Bipolar and Related Disorders: Mental
Health Nursing (Exam #2) questions
with verified answers 2025 update
Maggie is a 68-year-old widow, brought into the ER by her sister in law. She has a hx of
bipolar and has been maintained on medication for many years. Maggie stopped taking
her meds months ago per sister. Maggie is agitated, pacing, demanding, and speaking
very loudly. She eats very little, is losing weight, and almost never sleeps. Maggie is
admitted to the Psych unit. What is the priority nursing diagnosis for Maggie?
a. Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements
b. Risk for injury related to hyperactivity
c. Disturbed sleep pattern r/t agitation
d. Ineffective coping r/t denial of depression - Correct Answerb. Risk for injury related to
hyperactivity
Maggie, 68, is diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder, current episode manic. She is
extremely hyperactive and has lost weight. One way to promote adequate nutritional
intake for Maggie is to:
a. Sit with her during meals to ensure that she eats everything that is on her tray
b. Have her sister-in-law bring her in food because she knows what she likes and
dislikes
c. Provide high-calorie, nutritious finger foods and snacks that maggie can "eat on the
run".
d. Tell Maggie she will be on room restriction until she starts gaining weight. - Correct
Answerc. Provide high-calorie, nutritious finger foods and snacks that maggie can "eat
on the run".
The physician orders Lithium 600 mg for a newly diagnosed client with Bipolar 1. There
is a narrow margin between therapeutic and toxic levels of lithium. Therapeutic range
for acute mania is:
a. 1.0 to 1.5 mEq/L
b. 10 to 15 mEq/L
c. 0.5 to 1.0 mEq/ L
d. 5 to 10 mEq/L - Correct Answera. 1.0 to 1.5 mEq/L
Although Lithium has been a good choice for mania, several others have been used
with good results. Which of the following are used to treat Bipolar Disorder?
a. Olanzapine
b. Oxycodone
c. Carbamazepine
, d. Gabapentin
e. Tranylcypromine - Correct Answera. Olanzapine
c. Carbamazepine
d. Gabapentin
Maggie, 68, Bipolar 1 disorder yells, "My sister-in-law is just jealous of me! She's trying
to make me look like I'm insane!" This behavior is an example of:
a. A delusion of grandeur
b. A delusion of persecution
c. A delusion of reference
d. A delusion of control or influence - Correct Answerb. A delusion of persecution
What is the most common comorbid condition in children with Bipolar disorder?
a. Schizophrenia
b. Substance disorders
c. ODD
d. ADHD - Correct Answerd. ADHD
A nurse is educating a client about lithium therapy and explaining signs and symptoms
of lithium toxicity. Which of the following would she instruct the client to be on alert for?
a. Fever, sore throat, malaise
b. Tinnitus, severe diarrhea, ataxia
c. Occipital headache, palpitations, chest pain
d. Skin rash, marked rise in BP, bradycardia - Correct Answerb. Tinnitus, severe
diarrhea, ataxia
A client experiencing a manic episode enters the milieu area dressed in a provocative
and physically revealing outfit. Which of the following is the most appropriate
intervention by the nurse?
a. Tell the client she cannot wear this outfit when in the hospital
b. Do nothing, and allow her to learn from the responses of her peers
c. Quietly walk her back to her room and help her change into something more
appropriate
d. Explain to her if she wears this outfit she must remain in her room - Correct Answerc.
Quietly walk her back to her room and help her change into something more appropriate
The nurse is prioritizing nursing diagnosis in the plan of care for a client experiencing a
manic episode. Number the diagnosis in order of appropriate priority
a. Disturbed sleep pattern evidenced by only sleeping 4-5 hours a night
b. Risk for injury related to manic hyperactivity
c. Impaired social interaction evidenced by manipulation of others
Health Nursing (Exam #2) questions
with verified answers 2025 update
Maggie is a 68-year-old widow, brought into the ER by her sister in law. She has a hx of
bipolar and has been maintained on medication for many years. Maggie stopped taking
her meds months ago per sister. Maggie is agitated, pacing, demanding, and speaking
very loudly. She eats very little, is losing weight, and almost never sleeps. Maggie is
admitted to the Psych unit. What is the priority nursing diagnosis for Maggie?
a. Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements
b. Risk for injury related to hyperactivity
c. Disturbed sleep pattern r/t agitation
d. Ineffective coping r/t denial of depression - Correct Answerb. Risk for injury related to
hyperactivity
Maggie, 68, is diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder, current episode manic. She is
extremely hyperactive and has lost weight. One way to promote adequate nutritional
intake for Maggie is to:
a. Sit with her during meals to ensure that she eats everything that is on her tray
b. Have her sister-in-law bring her in food because she knows what she likes and
dislikes
c. Provide high-calorie, nutritious finger foods and snacks that maggie can "eat on the
run".
d. Tell Maggie she will be on room restriction until she starts gaining weight. - Correct
Answerc. Provide high-calorie, nutritious finger foods and snacks that maggie can "eat
on the run".
The physician orders Lithium 600 mg for a newly diagnosed client with Bipolar 1. There
is a narrow margin between therapeutic and toxic levels of lithium. Therapeutic range
for acute mania is:
a. 1.0 to 1.5 mEq/L
b. 10 to 15 mEq/L
c. 0.5 to 1.0 mEq/ L
d. 5 to 10 mEq/L - Correct Answera. 1.0 to 1.5 mEq/L
Although Lithium has been a good choice for mania, several others have been used
with good results. Which of the following are used to treat Bipolar Disorder?
a. Olanzapine
b. Oxycodone
c. Carbamazepine
, d. Gabapentin
e. Tranylcypromine - Correct Answera. Olanzapine
c. Carbamazepine
d. Gabapentin
Maggie, 68, Bipolar 1 disorder yells, "My sister-in-law is just jealous of me! She's trying
to make me look like I'm insane!" This behavior is an example of:
a. A delusion of grandeur
b. A delusion of persecution
c. A delusion of reference
d. A delusion of control or influence - Correct Answerb. A delusion of persecution
What is the most common comorbid condition in children with Bipolar disorder?
a. Schizophrenia
b. Substance disorders
c. ODD
d. ADHD - Correct Answerd. ADHD
A nurse is educating a client about lithium therapy and explaining signs and symptoms
of lithium toxicity. Which of the following would she instruct the client to be on alert for?
a. Fever, sore throat, malaise
b. Tinnitus, severe diarrhea, ataxia
c. Occipital headache, palpitations, chest pain
d. Skin rash, marked rise in BP, bradycardia - Correct Answerb. Tinnitus, severe
diarrhea, ataxia
A client experiencing a manic episode enters the milieu area dressed in a provocative
and physically revealing outfit. Which of the following is the most appropriate
intervention by the nurse?
a. Tell the client she cannot wear this outfit when in the hospital
b. Do nothing, and allow her to learn from the responses of her peers
c. Quietly walk her back to her room and help her change into something more
appropriate
d. Explain to her if she wears this outfit she must remain in her room - Correct Answerc.
Quietly walk her back to her room and help her change into something more appropriate
The nurse is prioritizing nursing diagnosis in the plan of care for a client experiencing a
manic episode. Number the diagnosis in order of appropriate priority
a. Disturbed sleep pattern evidenced by only sleeping 4-5 hours a night
b. Risk for injury related to manic hyperactivity
c. Impaired social interaction evidenced by manipulation of others
