Questions, Verified Answers & Detailed Explanations
NURS 6630 Midterm Exam components;
• Foundations of Nursing Practice
• Patient Assessment & Clinical Skills
• Pharmacology & Medication Administration
• Pathophysiology & Disease Processes
• Mental Health & Psychiatric Nursing
• Nursing Interventions & Care Planning
• Ethics, Legal Issues & Professional Practice
• Evidence-Based Practice & Research
• Health Promotion & Patient Education
• Critical Thinking & Clinical Decision-Making
,This document contains:
Compliance & Neurochemistry
• Noncompliance → Patient refusal
• Neurotransmitter imbalance → Mood disorders
• Positive symptoms → Hallucinations/delusions
• Agitation → Anxiety/restlessness
• Serotonin → Mood regulation
• Dysfunctions → Neurotransmitter systems
• Behavior modification → Influences gene expression
Gene Expression & Receptors
• Gene expression → DNA → Protein
• Transcription factor → Initiates transcription
• Ionotropic → Fast synaptic transmission
• G-protein linked → Second messenger
• Ligand-gated (pentameric) → Nicotinic
• Voltage-sensitive → Membrane potential
Pharmacology & Drug Mechanisms
• Cytochrome P450 → Drug metabolism
• Bioavailability → Amount available
• Pharmacokinetics → ADME
• Partial agonist → Stimulates receptor partially
• Inverse agonist → Decreases receptor activity
• Antagonist → Blocks receptor
Antidepressants & Mood Stabilizers
• SSRIs → Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Citalopram
• SNRIs → Venlafaxine, Desvenlafaxine
• TCAs → Amitriptyline, Doxepin
• MAOIs → Phenelzine, dietary restrictions
• Mood stabilizers → Lithium, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine
• Treatment-resistant depression → Dual therapy/adjustment
Schizophrenia & Psychosis
• Antipsychotics → Clozapine, Aripiprazole, Quetiapine, Paliperidone
• D2 receptors → Dopamine target
• Positive symptoms → Hallucinations, delusions, paranoia
• Negative symptoms → Apathy, social withdrawal
• EPS/Tardive dyskinesia → Movement disorders
Lifestyle & Special Populations
• Smoking → Alters CYP450, drug metabolism
• Alcohol → Affects serotonin, drug efficacy
• Renal/Hepatic impairment → Dose adjustments
• SERT genotype → SSRI/SNRI response
,Test Bank NURS 6630 Midterm Exam 2026– Comprehensive
Questions, Verified Answers & Detailed Explanations
Section 1: Neurotransmitters & Pharmacology Basics
1. A patient refuses to follow prescribed treatment. This behavior is
termed:
A. Adherence
B. Noncompliance
C. Withdrawal
D. Resistance
Answer: B. Noncompliance
Rationale: Noncompliance occurs when a patient does not follow prescribed
treatment, which may negatively affect therapeutic outcomes.
2. Disruption in brain chemical levels affecting mood is known as:
A. Hormonal Dysfunction
B. Neurotransmitter Imbalance
C. Cognitive Deficit
D. Synaptic Plasticity
Answer: B. Neurotransmitter Imbalance
Rationale: Mood disorders often result from imbalances in key
neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, or norepinephrine.
3. Neurotransmitter linked to mood regulation:
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. GABA
D. Acetylcholine
, Answer: B. Serotonin
Rationale: Serotonin plays a crucial role in regulating mood, anxiety, and
emotional stability.
4. First antidepressant targeting serotonin imbalance:
A. Amitriptyline (Elavil)
B. Fluoxetine (Prozac)
C. Phenelzine (Nardil)
D. Clozapine (Clozaril)
Answer: B. Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Rationale: Fluoxetine was the first SSRI widely used to specifically correct
serotonin imbalances in depression.
5. Impaired neurotransmitter functions in psychiatric illnesses are
referred to as:
A. Dysfunctioning Neurotransmitter Systems
B. Neuroplasticity Issues
C. Cognitive Deficits
D. Neuroinflammation
Answer: A. Dysfunctioning Neurotransmitter Systems
Rationale: Psychiatric disorders often involve dysfunction in
neurotransmitter systems, affecting mood, cognition, and behavior.
6. Medications that block receptor activity are called:
A. Agonists
B. Partial Agonists
C. Antagonistic Traits
D. Neuroleptics