NSG 552 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY EXAM 3 ACTUAL
EXAM || MOST RECENT EXAM 2026|2027 ACTUAL
COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED
A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS!! NEWEST EXAM | JUST
RELEASED!! WILKES UNIVERSITY
A patient taking lithium reports worsening hand tremor, vomiting,
diarrhea, and increasing confusion. Which action by the nurse is the
priority?
A. Hold the lithium and notify the prescriber
B. Administer the next dose with food
C. Encourage the patient to increase caffeine intake
D. Reassure the patient that these effects are expected
Answer: A
Rationale: Tremor can occur with therapeutic lithium concentrations,
but worsening tremor accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms and
confusion suggests lithium toxicity. The medication should be withheld
and the prescriber notified so a serum lithium level and appropriate
laboratory evaluation can be obtained. Increasing caffeine or simply
continuing therapy could worsen the situation.
A patient prescribed clozapine develops fever, sore throat, and
profound fatigue. Which laboratory test is most important to obtain?
A. Serum sodium
B. Absolute neutrophil count
,C. Serum lithium level
D. Thyroid-stimulating hormone
Answer: B
Rationale: Clozapine can cause severe neutropenia or agranulocytosis.
Fever and sore throat may indicate infection associated with a
dangerously low neutrophil count. The absolute neutrophil count is
therefore critical when evaluating these symptoms.
Which medication is classified as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitor (SNRI)?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Bupropion
C. Venlafaxine
D. Mirtazapine
Answer: C
Rationale: Venlafaxine is an SNRI that increases serotonergic and
noradrenergic neurotransmission. Fluoxetine is an SSRI, bupropion
primarily affects norepinephrine and dopamine, and mirtazapine is
classified as a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant.
A patient taking an SSRI begins experiencing agitation, diaphoresis,
diarrhea, hyperreflexia, and clonus. Which condition should the nurse
suspect?
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
B. Anticholinergic toxicity
C. Lithium toxicity
,D. Serotonin syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Serotonin syndrome results from excessive serotonergic
activity. Characteristic findings include agitation, autonomic
instability, gastrointestinal symptoms, hyperreflexia, clonus, and
sometimes hyperthermia. Rapid recognition is important because
severe cases can be life-threatening.
Which teaching point is most important for a patient beginning
treatment with an antidepressant?
A. Antidepressants usually require several weeks before full
therapeutic effects are evident
B. Therapeutic effects should occur within several hours
C. The medication should be stopped once sleep improves
D. The medication can be doubled if mood does not improve after two
days
Answer: A
Rationale: Most antidepressants require several weeks of consistent
treatment before their full antidepressant effects become apparent.
Patients should not abruptly stop treatment or increase the dose
independently. Early adverse effects may occur before significant
improvement in depressive symptoms.
Which adverse effect is particularly associated with second-generation
antipsychotics such as olanzapine?
A. Severe hearing loss
, B. Metabolic abnormalities and weight gain
C. Permanent renal failure in most patients
D. Severe hypoglycemia in all patients
Answer: B
Rationale: Several second-generation antipsychotics, particularly
olanzapine and clozapine, are associated with weight gain,
dyslipidemia, and glucose abnormalities. Monitoring weight, glucose or
A1C, and lipid levels is important during therapy.
A patient taking a typical antipsychotic develops a sustained upward
deviation of the eyes and painful neck muscle contractions. Which
medication would the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Benztropine
B. Fluoxetine
C. Lithium
D. Propranolol
Answer: A
Rationale: Acute dystonia is an extrapyramidal symptom caused by
dopamine receptor blockade. Anticholinergic medications such as
benztropine or diphenhydramine are commonly used for acute
dystonic reactions. The symptoms require prompt treatment because
severe muscle spasms can compromise the airway.
Which medication is commonly used to treat acute mania in bipolar
disorder?
A. Buspirone
EXAM || MOST RECENT EXAM 2026|2027 ACTUAL
COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED
A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS!! NEWEST EXAM | JUST
RELEASED!! WILKES UNIVERSITY
A patient taking lithium reports worsening hand tremor, vomiting,
diarrhea, and increasing confusion. Which action by the nurse is the
priority?
A. Hold the lithium and notify the prescriber
B. Administer the next dose with food
C. Encourage the patient to increase caffeine intake
D. Reassure the patient that these effects are expected
Answer: A
Rationale: Tremor can occur with therapeutic lithium concentrations,
but worsening tremor accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms and
confusion suggests lithium toxicity. The medication should be withheld
and the prescriber notified so a serum lithium level and appropriate
laboratory evaluation can be obtained. Increasing caffeine or simply
continuing therapy could worsen the situation.
A patient prescribed clozapine develops fever, sore throat, and
profound fatigue. Which laboratory test is most important to obtain?
A. Serum sodium
B. Absolute neutrophil count
,C. Serum lithium level
D. Thyroid-stimulating hormone
Answer: B
Rationale: Clozapine can cause severe neutropenia or agranulocytosis.
Fever and sore throat may indicate infection associated with a
dangerously low neutrophil count. The absolute neutrophil count is
therefore critical when evaluating these symptoms.
Which medication is classified as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitor (SNRI)?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Bupropion
C. Venlafaxine
D. Mirtazapine
Answer: C
Rationale: Venlafaxine is an SNRI that increases serotonergic and
noradrenergic neurotransmission. Fluoxetine is an SSRI, bupropion
primarily affects norepinephrine and dopamine, and mirtazapine is
classified as a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant.
A patient taking an SSRI begins experiencing agitation, diaphoresis,
diarrhea, hyperreflexia, and clonus. Which condition should the nurse
suspect?
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
B. Anticholinergic toxicity
C. Lithium toxicity
,D. Serotonin syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Serotonin syndrome results from excessive serotonergic
activity. Characteristic findings include agitation, autonomic
instability, gastrointestinal symptoms, hyperreflexia, clonus, and
sometimes hyperthermia. Rapid recognition is important because
severe cases can be life-threatening.
Which teaching point is most important for a patient beginning
treatment with an antidepressant?
A. Antidepressants usually require several weeks before full
therapeutic effects are evident
B. Therapeutic effects should occur within several hours
C. The medication should be stopped once sleep improves
D. The medication can be doubled if mood does not improve after two
days
Answer: A
Rationale: Most antidepressants require several weeks of consistent
treatment before their full antidepressant effects become apparent.
Patients should not abruptly stop treatment or increase the dose
independently. Early adverse effects may occur before significant
improvement in depressive symptoms.
Which adverse effect is particularly associated with second-generation
antipsychotics such as olanzapine?
A. Severe hearing loss
, B. Metabolic abnormalities and weight gain
C. Permanent renal failure in most patients
D. Severe hypoglycemia in all patients
Answer: B
Rationale: Several second-generation antipsychotics, particularly
olanzapine and clozapine, are associated with weight gain,
dyslipidemia, and glucose abnormalities. Monitoring weight, glucose or
A1C, and lipid levels is important during therapy.
A patient taking a typical antipsychotic develops a sustained upward
deviation of the eyes and painful neck muscle contractions. Which
medication would the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Benztropine
B. Fluoxetine
C. Lithium
D. Propranolol
Answer: A
Rationale: Acute dystonia is an extrapyramidal symptom caused by
dopamine receptor blockade. Anticholinergic medications such as
benztropine or diphenhydramine are commonly used for acute
dystonic reactions. The symptoms require prompt treatment because
severe muscle spasms can compromise the airway.
Which medication is commonly used to treat acute mania in bipolar
disorder?
A. Buspirone
