CHAPTER 11 DRUGS FOR MENTAL HEALTH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | MENTAL
HEALTH PHARMACOLOGY STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
In which time frame would the nurse expect a sedative drug to begin to take effect?
10 to 20 minutes
15 to 30 minutes
30 to 45 minutes
45 to 60 minutes - ANS ✔✔15 to 30 minutes
Which information would the nurse include when teaching a patient about taking an atypical
antipsychotic?
-Continue daily outdoor jogging sessions
-Wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a drug identification (ID) card
-Stop taking after 1 week if symptoms do not improve -Conduct a mental health assessment 2 weeks
after starting the drug - ANS ✔✔Wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a drug identification (ID) card
The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia. Which neurotransmitter would the nurse
expect to be increased with this diagnosis?
Dopamine
Serotonin
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine - ANS ✔✔Dopamine
The nurse would monitor a patient recently prescribed a nonbenzodiazepine for the development of
which clinical manifestation ?
Weakness
Hypertension
Sleepwalking
Orthostatic hypotension - ANS ✔✔Sleepwalking
Which impairment would the nurse be likely to find when assessing a patient with insomnia ?
Speech
Appetite
Elimination
Concentration - ANS ✔✔Concentration
Which information would the nurse include when teaching a patient about taking a benzodiazepine for
sleep ? Select all that apply . One , some , or all responses may be correct .
-Take nightly to enhance sleep
-Take as needed and only for 2 to 3 weeks
-Take with caffeine for a synergistic effect
-Avoid if pregnant or breast - feeding
-Take when at least 5 to 6 hours are immediately available for sleep - ANS ✔✔-Take as needed and only
for 2 to 3 weeks
-Avoid if pregnant or breast - feeding
-Take when at least 5 to 6 hours are immediately available for sleep
, Which manifestation would the nurse assess for in a patient diagnosed with anxiety ? Headache
Bradypnea
Bradycardia
Hypotension - ANS ✔✔Headache
Which manifestation would the nurse assess for in a patient experiencing negative symptoms of
psychosis ?
Lack of motivation
Hallucinations
Disorganized speech Disorganized thinking - ANS ✔✔Lack of motivation
The nurse is reviewing four patients ' lithium level laboratory results . The nurse would consider the
patient with which lithium level to be at maintenance level ?
0.2 to 0.4 mEq / L
0.4 to 0.6 mEq / L
0.8 to 1 mEq / L
1 to 1.2 mEq / L - ANS ✔✔0.8 to 1 mEq / L
In which time frame would the nurse expect a sedative drug to begin to take effect ?
10 to 20 minutes
15 to 30 minutes
30 to 45 minutes
45 to 60 minutes - ANS ✔✔15 to 30 minutes
Which side effect would the nurse include when teaching a patient about taking benzodiazepines
( BNZS ) ? Select all that apply . One , some , or all responses may be correct .
Dry mouth
Memory loss
Sleepwalking
Decreased appetite
Daytime drowsiness - ANS ✔✔Memory loss
Daytime drowsiness
Which condition would the nurse expect to see a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor ( SNRI )
being used to treat ?
Insomnia
Chronic pain
Schizophrenia Smoking cessation - ANS ✔✔Chronic pain
Which drug would the nurse expect to incorporate into the plan of care for a patient who experiences a
benzodiazepine ( BNZ ) overdose ?
Flumazenil
Flurazepam
St. John's wort
Sodium oxybate - ANS ✔✔Flumazenil
HEALTH PHARMACOLOGY STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
In which time frame would the nurse expect a sedative drug to begin to take effect?
10 to 20 minutes
15 to 30 minutes
30 to 45 minutes
45 to 60 minutes - ANS ✔✔15 to 30 minutes
Which information would the nurse include when teaching a patient about taking an atypical
antipsychotic?
-Continue daily outdoor jogging sessions
-Wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a drug identification (ID) card
-Stop taking after 1 week if symptoms do not improve -Conduct a mental health assessment 2 weeks
after starting the drug - ANS ✔✔Wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a drug identification (ID) card
The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia. Which neurotransmitter would the nurse
expect to be increased with this diagnosis?
Dopamine
Serotonin
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine - ANS ✔✔Dopamine
The nurse would monitor a patient recently prescribed a nonbenzodiazepine for the development of
which clinical manifestation ?
Weakness
Hypertension
Sleepwalking
Orthostatic hypotension - ANS ✔✔Sleepwalking
Which impairment would the nurse be likely to find when assessing a patient with insomnia ?
Speech
Appetite
Elimination
Concentration - ANS ✔✔Concentration
Which information would the nurse include when teaching a patient about taking a benzodiazepine for
sleep ? Select all that apply . One , some , or all responses may be correct .
-Take nightly to enhance sleep
-Take as needed and only for 2 to 3 weeks
-Take with caffeine for a synergistic effect
-Avoid if pregnant or breast - feeding
-Take when at least 5 to 6 hours are immediately available for sleep - ANS ✔✔-Take as needed and only
for 2 to 3 weeks
-Avoid if pregnant or breast - feeding
-Take when at least 5 to 6 hours are immediately available for sleep
, Which manifestation would the nurse assess for in a patient diagnosed with anxiety ? Headache
Bradypnea
Bradycardia
Hypotension - ANS ✔✔Headache
Which manifestation would the nurse assess for in a patient experiencing negative symptoms of
psychosis ?
Lack of motivation
Hallucinations
Disorganized speech Disorganized thinking - ANS ✔✔Lack of motivation
The nurse is reviewing four patients ' lithium level laboratory results . The nurse would consider the
patient with which lithium level to be at maintenance level ?
0.2 to 0.4 mEq / L
0.4 to 0.6 mEq / L
0.8 to 1 mEq / L
1 to 1.2 mEq / L - ANS ✔✔0.8 to 1 mEq / L
In which time frame would the nurse expect a sedative drug to begin to take effect ?
10 to 20 minutes
15 to 30 minutes
30 to 45 minutes
45 to 60 minutes - ANS ✔✔15 to 30 minutes
Which side effect would the nurse include when teaching a patient about taking benzodiazepines
( BNZS ) ? Select all that apply . One , some , or all responses may be correct .
Dry mouth
Memory loss
Sleepwalking
Decreased appetite
Daytime drowsiness - ANS ✔✔Memory loss
Daytime drowsiness
Which condition would the nurse expect to see a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor ( SNRI )
being used to treat ?
Insomnia
Chronic pain
Schizophrenia Smoking cessation - ANS ✔✔Chronic pain
Which drug would the nurse expect to incorporate into the plan of care for a patient who experiences a
benzodiazepine ( BNZ ) overdose ?
Flumazenil
Flurazepam
St. John's wort
Sodium oxybate - ANS ✔✔Flumazenil
