
c. Impaired social interaction
importance than fluid volume.
d. Risk for deficient fluid volume
Which nursing diagnosis is appropriate for a patient who insists
being called Your Highness and demonstrates loosely associated
thoughts? D
a. Risk for violence Delusions and loose associations suggest disturbed thought
b. Defensive coping processes.
c. Impaired memory
d. Disturbed thought processes
Which initial short-term outcome would be appropriate for a pa-
tient who was admitted expressing delusional thoughts? 2/6
a. Accept that delusion is illogical.
b. Distinguish external boundaries.
Recent research on the RAISE approach to the treatment of
schizophrenia incorporates which of the following elements as
important to improving outcomes? (Select all that apply.)
a. Early intervention at the first episode of psychosis
A,B,E
b. Support for employment or educational pursuits
c. Rapid high-dose loading with antipsychotic medication
d. Court-ordered sanctions for treatment
e. Recovery-focused psychotherapy
Which of the following is the primary goal in working with an
actively psychotic, suspicious client?
a. Promote interaction with others.
B
b. Decrease his anxiety and increase trust.
c. Improve his relationship with his parents.
d. Encourage participation in therapy activities.
A client with schizophrenia has physician's orders for haloperidol
(Haldol) 5 mg IM STAT and then 3 mg PO tid; 2 mg benztropine
PO bid prn. Why is benztropine ordered?
a. To treat extrapyramidal symptoms A
b. To prevent neuroleptic malignant syndrome
c. To decrease psychotic symptoms
d. To induce sleep
A client on the psychiatric unit tells the nurse that the CIA is looking
for him and will kill him if they find him. The client's false belief is
an example of a:
a. Delusion of persecution. A
b. Delusion of reference.
c. Delusion of control or influence.
d. Delusion of grandeur.
The primary focus of family therapy for clients with schizophrenia
and their families is:
a. To discuss problem-solving and adaptive behaviors for coping
with stress.
b. To introduce the family to others with the same problem. D
c. To keep the client and family in touch with the health-care
systeterm-4m.
d. To promote family interaction and increase understanding of the
illness.
A client recently admitted to the hospital reports to the nurse, "I
don't understand why I was brought here. I was simply hanging
out in my apartment and the police said I had to come with them."
This is an example of what symptom of schizophrenia?
a. Delusions of reference C
b. Loose association
c. Anosognosia
d. Auditory hallucinations
Which of the following assessments by the nurse would convey a
need for prn benztropine?
a. Increased level of agitation
b. Complaints of a sore throat D
c. A yellowish cast to the skin
d. Muscle spasms
A client on the psychiatric unit has been diagnosed with schiz-
ophrenia. He tells the nurse that the CIA is looking for him and
will kill him if they find him. The most appropriate response by the
nurse is:
a. "That's ridiculous. No one is going to hurt you." D
b. "The CIA isn't interested in people like you."
c. "Why do you think the CIA wants to kill you?"
d. "I know you believe that, but it's really hard for me to believe."
1/6
, The nurse is interviewing a client on the psychiatric unit. The client
tilts his head to the side, stops talking in midsentence, and listens
intently. Which of the following is the most appropriate follow-up
assessment based on this information?
a. Ask the patient if he is experiencing loose associations. C
b. Ask the patient if he needs more medication.
c. Ask the patient if he is hearing something or someone other
than the nurse's voice.
d. Ask the patient if his neck is stiff.
A client reports to the nurse that his foot is on fire and he thinks
the demons are trying to burn off his flesh. The priority nursing
intervention for this symptom is to:
a. Administer prn haloperidol as ordered.
B
b. Evaluate the client's foot to rule out physical causes for his
complaint.
c. Administer prn benztropine as ordered.
d. Ask the client if he would like to speak with a chaplain.
When a client suddenly becomes aggressive and violent on the
unit, which of the following approaches would be best for the nurse
to use first?
a. Provide large motor activities to relieve the client's pent-up
tension. C
b. Administer a dose of prn haloperidol to keep the patient calm.
c. Call for adequate help to control the situation safely.
d. Convey to the client that his behavior is unacceptable and will
not be permitted.
A client has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He has been
socially isolated and is hearing voices telling him to kill his parents.
He has been admitted to the psychiatric unit from the emergency
department. The initial nursing intervention for Josh is to:
B
a. Give him an injection of haloperidol.
b. Assess his safety toward himself and others.
c. Place him in restraints.
d. Order him a nutritious diet.
A newly admitted patient has the diagnosis of catatonic schiz-
ophrenia. Which behavior observed in the patient supports that
D
diagnosis?
Catatonic schizophrenia is characterized by extremes of psy-
a. Uses a rhyming form of speech
chomotor activity ranging from frenzied behavior to immobilization
b. Refuses to eat any unwrapped foods
and may include echopraxia and posturing.
c. Laughs when watching a sad movie
d. Maintains an immobilized state for hours
What would be an appropriate short-term outcome for a patient
diagnosed with residual schizophrenia who exhibits ambivalence?
D
a. Decide their own daily schedule.
An early step would be to make choices about nonthreatening
b. Decide which unit groups they will attend.
matters when presented with limited alternatives
c. Choose which clinic staff member to work with.
d. Choose between two outfits to wear each morning.
What is the priority nursing diagnosis for a catatonic patient?
D
a. Ineffective coping
The highest priority for the patient is maintenance of basic physi-
b. Impaired physical mobility
ologic needs, such as hydration. Mobility is of lesser physiological
c. Impaired social interaction
importance than fluid volume.
d. Risk for deficient fluid volume
Which nursing diagnosis is appropriate for a patient who insists
being called Your Highness and demonstrates loosely associated
thoughts? D
a. Risk for violence Delusions and loose associations suggest disturbed thought
b. Defensive coping processes.
c. Impaired memory
d. Disturbed thought processes
Which initial short-term outcome would be appropriate for a pa-
tient who was admitted expressing delusional thoughts? 2/6
a. Accept that delusion is illogical.
b. Distinguish external boundaries.
