,QUESTION:
A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, “My mother says depression is a chemical
disorder.” What does she mean? The nurse’s response is based on the theory that depression
primarily involves which neurotransmitters?
A. Cortisol and GABA
B. COMT and glutamate
C. Monoamine and glycine
D. Serotonin and norepinephrine
ANSWER: D. Serotonin and norepinephrine
Rationale: Depression is associated with decreased levels of monoamine neurotransmitters,
particularly serotonin and norepinephrine.
QUESTION:
A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebrovascular accident) that has resulted in damage to the
Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to reinforce this diagnosis?
A. Observing the patient pick up a spoon
B. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
C. Monitoring the patient’s blood pressure
D. Comparing the patient’s grip strength in both hands
ANSWER: B. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
Rationale: Broca’s area controls expressive speech; difficulty speaking or forming words
supports this diagnosis.
,QUESTION:
The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are always
prescribed by the doctor. The nurse’s answer will be based on the information that the therapeutic
action of psychotropic drugs results from their effect on:
A. The temporal lobe, especially Wernicke’s area
B. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
C. Regulation of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine
D. Peripheral nervous system sensitivity
ANSWER: C. Regulation of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine
Rationale: Psychotropic medications work by altering neurotransmitter activity, particularly
dopamine in schizophrenia.
QUESTION:
A student nurse says it seems unnecessary to study the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic
system. The mentor’s response is based on the understanding that neurologic knowledge is:
A. Necessary only for psychiatric nurses using behavioral interventions
B. Mainly for advanced practice nurses
C. Important only for patients with brain trauma
D. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients
ANSWER: D. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients
Rationale: Understanding brain function is essential for assessing, planning, and evaluating
psychiatric care.
QUESTION:
A patient asks, “My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her chronic depression?”
Which response is supported by research?
A. Stress has been proven to cause all cancers
B. No studies exist on stress and disease
, C. Stress causes release of factors that suppress the immune system
D. There is no connection between stress and physical disease
ANSWER: C. Stress causes release of factors that suppress the immune system
Rationale: Chronic stress can weaken immune function, increasing vulnerability to illness.
QUESTION:
A patient with a parietal lobe injury is being evaluated for psychiatric rehabilitation. Which area
should the nurse focus on?
A. Expression of emotion
B. Detecting auditory stimuli
C. Receiving visual images
D. Processing associations
ANSWER: D. Processing associations
Rationale: The parietal lobe is responsible for integration and interpretation of sensory
information.
QUESTION:
The nurse learns a patient previously had an infarct in the right cerebral cortex. During
assessment, which finding is expected?
A. Major speech deficiencies
B. Inability to hold a spoon in the left hand
C. Difficulty explaining how to use a telephone
D. Inability to use the right hand for grooming
ANSWER: B. Inability to hold a spoon in the left hand
Rationale: The right cerebral cortex controls motor function on the left side of the body.
A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, “My mother says depression is a chemical
disorder.” What does she mean? The nurse’s response is based on the theory that depression
primarily involves which neurotransmitters?
A. Cortisol and GABA
B. COMT and glutamate
C. Monoamine and glycine
D. Serotonin and norepinephrine
ANSWER: D. Serotonin and norepinephrine
Rationale: Depression is associated with decreased levels of monoamine neurotransmitters,
particularly serotonin and norepinephrine.
QUESTION:
A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebrovascular accident) that has resulted in damage to the
Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to reinforce this diagnosis?
A. Observing the patient pick up a spoon
B. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
C. Monitoring the patient’s blood pressure
D. Comparing the patient’s grip strength in both hands
ANSWER: B. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
Rationale: Broca’s area controls expressive speech; difficulty speaking or forming words
supports this diagnosis.
,QUESTION:
The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are always
prescribed by the doctor. The nurse’s answer will be based on the information that the therapeutic
action of psychotropic drugs results from their effect on:
A. The temporal lobe, especially Wernicke’s area
B. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
C. Regulation of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine
D. Peripheral nervous system sensitivity
ANSWER: C. Regulation of neurotransmitters, especially dopamine
Rationale: Psychotropic medications work by altering neurotransmitter activity, particularly
dopamine in schizophrenia.
QUESTION:
A student nurse says it seems unnecessary to study the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic
system. The mentor’s response is based on the understanding that neurologic knowledge is:
A. Necessary only for psychiatric nurses using behavioral interventions
B. Mainly for advanced practice nurses
C. Important only for patients with brain trauma
D. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients
ANSWER: D. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients
Rationale: Understanding brain function is essential for assessing, planning, and evaluating
psychiatric care.
QUESTION:
A patient asks, “My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her chronic depression?”
Which response is supported by research?
A. Stress has been proven to cause all cancers
B. No studies exist on stress and disease
, C. Stress causes release of factors that suppress the immune system
D. There is no connection between stress and physical disease
ANSWER: C. Stress causes release of factors that suppress the immune system
Rationale: Chronic stress can weaken immune function, increasing vulnerability to illness.
QUESTION:
A patient with a parietal lobe injury is being evaluated for psychiatric rehabilitation. Which area
should the nurse focus on?
A. Expression of emotion
B. Detecting auditory stimuli
C. Receiving visual images
D. Processing associations
ANSWER: D. Processing associations
Rationale: The parietal lobe is responsible for integration and interpretation of sensory
information.
QUESTION:
The nurse learns a patient previously had an infarct in the right cerebral cortex. During
assessment, which finding is expected?
A. Major speech deficiencies
B. Inability to hold a spoon in the left hand
C. Difficulty explaining how to use a telephone
D. Inability to use the right hand for grooming
ANSWER: B. Inability to hold a spoon in the left hand
Rationale: The right cerebral cortex controls motor function on the left side of the body.
