ATI Pharmacology Psychiatric Medications Exam 8 Practice 2026
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for fluoxetine to treat
depression. For which of the following manifestations should the nurse monitor
as an indication of serotonin syndrome?
A. Hypotension
B. Hallucinations
C. Bradycardia
D. Urinary retention
Answer: B
Rationale: Serotonin syndrome can cause mental status changes such as hallucinations,
agitation, and delirium, along with autonomic instability and neuromuscular hyperactivity.
2. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
lithium carbonate. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Maintain a consistent intake of dietary sodium.
B. Restrict sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg per day.
C. Decrease fluid intake to 1,000 mL per day.
D. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
Answer: A
Rationale: Consistent sodium intake is crucial because lithium is a salt; decreased sodium
levels can lead to lithium toxicity, while increased sodium can lower lithium levels.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client who is taking amitriptyline for depression. Which
of the following findings should the nurse identify as an anticholinergic effect?
A. Increased salivation
B. Diarrhea
C. Dry mouth
D. Bradycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant with anticholinergic properties,
which commonly cause dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and urinary retention.
4. A nurse is reviewing the diet of a client who has a prescription for phenelzine.
Which of the following food choices should the nurse instruct the client to
avoid?
A. Fresh green beans
B. Cooked chicken breast
C. Whole grain bread
D. Aged cheddar cheese
Answer: D
Rationale: Phenelzine is an MAOI; clients must avoid foods high in tyramine, such as aged
cheeses, smoked meats, and overripe fruits, to prevent a hypertensive crisis.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking clozapine for schizophrenia. Which
of the following laboratory tests should the nurse monitor?
A. Serum potassium
B. Thyroid stimulating hormone
C. White blood cell count
D. Prothrombin time
Answer: C
, Rationale: Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, a potentially fatal decrease in WBCs,
requiring regular monitoring of the neutrophil count.
6. A nurse is assessing a client who recently started haloperidol. The client is
experiencing a painful spasm of the neck muscles and their eyes are rolling
upward. Which of the following conditions is the client experiencing?
A. Acute dystonia
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Akathisia
D. Pseudoparkinsonism
Answer: A
Rationale: Acute dystonia involves severe spasms of the tongue, neck, face, and back, and
is considered an extrapyramidal side effect of first-generation antipsychotics.
7. A nurse is providing teaching to a client with a new prescription for valproic
acid for bipolar disorder. Which of the following adverse effects should the
nurse tell the client to report?
A. Increased appetite
B. Fine hand tremors
C. Yellowing of the skin
D. Polyuria
Answer: C
Rationale: Valproic acid can cause hepatotoxicity; jaundice (yellowing of skin/sclera) is a
sign of liver impairment and must be reported immediately.
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for fluoxetine to treat
depression. For which of the following manifestations should the nurse monitor
as an indication of serotonin syndrome?
A. Hypotension
B. Hallucinations
C. Bradycardia
D. Urinary retention
Answer: B
Rationale: Serotonin syndrome can cause mental status changes such as hallucinations,
agitation, and delirium, along with autonomic instability and neuromuscular hyperactivity.
2. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
lithium carbonate. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Maintain a consistent intake of dietary sodium.
B. Restrict sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg per day.
C. Decrease fluid intake to 1,000 mL per day.
D. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
Answer: A
Rationale: Consistent sodium intake is crucial because lithium is a salt; decreased sodium
levels can lead to lithium toxicity, while increased sodium can lower lithium levels.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client who is taking amitriptyline for depression. Which
of the following findings should the nurse identify as an anticholinergic effect?
A. Increased salivation
B. Diarrhea
C. Dry mouth
D. Bradycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant with anticholinergic properties,
which commonly cause dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and urinary retention.
4. A nurse is reviewing the diet of a client who has a prescription for phenelzine.
Which of the following food choices should the nurse instruct the client to
avoid?
A. Fresh green beans
B. Cooked chicken breast
C. Whole grain bread
D. Aged cheddar cheese
Answer: D
Rationale: Phenelzine is an MAOI; clients must avoid foods high in tyramine, such as aged
cheeses, smoked meats, and overripe fruits, to prevent a hypertensive crisis.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking clozapine for schizophrenia. Which
of the following laboratory tests should the nurse monitor?
A. Serum potassium
B. Thyroid stimulating hormone
C. White blood cell count
D. Prothrombin time
Answer: C
, Rationale: Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, a potentially fatal decrease in WBCs,
requiring regular monitoring of the neutrophil count.
6. A nurse is assessing a client who recently started haloperidol. The client is
experiencing a painful spasm of the neck muscles and their eyes are rolling
upward. Which of the following conditions is the client experiencing?
A. Acute dystonia
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Akathisia
D. Pseudoparkinsonism
Answer: A
Rationale: Acute dystonia involves severe spasms of the tongue, neck, face, and back, and
is considered an extrapyramidal side effect of first-generation antipsychotics.
7. A nurse is providing teaching to a client with a new prescription for valproic
acid for bipolar disorder. Which of the following adverse effects should the
nurse tell the client to report?
A. Increased appetite
B. Fine hand tremors
C. Yellowing of the skin
D. Polyuria
Answer: C
Rationale: Valproic acid can cause hepatotoxicity; jaundice (yellowing of skin/sclera) is a
sign of liver impairment and must be reported immediately.
