MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
NUR 314 MENTAL HEALTH AND
PSYCHIATRIC NURSING FINAL EXAM
GUIDE/2025 VERIFIED STUDY NOTES AND
QUESTIONS
A nurse is administering medications to clients on a psychiatric unit. What does the
nurse identify as the reason that so many psychiatric clients are given the drug
benztropine or trihexyphenidyl in conjunction with the phenothiazine-derivative
neuroleptic medications?
They combat the extrapyramidal side effects of the neuroleptic drug.
Torticollis
acute dystonia that involves muscle spasms of the neck; develops within 1 to 5
days after beginning therapy with a conventional antipsychotic
Tardive dyskinesia
involuntary repetitious tonic muscular spasms that involve the face, tongue, lips,
limbs, and trunk; takes several months to years to develop after the start of therapy
with a conventional antipsychotic
d/c if observed, may be reversible
,MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
Pseudoparkinsonism
extrapyramidal tract response that includes masklike facies, shuffling gait, pill-
rolling tremors, stooped posture, and drooling; develops within several days to 1
month after the start of therapy with a conventional antipsychotic
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
severe, potentially fatal response to conventional antipsychotics
caused by acute reduction in dopamine activity, precipitating
hyperthermia/pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, unstable blood pressure, dyskinesia,
incontinence, decreased level of consciousness
Clozapine
2nd gen atypical antipsychotic drug that is more effective than other second-
generation antipsychotics
Seizures, sedation, and akathisia are common side effects
contraindicated in clients with bone marrow depression
,MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
may cause agranulocytosis, the client's white blood cell (WBC) count should be
monitored weekly. The drug should be discontinued if the count falls below
3,000/mm 3
use with caution in clients with seizures
Isocarboxazid
MAOI
Circulatory collapse is associated with toxicity
fluphenazine
typical antipsychotic
Acute dystonic reactions such as tremors, dyskinesia, and akathisia are observable
side effects
decreased salivating
haloperidol
antipsychotic drug used in the long-term treatment of psychosis
, MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
Gynecomastia is one of the adverse effects of this drug
Potential adverse effects: pseudoparkinsonism and urinary retention related to
extrapyramidal syndrome
Ziprasidone
atypical antipsychotic
contraindicated in clients with a history of dysrhythmias
Akathisia
Motor restlessness
can be treated with an antiparkinsonian or anticholinergic drug while the
antipsychotic medication is continued
acute dystonia
Acute, often painful, sustained contraction of muscles
NUR 314 MENTAL HEALTH AND
PSYCHIATRIC NURSING FINAL EXAM
GUIDE/2025 VERIFIED STUDY NOTES AND
QUESTIONS
A nurse is administering medications to clients on a psychiatric unit. What does the
nurse identify as the reason that so many psychiatric clients are given the drug
benztropine or trihexyphenidyl in conjunction with the phenothiazine-derivative
neuroleptic medications?
They combat the extrapyramidal side effects of the neuroleptic drug.
Torticollis
acute dystonia that involves muscle spasms of the neck; develops within 1 to 5
days after beginning therapy with a conventional antipsychotic
Tardive dyskinesia
involuntary repetitious tonic muscular spasms that involve the face, tongue, lips,
limbs, and trunk; takes several months to years to develop after the start of therapy
with a conventional antipsychotic
d/c if observed, may be reversible
,MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
Pseudoparkinsonism
extrapyramidal tract response that includes masklike facies, shuffling gait, pill-
rolling tremors, stooped posture, and drooling; develops within several days to 1
month after the start of therapy with a conventional antipsychotic
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
severe, potentially fatal response to conventional antipsychotics
caused by acute reduction in dopamine activity, precipitating
hyperthermia/pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, unstable blood pressure, dyskinesia,
incontinence, decreased level of consciousness
Clozapine
2nd gen atypical antipsychotic drug that is more effective than other second-
generation antipsychotics
Seizures, sedation, and akathisia are common side effects
contraindicated in clients with bone marrow depression
,MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
may cause agranulocytosis, the client's white blood cell (WBC) count should be
monitored weekly. The drug should be discontinued if the count falls below
3,000/mm 3
use with caution in clients with seizures
Isocarboxazid
MAOI
Circulatory collapse is associated with toxicity
fluphenazine
typical antipsychotic
Acute dystonic reactions such as tremors, dyskinesia, and akathisia are observable
side effects
decreased salivating
haloperidol
antipsychotic drug used in the long-term treatment of psychosis
, MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
Gynecomastia is one of the adverse effects of this drug
Potential adverse effects: pseudoparkinsonism and urinary retention related to
extrapyramidal syndrome
Ziprasidone
atypical antipsychotic
contraindicated in clients with a history of dysrhythmias
Akathisia
Motor restlessness
can be treated with an antiparkinsonian or anticholinergic drug while the
antipsychotic medication is continued
acute dystonia
Acute, often painful, sustained contraction of muscles
