Varcarolis: Chapter 12- Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia
Spectrum Disorders Questions And Answers 2025 \2026
1. A person has had difficulty keeping a job because of arguing with co-workers
and accusing them of conspiracy. Today the person shouts, "They're all plotting to
destroy me. Isn't that true?" Select the nurse's most therapeutic response.
a. "Everyone here is trying to help you. No one wants to harm you."
b. "Feeling that people want to destroy you must be very frightening."
c. "That is not true. People here are trying to help you if you will let them."
d. "Staff members are health care professionals who are qualified to help you." -
CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: B
Resist focusing on content; instead, focus on the feelings the patient is expressing.
This strategy prevents arguing about the reality of delusional beliefs. Such
arguments increase patient anxiety and the tenacity with which the patient holds
to the delusion. The other options focus on content and provide opportunity for
argument.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
,REF: Page 205-206 | Page 213-215 (Box 12-4)
A newly admitted patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is hypervigilant and
constantly scans the environment. The patient states, "I saw two doctors talking in
the hall. They were plotting to kill me." The nurse may correctly assess this
behavior as:
a. echolalia.
b. an idea of reference.
c. a delusion of infidelity.
d. an auditory hallucination. - CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: B
Ideas of reference are misinterpretations of the verbalizations or actions of others
that give special personal meanings to these behaviors; for example, when seeing
two people talking, the individual assumes they are talking about him or her. The
other terms do not correspond with the scenario.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: Page 206 (Table 12-1) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
,3. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, "My co-workers are out to get me.
I also saw two doctors plotting to kill me." How does this patient perceive the
environment?
a. Disorganized
b. Dangerous
c. Supportive
d. Bizarre - CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: B
The patient sees the world as hostile and dangerous. This assessment is important
because the nurse can be more effective by using empathy to respond to the
patient. Data are not present to support any of the other options.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: Page 210 (Table 12-3) | Page 213 (Box 12-4)
4. When a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia was discharged 6 months ago,
haloperidol (Haldol) was prescribed. The patient now says, "I stopped taking those
pills. They made me feel like a robot." What are common side effects the nurse
should validate with the patient?
a. Sedation and muscle stiffness
b. Sweating, nausea, and diarrhea
c. Mild fever, sore throat, and skin rash
, d. Headache, watery eyes, and runny nose - CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: A
Typical antipsychotic drugs often produce sedation and extrapyramidal side effects
such as stiffness and gait disturbance, effects the patient might describe as making
him or her feel like a "robot." The side effects mentioned in the other options are
usually not associated with typical antipsychotic therapy or would not have the
effect described by the patient.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 215-216 (Table 12-4) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity
5. Which hallucination necessitates the nurse to implement safety measures? The
patient says,
a. "I hear angels playing harps."
b. "The voices say everyone is trying to kill me."
c. "My dead father tells me I am a good person."
d."The voices talk only at night when I'm trying to sleep." - CORRECT ANSWER-
ANS: B
Spectrum Disorders Questions And Answers 2025 \2026
1. A person has had difficulty keeping a job because of arguing with co-workers
and accusing them of conspiracy. Today the person shouts, "They're all plotting to
destroy me. Isn't that true?" Select the nurse's most therapeutic response.
a. "Everyone here is trying to help you. No one wants to harm you."
b. "Feeling that people want to destroy you must be very frightening."
c. "That is not true. People here are trying to help you if you will let them."
d. "Staff members are health care professionals who are qualified to help you." -
CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: B
Resist focusing on content; instead, focus on the feelings the patient is expressing.
This strategy prevents arguing about the reality of delusional beliefs. Such
arguments increase patient anxiety and the tenacity with which the patient holds
to the delusion. The other options focus on content and provide opportunity for
argument.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
,REF: Page 205-206 | Page 213-215 (Box 12-4)
A newly admitted patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is hypervigilant and
constantly scans the environment. The patient states, "I saw two doctors talking in
the hall. They were plotting to kill me." The nurse may correctly assess this
behavior as:
a. echolalia.
b. an idea of reference.
c. a delusion of infidelity.
d. an auditory hallucination. - CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: B
Ideas of reference are misinterpretations of the verbalizations or actions of others
that give special personal meanings to these behaviors; for example, when seeing
two people talking, the individual assumes they are talking about him or her. The
other terms do not correspond with the scenario.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: Page 206 (Table 12-1) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
,3. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, "My co-workers are out to get me.
I also saw two doctors plotting to kill me." How does this patient perceive the
environment?
a. Disorganized
b. Dangerous
c. Supportive
d. Bizarre - CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: B
The patient sees the world as hostile and dangerous. This assessment is important
because the nurse can be more effective by using empathy to respond to the
patient. Data are not present to support any of the other options.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: Page 210 (Table 12-3) | Page 213 (Box 12-4)
4. When a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia was discharged 6 months ago,
haloperidol (Haldol) was prescribed. The patient now says, "I stopped taking those
pills. They made me feel like a robot." What are common side effects the nurse
should validate with the patient?
a. Sedation and muscle stiffness
b. Sweating, nausea, and diarrhea
c. Mild fever, sore throat, and skin rash
, d. Headache, watery eyes, and runny nose - CORRECT ANSWER-ANS: A
Typical antipsychotic drugs often produce sedation and extrapyramidal side effects
such as stiffness and gait disturbance, effects the patient might describe as making
him or her feel like a "robot." The side effects mentioned in the other options are
usually not associated with typical antipsychotic therapy or would not have the
effect described by the patient.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Page 215-216 (Table 12-4) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity
5. Which hallucination necessitates the nurse to implement safety measures? The
patient says,
a. "I hear angels playing harps."
b. "The voices say everyone is trying to kill me."
c. "My dead father tells me I am a good person."
d."The voices talk only at night when I'm trying to sleep." - CORRECT ANSWER-
ANS: B
