HESI MENTAL HEALTH ON ADDICTIONS V1 2024-
2025 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
After a long history of intravenous heroin use, a client has expressed a willingness to
stop using heroin. The nurse would expect the client to receive which medication to
decrease the severity of withdrawal?
a) Methadone
b) Gabapentin (Neurontin)
c) Ondansetron (Zofran)
d) Amphetamines - ANSWERS -a) Methadone
A nurse evaluates a client's patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump and notices 100
attempts within a 30-minute period. Which is the best rationale for assessing this client
for substance dependence?
A. Narcotic pain medication is contraindicated for all clients with active substance abuse
problems.
B. Clients who are dependent on alcohol or benzodiazepines may have developed
cross-tolerance to analgesics and require increased doses to achieve effective pain
control.
C. There is no need to assess the client for substance dependence. There is an obvious
PCA malfunction.
D. The client is experiencing symptoms of withdrawal and needs to be accurately
assessed for lorazepam (Ativan) dosage. - ANSWERS -ANS: B
The nurse should assess the client for substance dependence because clients who are
dependent on alcohol or benzodiazepines may have developed cross-tolerance to
analgesics, and require increased doses to achieve effective pain control. Cross-
tolerance occurs when one drug lessened the client's response to another drug.
What should be the priority nursing diagnosis for a client experiencing alcohol
withdrawal?
A. Risk for injury R/T central nervous system stimulation
B. Disturbed thought processes R/T tactile hallucinations
C. Ineffective coping R/T powerlessness over alcohol use
D. Ineffective denial R/T continued alcohol use despite negative consequences -
ANSWERS -ANS: A
,The priority nursing diagnosis for a client experiencing alcohol withdrawal should be risk
for injury R/T central nervous system stimulation. Alcohol withdrawal may include the
following symptoms: course tremors of hands, tongue, or eyelids; seizures; nausea or
vomiting; malaise or weakness; tachycardia; sweating; elevated blood pressure;
anxiety; depressed mood; hallucinations; headache; and insomnia.
On the first day of a client's alcohol detoxification, which nursing intervention should
take priority?
A. Strongly encourage the client to attend 90 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in 90
days.
B. Educate the client about the biopsychosocial consequences of alcohol abuse.
C. Administer ordered chlordiazepoxide (Librium) in dosage according to protocol.
D. Administer vitamin B1 to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. - ANSWERS -ANS:
C
The priority nursing intervention for this client should be to administer ordered
chlordiazepoxide (Librium) in dosage according to protocol. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
is a benzodiazepine and is often used for substitution therapy in alcohol withdrawal.
Substitution therapy may be required to reduce the life-threatening effects of the
rebound stimulation of the central nervous system that occurs during withdrawal.
Which client statement indicates a knowledge deficit related to substance abuse?
A. "Although it's legal, alcohol is one of the most widely abused drugs in our society."
B. "Tolerance to heroin develops quickly."
C. "Flashbacks from LSD use may reoccur spontaneously."
D. "Marijuana is like smoking cigarettes. Everyone does it. It's essentially harmless." -
ANSWERS -ANS: D
The nurse should determine that the client has a knowledge deficit related to substance
abuse when the client compares marijuana to smoking cigarettes and claims it to be
harmless. Cannabis is the second most widely abused drug in the United States.
A lonely, depressed divorcée has been self-medicating with cocaine for the past year.
Which term should a nurse use to best describe this individual's situation?
A. The individual is experiencing psychological dependency.
B. The individual is experiencing physical dependency.
C. The individual is experiencing substance dependency.
D. The individual is experiencing social dependency. - ANSWERS -ANS: A
The nurse should use the term "psychological dependency" to best describe this client's
situation. A client is considered to be psychologically dependent on a substance when
there is an overwhelming desire to use a substance in order to produce pleasure or
avoid discomfort.
Which term should a nurse use to describe the administration of a central nervous
system (CNS) depressant during alcohol withdrawal?
, A. Antagonist therapy
B. Deterrent therapy
C. Codependency therapy
D. Substitution therapy - ANSWERS -ANS: D
A CNS depressant such as Ativan is used during alcohol withdrawal as substitution
therapy to prevent life-threatening symptoms that occur because of the rebound
reaction of the central nervous system.
A client diagnosed with chronic alcohol dependency is being discharged from an
inpatient treatment facility after detoxification. Which client outcome related to
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) would be most appropriate for a nurse to discuss with the
client during discharge teaching?
A. After discharge, the client will immediately attend 90 AA meetings in 90 days.
B. After discharge, the client will rely on an AA sponsor to help control alcohol cravings.
C. After discharge, the client will incorporate family in AA attendance.
D. After discharge, the client will seek appropriate deterrent medications through AA. -
ANSWERS -ANS: A
The most appropriate client outcome for the nurse to discuss during discharge teaching
is attending 90 AA meetings in 90 days after discharge. AA is a major self-help
organization for the treatment of alcoholism. It accepts alcoholism as an illness and
promotes total abstinence as the only cure.
A client with a history of heavy alcohol use is brought to an emergency department (ED)
by family members who state that the client has had nothing to drink in the last 24
hours. Which client symptom should the nurse immediately report to the ED physician?
A. Tactile hallucinations
B. Blood pressure of 180/100 mm Hg
C. Mood rating of 2/10 on a numeric scale
D. Dehydration - ANSWERS -ANS: B
The nurse should recognize that high blood pressure is a symptom of alcohol
withdrawal and should promptly report this finding to the physician. Complications
associated with alcohol withdrawal may progress to alcohol withdrawal delirium and
possible seizure activity on about the second or third day following cessation of
prolonged alcohol consumption.
Which client statement demonstrates positive progress toward recovery from substance
abuse?
A. "I have completed detox and therefore am in control of my drug use."
B. "I will faithfully attend Narcotic Anonymous (NA) when I can't control my carvings."
C. "As a church deacon, my focus will now be on spiritual renewal."
D. "Taking those pills got out of control. It cost me my job, marriage, and children." -
ANSWERS -ANS: D
2025 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
After a long history of intravenous heroin use, a client has expressed a willingness to
stop using heroin. The nurse would expect the client to receive which medication to
decrease the severity of withdrawal?
a) Methadone
b) Gabapentin (Neurontin)
c) Ondansetron (Zofran)
d) Amphetamines - ANSWERS -a) Methadone
A nurse evaluates a client's patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump and notices 100
attempts within a 30-minute period. Which is the best rationale for assessing this client
for substance dependence?
A. Narcotic pain medication is contraindicated for all clients with active substance abuse
problems.
B. Clients who are dependent on alcohol or benzodiazepines may have developed
cross-tolerance to analgesics and require increased doses to achieve effective pain
control.
C. There is no need to assess the client for substance dependence. There is an obvious
PCA malfunction.
D. The client is experiencing symptoms of withdrawal and needs to be accurately
assessed for lorazepam (Ativan) dosage. - ANSWERS -ANS: B
The nurse should assess the client for substance dependence because clients who are
dependent on alcohol or benzodiazepines may have developed cross-tolerance to
analgesics, and require increased doses to achieve effective pain control. Cross-
tolerance occurs when one drug lessened the client's response to another drug.
What should be the priority nursing diagnosis for a client experiencing alcohol
withdrawal?
A. Risk for injury R/T central nervous system stimulation
B. Disturbed thought processes R/T tactile hallucinations
C. Ineffective coping R/T powerlessness over alcohol use
D. Ineffective denial R/T continued alcohol use despite negative consequences -
ANSWERS -ANS: A
,The priority nursing diagnosis for a client experiencing alcohol withdrawal should be risk
for injury R/T central nervous system stimulation. Alcohol withdrawal may include the
following symptoms: course tremors of hands, tongue, or eyelids; seizures; nausea or
vomiting; malaise or weakness; tachycardia; sweating; elevated blood pressure;
anxiety; depressed mood; hallucinations; headache; and insomnia.
On the first day of a client's alcohol detoxification, which nursing intervention should
take priority?
A. Strongly encourage the client to attend 90 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in 90
days.
B. Educate the client about the biopsychosocial consequences of alcohol abuse.
C. Administer ordered chlordiazepoxide (Librium) in dosage according to protocol.
D. Administer vitamin B1 to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. - ANSWERS -ANS:
C
The priority nursing intervention for this client should be to administer ordered
chlordiazepoxide (Librium) in dosage according to protocol. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
is a benzodiazepine and is often used for substitution therapy in alcohol withdrawal.
Substitution therapy may be required to reduce the life-threatening effects of the
rebound stimulation of the central nervous system that occurs during withdrawal.
Which client statement indicates a knowledge deficit related to substance abuse?
A. "Although it's legal, alcohol is one of the most widely abused drugs in our society."
B. "Tolerance to heroin develops quickly."
C. "Flashbacks from LSD use may reoccur spontaneously."
D. "Marijuana is like smoking cigarettes. Everyone does it. It's essentially harmless." -
ANSWERS -ANS: D
The nurse should determine that the client has a knowledge deficit related to substance
abuse when the client compares marijuana to smoking cigarettes and claims it to be
harmless. Cannabis is the second most widely abused drug in the United States.
A lonely, depressed divorcée has been self-medicating with cocaine for the past year.
Which term should a nurse use to best describe this individual's situation?
A. The individual is experiencing psychological dependency.
B. The individual is experiencing physical dependency.
C. The individual is experiencing substance dependency.
D. The individual is experiencing social dependency. - ANSWERS -ANS: A
The nurse should use the term "psychological dependency" to best describe this client's
situation. A client is considered to be psychologically dependent on a substance when
there is an overwhelming desire to use a substance in order to produce pleasure or
avoid discomfort.
Which term should a nurse use to describe the administration of a central nervous
system (CNS) depressant during alcohol withdrawal?
, A. Antagonist therapy
B. Deterrent therapy
C. Codependency therapy
D. Substitution therapy - ANSWERS -ANS: D
A CNS depressant such as Ativan is used during alcohol withdrawal as substitution
therapy to prevent life-threatening symptoms that occur because of the rebound
reaction of the central nervous system.
A client diagnosed with chronic alcohol dependency is being discharged from an
inpatient treatment facility after detoxification. Which client outcome related to
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) would be most appropriate for a nurse to discuss with the
client during discharge teaching?
A. After discharge, the client will immediately attend 90 AA meetings in 90 days.
B. After discharge, the client will rely on an AA sponsor to help control alcohol cravings.
C. After discharge, the client will incorporate family in AA attendance.
D. After discharge, the client will seek appropriate deterrent medications through AA. -
ANSWERS -ANS: A
The most appropriate client outcome for the nurse to discuss during discharge teaching
is attending 90 AA meetings in 90 days after discharge. AA is a major self-help
organization for the treatment of alcoholism. It accepts alcoholism as an illness and
promotes total abstinence as the only cure.
A client with a history of heavy alcohol use is brought to an emergency department (ED)
by family members who state that the client has had nothing to drink in the last 24
hours. Which client symptom should the nurse immediately report to the ED physician?
A. Tactile hallucinations
B. Blood pressure of 180/100 mm Hg
C. Mood rating of 2/10 on a numeric scale
D. Dehydration - ANSWERS -ANS: B
The nurse should recognize that high blood pressure is a symptom of alcohol
withdrawal and should promptly report this finding to the physician. Complications
associated with alcohol withdrawal may progress to alcohol withdrawal delirium and
possible seizure activity on about the second or third day following cessation of
prolonged alcohol consumption.
Which client statement demonstrates positive progress toward recovery from substance
abuse?
A. "I have completed detox and therefore am in control of my drug use."
B. "I will faithfully attend Narcotic Anonymous (NA) when I can't control my carvings."
C. "As a church deacon, my focus will now be on spiritual renewal."
D. "Taking those pills got out of control. It cost me my job, marriage, and children." -
ANSWERS -ANS: D
