NCLEX EXAM Antipsychotics, Anxiolytics &
Antidepressants Questions and Answers
1.A client is to receive a dose of fluphenazine hydrochloride (Prolixin) by in-
tramuscular injection. What is the most important nursing intervention
related to the injection?
a. Massage the site vigorously after injection.
b. Administer the drug using Z-tracking.
c. Avoid rotating the injection sites.
d. Select a 22- to 23-gauge needle
ANS B ~ This medication is very viscous and requires Z-track, deep
IM injection to avoid muscle irritation.
2.The client has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and is exhibiting a
loss of function and motivation. The nurse recognizes that these symptoms
are categorized as:
a. positive.
b. paranoiac.
c. negative.
d. incoherent
ANS C ~ Negative symptoms are manifested as the inability to initiate
voluntary motor function. The others are considered positive
symptoms.
,3.What is a common side effect for which the nurse must monitor during
administration of both phenothiazine and non-phenothiazine medications?
a. Hypertension
b. Renal failure
c. Increase in number of white blood cells
d. Extrapyramidal symptoms:
ANS D ~ These medications are known for their ex- trapyramidal
symptoms.
4.A client is to be treated with Prolixin. The highest priority nursing
interven- tion related to the clients vital signs is to monitor for:
a. bradycardia.
b. hypertension.
c. hypotension.
d. tachypnea
ANS C ~ The phenothiazine groups major side effect is hypotension.
5.A client has been taking a phenothiazine for 1 week. She contacts the
crisis intervention clinic because she is still having symptoms. The nurses
response is based on the premise that the desired effects usually take
to manifest.
a. 1 week
b. 1 to 3 weeks
c. 3 to 6 weeks
d. 3 to 5 months:
,ANS C ~ The client may feel some effect in 7 to 10 days, but generally
it takes 6 weeks for the medication to take full effect.
6.Extrapyramidal symptoms are a side effect of perphenazine (Trilafon).
The nurse should assess and observe for which sign of akathisia?
a. Restlessness and constant moving about
b. Facial grimacing
c. Chewing motion
d. Involuntary eye movement:
ANS A ~ Akathisia is described as restless, agitated movement.
7.Client teaching is important when antipsychotics are taken after
discharge from the hospital. Nursing instruction should include giving which
information to the client and family?
a. Therapeutic effect should occur in 2 to 3 days with maximum effect in
1 week.
b. The drugs should not be discontinued without consulting a
healthcare provider.
c. Taking barbiturates in small dosages with the drug is usually permissible.
d. Rapid change in position has little effect on dizziness or blood pressure
ANS B
~ Antipsychotic medications affect symptoms while they are used. If the
are stopped, the symptoms will recur.
8.A client is ordered to receive chlordiazepoxide (Librium) for severe
, anxiety. The nurse monitors for which symptoms of severe anxiety or panic
attack?
a. Dyspnea and heart palpitations
b. Trembling, shaking, and gastrointestinal upset
c. Dizziness and anorexia
d. Drowsiness and blurred vision:
ANS A ~ Dyspnea and heart palpitations are symp- toms of severe
anxiety; also experienced is chest pain, dizziness, or faintness.
9.A client is experiencing severe EPS effects. In addition to administering
a lower dose of the antipsychotic agents, the nurse would anticipate
adminis- tering a medication in which category?
a. Cholinergics
b. Anticholinergics
c. Antidepressants
d. Dopamine agonists:
ANS B ~ Anticholinergics, such as benztropine (Cogentin), are used to
decrease the EPS effects associated with antipsychotic medications.
10.A client is taking an anxiolytic agent secondary to grief-related anxiety.
The client questions the nurse about abruptly discontinuing these agents.
The nurses response is based on the knowledge that, when discontinuing
these medications:
a. the dosage must be tapered to avoid withdrawal.
b. the client must be evaluated for hyperglycemia.
Antidepressants Questions and Answers
1.A client is to receive a dose of fluphenazine hydrochloride (Prolixin) by in-
tramuscular injection. What is the most important nursing intervention
related to the injection?
a. Massage the site vigorously after injection.
b. Administer the drug using Z-tracking.
c. Avoid rotating the injection sites.
d. Select a 22- to 23-gauge needle
ANS B ~ This medication is very viscous and requires Z-track, deep
IM injection to avoid muscle irritation.
2.The client has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and is exhibiting a
loss of function and motivation. The nurse recognizes that these symptoms
are categorized as:
a. positive.
b. paranoiac.
c. negative.
d. incoherent
ANS C ~ Negative symptoms are manifested as the inability to initiate
voluntary motor function. The others are considered positive
symptoms.
,3.What is a common side effect for which the nurse must monitor during
administration of both phenothiazine and non-phenothiazine medications?
a. Hypertension
b. Renal failure
c. Increase in number of white blood cells
d. Extrapyramidal symptoms:
ANS D ~ These medications are known for their ex- trapyramidal
symptoms.
4.A client is to be treated with Prolixin. The highest priority nursing
interven- tion related to the clients vital signs is to monitor for:
a. bradycardia.
b. hypertension.
c. hypotension.
d. tachypnea
ANS C ~ The phenothiazine groups major side effect is hypotension.
5.A client has been taking a phenothiazine for 1 week. She contacts the
crisis intervention clinic because she is still having symptoms. The nurses
response is based on the premise that the desired effects usually take
to manifest.
a. 1 week
b. 1 to 3 weeks
c. 3 to 6 weeks
d. 3 to 5 months:
,ANS C ~ The client may feel some effect in 7 to 10 days, but generally
it takes 6 weeks for the medication to take full effect.
6.Extrapyramidal symptoms are a side effect of perphenazine (Trilafon).
The nurse should assess and observe for which sign of akathisia?
a. Restlessness and constant moving about
b. Facial grimacing
c. Chewing motion
d. Involuntary eye movement:
ANS A ~ Akathisia is described as restless, agitated movement.
7.Client teaching is important when antipsychotics are taken after
discharge from the hospital. Nursing instruction should include giving which
information to the client and family?
a. Therapeutic effect should occur in 2 to 3 days with maximum effect in
1 week.
b. The drugs should not be discontinued without consulting a
healthcare provider.
c. Taking barbiturates in small dosages with the drug is usually permissible.
d. Rapid change in position has little effect on dizziness or blood pressure
ANS B
~ Antipsychotic medications affect symptoms while they are used. If the
are stopped, the symptoms will recur.
8.A client is ordered to receive chlordiazepoxide (Librium) for severe
, anxiety. The nurse monitors for which symptoms of severe anxiety or panic
attack?
a. Dyspnea and heart palpitations
b. Trembling, shaking, and gastrointestinal upset
c. Dizziness and anorexia
d. Drowsiness and blurred vision:
ANS A ~ Dyspnea and heart palpitations are symp- toms of severe
anxiety; also experienced is chest pain, dizziness, or faintness.
9.A client is experiencing severe EPS effects. In addition to administering
a lower dose of the antipsychotic agents, the nurse would anticipate
adminis- tering a medication in which category?
a. Cholinergics
b. Anticholinergics
c. Antidepressants
d. Dopamine agonists:
ANS B ~ Anticholinergics, such as benztropine (Cogentin), are used to
decrease the EPS effects associated with antipsychotic medications.
10.A client is taking an anxiolytic agent secondary to grief-related anxiety.
The client questions the nurse about abruptly discontinuing these agents.
The nurses response is based on the knowledge that, when discontinuing
these medications:
a. the dosage must be tapered to avoid withdrawal.
b. the client must be evaluated for hyperglycemia.
