200+ QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
, ATI RN PHARMACOLOGY MENTAL HEALTH MIDTERM REVIEW 2026 PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
ATI RN Mental Health Pharmacology: Midterm Practice Questions
1. A client is prescribed lithium carbonate for bipolar disorder. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider as an indication of lithium toxicity? A. Serum
lithium level of 1.0 mEq/L
B. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
C. Coarse hand tremors
D. Weight gain of 1 kg (2.2 lb) over the past week
2. A client is prescribed phenelzine, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), for treatment-
resistant depression. Which of the following foods should the nurse instruct the client to
avoid? A. Cottage cheese
B. Aged cheddar cheese
C. Fresh bananas
D. Whole wheat bread
3. A client who has been taking sertraline for the past 3 weeks reports confusion,
restlessness, diaphoresis, and a temperature of 38.3°C (101°F). Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first? A. Administer a prescribed dose of acetaminophen.
B. Notify the provider of possible serotonin syndrome.
C. Encourage the client to increase oral fluid intake.
D. Document the findings as expected adverse effects of the medication.
4. A client is prescribed clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Which of the
following laboratory tests should the nurse monitor regularly to detect a life-threatening
adverse effect of this medication? A. Liver function tests (LFTs)
B. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
,C. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
D. Serum creatinine
5. A client is admitted to the emergency department with severe respiratory depression after
an alleged overdose of alprazolam. Which of the following medications should the nurse
anticipate administering? A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Acetylcysteine
6. A client who has been taking haloperidol for 2 weeks develops a shuffling gait, drooling,
and a mask-like facial expression. The nurse should anticipate a prescription for which of the
following medications to treat these adverse effects? A. Benztropine
B. Dantrolene
C. Propranolol
D. Lactulose
7. A nurse is providing teaching to the parent of a child who is prescribed methylphenidate
for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include? A. Administer the medication at bedtime to ensure nighttime
coverage.
B. Monitor the child's weight and height regularly due to potential growth suppression.
C. Discontinue the medication immediately if the child experiences a mild headache.
D. Encourage a high-calorie diet at bedtime to counteract daytime anorexia.
8. A client is prescribed disulfiram for alcohol use disorder. Which of the following statements
by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. "I can use alcohol-based
mouthwash as long as I spit it out immediately."
B. "I will check over-the-counter cold medications for hidden alcohol content."
C. "It is safe to drink a small glass of wine after I have been on this medication for a month."
D. "I should take this medication with a glass of beer to help me adjust to the side effects."
, 9. A client is prescribed buspirone for generalized anxiety disorder. Which of the following
information should the nurse include in the teaching? A. "This medication will provide
immediate relief from acute anxiety attacks."
B. "You may experience a therapeutic effect within 24 hours of the first dose."
C. "It takes 2 to 4 weeks of consistent use to achieve the full therapeutic effect."
D. "You should take this medication only on an as-needed (PRN) basis when you feel anxious."
10. A client is prescribed amitriptyline for depression. Which of the following findings should
the nurse identify as an adverse effect of this medication? A. Diarrhea
B. Urinary retention
C. Excessive salivation
D. Bradycardia
Answer Key & Detailed ATI-Style Rationales
1. Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fine hand tremors are an expected finding with lithium therapy, but coarse hand
tremors indicate lithium toxicity and must be reported immediately. A serum lithium level of
1.0 mEq/L is within the therapeutic range (0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L). Polyuria is an expected side effect,
but decreased urine output is not a classic sign of toxicity. Mild weight gain is also an expected,
non-urgent side effect.
2. Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MAOIs inhibit the breakdown of tyramine. Aged cheeses (like cheddar), cured meats,
and fermented foods contain high levels of tyramine. Ingesting them while on an MAOI can
cause a life-threatening hypertensive crisis. Cottage cheese, fresh fruits, and whole wheat
bread are low in tyramine and are safe to consume.
3. Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Confusion, restlessness, diaphoresis, and hyperthermia are classic manifestations of
serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening adverse effect of SSRIs like sertraline. The nurse’s
RATIONALES
, ATI RN PHARMACOLOGY MENTAL HEALTH MIDTERM REVIEW 2026 PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
ATI RN Mental Health Pharmacology: Midterm Practice Questions
1. A client is prescribed lithium carbonate for bipolar disorder. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider as an indication of lithium toxicity? A. Serum
lithium level of 1.0 mEq/L
B. Urine output of 50 mL/hr
C. Coarse hand tremors
D. Weight gain of 1 kg (2.2 lb) over the past week
2. A client is prescribed phenelzine, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), for treatment-
resistant depression. Which of the following foods should the nurse instruct the client to
avoid? A. Cottage cheese
B. Aged cheddar cheese
C. Fresh bananas
D. Whole wheat bread
3. A client who has been taking sertraline for the past 3 weeks reports confusion,
restlessness, diaphoresis, and a temperature of 38.3°C (101°F). Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first? A. Administer a prescribed dose of acetaminophen.
B. Notify the provider of possible serotonin syndrome.
C. Encourage the client to increase oral fluid intake.
D. Document the findings as expected adverse effects of the medication.
4. A client is prescribed clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Which of the
following laboratory tests should the nurse monitor regularly to detect a life-threatening
adverse effect of this medication? A. Liver function tests (LFTs)
B. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
,C. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
D. Serum creatinine
5. A client is admitted to the emergency department with severe respiratory depression after
an alleged overdose of alprazolam. Which of the following medications should the nurse
anticipate administering? A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Acetylcysteine
6. A client who has been taking haloperidol for 2 weeks develops a shuffling gait, drooling,
and a mask-like facial expression. The nurse should anticipate a prescription for which of the
following medications to treat these adverse effects? A. Benztropine
B. Dantrolene
C. Propranolol
D. Lactulose
7. A nurse is providing teaching to the parent of a child who is prescribed methylphenidate
for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include? A. Administer the medication at bedtime to ensure nighttime
coverage.
B. Monitor the child's weight and height regularly due to potential growth suppression.
C. Discontinue the medication immediately if the child experiences a mild headache.
D. Encourage a high-calorie diet at bedtime to counteract daytime anorexia.
8. A client is prescribed disulfiram for alcohol use disorder. Which of the following statements
by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. "I can use alcohol-based
mouthwash as long as I spit it out immediately."
B. "I will check over-the-counter cold medications for hidden alcohol content."
C. "It is safe to drink a small glass of wine after I have been on this medication for a month."
D. "I should take this medication with a glass of beer to help me adjust to the side effects."
, 9. A client is prescribed buspirone for generalized anxiety disorder. Which of the following
information should the nurse include in the teaching? A. "This medication will provide
immediate relief from acute anxiety attacks."
B. "You may experience a therapeutic effect within 24 hours of the first dose."
C. "It takes 2 to 4 weeks of consistent use to achieve the full therapeutic effect."
D. "You should take this medication only on an as-needed (PRN) basis when you feel anxious."
10. A client is prescribed amitriptyline for depression. Which of the following findings should
the nurse identify as an adverse effect of this medication? A. Diarrhea
B. Urinary retention
C. Excessive salivation
D. Bradycardia
Answer Key & Detailed ATI-Style Rationales
1. Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fine hand tremors are an expected finding with lithium therapy, but coarse hand
tremors indicate lithium toxicity and must be reported immediately. A serum lithium level of
1.0 mEq/L is within the therapeutic range (0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L). Polyuria is an expected side effect,
but decreased urine output is not a classic sign of toxicity. Mild weight gain is also an expected,
non-urgent side effect.
2. Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MAOIs inhibit the breakdown of tyramine. Aged cheeses (like cheddar), cured meats,
and fermented foods contain high levels of tyramine. Ingesting them while on an MAOI can
cause a life-threatening hypertensive crisis. Cottage cheese, fresh fruits, and whole wheat
bread are low in tyramine and are safe to consume.
3. Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Confusion, restlessness, diaphoresis, and hyperthermia are classic manifestations of
serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening adverse effect of SSRIs like sertraline. The nurse’s
