NSG 3450 | MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM 2
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (LATEST 2025-2026)
A client asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced."
What is the nurse's best response?
a. "How do you feel about having imbalanced neurotransmitters?"
b. "Neurotransmitters protect us from harmful effects of free radicals."
c. "Neurotransmitters are substances we consume that influence memory and
mood."
d. "Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between brain
cells."
d. "Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between brain cells.
The parent of an adolescent diagnosed with schizophrenia asks the nurse, "My
child's doctor ordered a PET. What kind of test is that?" What is the nurse's best
reply?
a. "This test uses a magnetic field and gamma waves to identify problem areas in
the brain.
Does your teenager have any metal implants?"
b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a special type of scan that
shows blood
flow and activity in the brain."
,c. "A PET scan passes an electrical current through the brain and shows brain-
wave activity.
It can help diagnose seizures."
d. "It's a special x-ray that shows structures of the brain and whether there has ever
been a
brain injury."
b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a special type of scan that
shows blood flow and activity in the brain."
A client with a long history of hypertension and diabetes now develops confusion.
The health care provider wants to make a differential diagnosis between
Alzheimer's disease and multiple cerebral infarcts. Which diagnostic procedure
should the nurse expect to prepare
the client for first?
a. Skull x-rays
b. Computerized axial tomography (CT) scan
c. Positron-emission tomography (PET)
d. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
b. Computerized axial tomography (CT) scan
A client's history shows drinking 4 to 6 L of fluid and eating more than 6,000
calories per day. Which part of the central nervous system is most likely
dysfunctional for this client?
,a. Amygdala
b. Parietal lobe
c. Hippocampus
d. Hypothalamus
d. Hypothalamus
The nurse prepares to assess a client diagnosed with major depressive disorder for
disturbances in circadian rhythms. Which question should the nurse ask this client?
a. "Have you ever seen or heard things that others do not?"
b. "What are your worst and best times of the day?"
c. "How would you describe your thinking?"
d. "Do you think your memory is failing?"
b. "What are your worst and best times of the day?"
The nurse administers a medication that potentiates the action of ã-aminobutyric
acid (GABA). Which effect would be expected?
a. Reduced anxiety
b. Improved memory
c. More organized thinking
, d. Fewer sensory perceptual alterations
a. Reduced anxiety
A nurse would anticipate that treatment for a client with memory difficulties might
include medications designed to do what?
a. inhibit GABA.
b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
c. reduce serotonin metabolism.
d. increase dopamine activity.
b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
A client has disorganized thinking associated with schizophrenia. Neuroimaging
would likely show dysfunction in which part of the brain?
a. Hippocampus
b. Frontal lobe
c. Cerebellum
d. Brainstem
b. frontal lobe
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (LATEST 2025-2026)
A client asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced."
What is the nurse's best response?
a. "How do you feel about having imbalanced neurotransmitters?"
b. "Neurotransmitters protect us from harmful effects of free radicals."
c. "Neurotransmitters are substances we consume that influence memory and
mood."
d. "Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between brain
cells."
d. "Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between brain cells.
The parent of an adolescent diagnosed with schizophrenia asks the nurse, "My
child's doctor ordered a PET. What kind of test is that?" What is the nurse's best
reply?
a. "This test uses a magnetic field and gamma waves to identify problem areas in
the brain.
Does your teenager have any metal implants?"
b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a special type of scan that
shows blood
flow and activity in the brain."
,c. "A PET scan passes an electrical current through the brain and shows brain-
wave activity.
It can help diagnose seizures."
d. "It's a special x-ray that shows structures of the brain and whether there has ever
been a
brain injury."
b. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a special type of scan that
shows blood flow and activity in the brain."
A client with a long history of hypertension and diabetes now develops confusion.
The health care provider wants to make a differential diagnosis between
Alzheimer's disease and multiple cerebral infarcts. Which diagnostic procedure
should the nurse expect to prepare
the client for first?
a. Skull x-rays
b. Computerized axial tomography (CT) scan
c. Positron-emission tomography (PET)
d. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
b. Computerized axial tomography (CT) scan
A client's history shows drinking 4 to 6 L of fluid and eating more than 6,000
calories per day. Which part of the central nervous system is most likely
dysfunctional for this client?
,a. Amygdala
b. Parietal lobe
c. Hippocampus
d. Hypothalamus
d. Hypothalamus
The nurse prepares to assess a client diagnosed with major depressive disorder for
disturbances in circadian rhythms. Which question should the nurse ask this client?
a. "Have you ever seen or heard things that others do not?"
b. "What are your worst and best times of the day?"
c. "How would you describe your thinking?"
d. "Do you think your memory is failing?"
b. "What are your worst and best times of the day?"
The nurse administers a medication that potentiates the action of ã-aminobutyric
acid (GABA). Which effect would be expected?
a. Reduced anxiety
b. Improved memory
c. More organized thinking
, d. Fewer sensory perceptual alterations
a. Reduced anxiety
A nurse would anticipate that treatment for a client with memory difficulties might
include medications designed to do what?
a. inhibit GABA.
b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
c. reduce serotonin metabolism.
d. increase dopamine activity.
b. prevent destruction of acetylcholine.
A client has disorganized thinking associated with schizophrenia. Neuroimaging
would likely show dysfunction in which part of the brain?
a. Hippocampus
b. Frontal lobe
c. Cerebellum
d. Brainstem
b. frontal lobe
