Antipsychotics, Anxiolytics & Antidepressants
NCLEX Questions With Complete Solutions
A patient presents at the emergency department
with respiratory depression and excessive
sedation. The family tells the nurse that the patient
has been taking medication throughout the
evening and gives the nurse an almost empty
bottle of benzodiazepines. What other adverse
effects would the nurse assess this patient for?
A) Seizures
B) Tachycardia
C) Headache
D) Coma
D ~ Toxic effects of benzodiazepines include
excessive sedation, respiratory depression, and
coma. Flumazenil (Anexate) is a specific antidote
that competes with benzodiazepines for
benzodiazepine receptors and reverses toxicity.
Seizures, tachycardia, and headache would not
normally be associated with benzodiazepine
toxicity.
A patient presents at the free clinic complaining of
nervousness, worrying about everything, and
,feeling very tense. What diagnose would the nurse
suspect?
A) Neurosis
B) Psychosis
C) Anxiety
D) Depression
C ~ Anxiety is a common disorder that may be
referred to as nervousness, tension, worry, or using
other terms that denote an unpleasant feeling. The
other options would not be described by these
symptoms.
The client is an older adult who has been placed on
Librium. The nurse recognizes that the dose of the
drug _____ for this client.
a. is contraindicated
b. should be increased
c. should be decreased
d. will not change
C ~ The dose of Librium should be decreased for
an older adult.
The nurse is preparing a dose of Mellaril. What is
the highest priority intervention for the nurse while
preparing the dose?
a. Draw up the dosage of the liquid in an oral
syringe.
,b. Use a 21-gauge needle to administer the
injection.
c. Start a new IV site before administering the
drug.
d. Avoid spilling the liquid on exposed skin.
D ~ If Mellaril is allowed to come in contact with
exposed skin, contact dermatitis can result.
The client is known to have overdosed on a
benzodiazepine medication. The nurse anticipates
that which medication will most likely be ordered?
a. Tranxene
b. Romazicon
c. BuSpar
d. Librium
B ~ Romazicon is considered to be the
benzodiazepine antagonist.
The nurse is caring for a patient in a state of
hypnosis, which means the patient is in what state?
A) A state of extreme sedation in which the person
no longer senses or reacts to incoming stimuli.
B) A state of tranquility in which the person can be
made to do whatever is suggested by others.
C) A feeling of tension, nervousness, apprehension,
or fear with high levels of awareness.
D) A state in which the brain is no longer sending
out signals to the body.
, A ~ Hypnosis is an extreme state of sedation in
which the person no longer senses or reacts to
incoming stimuli. A state of tranquility is produced
through minor tranquilizers by decreasing anxiety.
Anxiety is a feeling of tension, nervousness,
apprehension, or fear. Sedation is the loss of
awareness and reaction to environmental stimuli,
which may lead to drowsiness. The state of
suggestibility often seen in television programs is
not an appropriate definition of hypnosis. If the
brain stopped sending signals, the patient would
stop breathing and death would follow.
A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child who is
receiving a barbiturate. What common adverse
effect would the nurse assess for?
A) Decrease in respirations
B) Vomiting
C) Excitability
D) Dry mucous membranes
C ~ The barbiturates, being older drugs, have
established pediatric dosages. These drugs must
be used with caution because of the often
unexpected responses. Children must be
monitored very closely for central nervous system
(CNS) depression and excitability. The most
common adverse effects are related to general
CNS depression. Other CNS effects may include
drowsiness, somnolence, lethargy, ataxia, vertigo,
NCLEX Questions With Complete Solutions
A patient presents at the emergency department
with respiratory depression and excessive
sedation. The family tells the nurse that the patient
has been taking medication throughout the
evening and gives the nurse an almost empty
bottle of benzodiazepines. What other adverse
effects would the nurse assess this patient for?
A) Seizures
B) Tachycardia
C) Headache
D) Coma
D ~ Toxic effects of benzodiazepines include
excessive sedation, respiratory depression, and
coma. Flumazenil (Anexate) is a specific antidote
that competes with benzodiazepines for
benzodiazepine receptors and reverses toxicity.
Seizures, tachycardia, and headache would not
normally be associated with benzodiazepine
toxicity.
A patient presents at the free clinic complaining of
nervousness, worrying about everything, and
,feeling very tense. What diagnose would the nurse
suspect?
A) Neurosis
B) Psychosis
C) Anxiety
D) Depression
C ~ Anxiety is a common disorder that may be
referred to as nervousness, tension, worry, or using
other terms that denote an unpleasant feeling. The
other options would not be described by these
symptoms.
The client is an older adult who has been placed on
Librium. The nurse recognizes that the dose of the
drug _____ for this client.
a. is contraindicated
b. should be increased
c. should be decreased
d. will not change
C ~ The dose of Librium should be decreased for
an older adult.
The nurse is preparing a dose of Mellaril. What is
the highest priority intervention for the nurse while
preparing the dose?
a. Draw up the dosage of the liquid in an oral
syringe.
,b. Use a 21-gauge needle to administer the
injection.
c. Start a new IV site before administering the
drug.
d. Avoid spilling the liquid on exposed skin.
D ~ If Mellaril is allowed to come in contact with
exposed skin, contact dermatitis can result.
The client is known to have overdosed on a
benzodiazepine medication. The nurse anticipates
that which medication will most likely be ordered?
a. Tranxene
b. Romazicon
c. BuSpar
d. Librium
B ~ Romazicon is considered to be the
benzodiazepine antagonist.
The nurse is caring for a patient in a state of
hypnosis, which means the patient is in what state?
A) A state of extreme sedation in which the person
no longer senses or reacts to incoming stimuli.
B) A state of tranquility in which the person can be
made to do whatever is suggested by others.
C) A feeling of tension, nervousness, apprehension,
or fear with high levels of awareness.
D) A state in which the brain is no longer sending
out signals to the body.
, A ~ Hypnosis is an extreme state of sedation in
which the person no longer senses or reacts to
incoming stimuli. A state of tranquility is produced
through minor tranquilizers by decreasing anxiety.
Anxiety is a feeling of tension, nervousness,
apprehension, or fear. Sedation is the loss of
awareness and reaction to environmental stimuli,
which may lead to drowsiness. The state of
suggestibility often seen in television programs is
not an appropriate definition of hypnosis. If the
brain stopped sending signals, the patient would
stop breathing and death would follow.
A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child who is
receiving a barbiturate. What common adverse
effect would the nurse assess for?
A) Decrease in respirations
B) Vomiting
C) Excitability
D) Dry mucous membranes
C ~ The barbiturates, being older drugs, have
established pediatric dosages. These drugs must
be used with caution because of the often
unexpected responses. Children must be
monitored very closely for central nervous system
(CNS) depression and excitability. The most
common adverse effects are related to general
CNS depression. Other CNS effects may include
drowsiness, somnolence, lethargy, ataxia, vertigo,
