NSG 552 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1 10/29/2025
NSG 552 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (2025-
2026) ACCURATE EXAM GRADED A+
1. A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression is a chemical
disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on the theory that depression primarily
involves which of the following neurotransmitters?
a. Cortisol and GABA
b. COMT and glutamate
c. Monamine and glycine
d. Serotonin and norepinephrine: d. Serotonin and norepinephrine
2. A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular 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 patients blood pressure
d. Comparing the patients grip strength in both: b. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
3. The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are always
prescribed by the doctor. The nurses answer will be based on information that the therapeutic action of
psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
a. The temporal lobe; especially Wernickes area
b. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
d. The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to the psychotropic medications-: c. The regulation of
neurotransmitters especially dopamine
, NSG 552 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1 10/29/2025
4. A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle with
understanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The mentor would base a
response on the understanding that it is: a. Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus
primarily on behavioral interventions
b. A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently use in their practice
c. Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain trauma caused cognitive
symptoms
d. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those experiencing psychiatric
disorders: d. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those experiencing
psychiatric disorders
5. A patient asks the nurse, My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her chronic
depression? Which response is supported by research data?
a. Too much stress has been proven to cause all kinds of cancer.
b. There have been no research studies done on stress and disease yet.
c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
d. There appears to be little connection between stress and diseases of the body: c. Stress does
cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
6. A patient who has a parietal lobe injury is being evaluated for psychiatric rehabilitation needs.
Of the aspects of functioning listed, which will the nurse identify as a focus of nursing intervention?
a. Expression of emotion
b. Detecting auditory stimuli
c. Receiving visual images
d. Processing associations: d. Processing associations
7. At admission, the nurse learns that some time ago the patient had an infarct in the right
cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find that the patient:
a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech
b. Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
, NSG 552 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1 10/29/2025
c. Has difficulty explaining how to go about using the telephone
d. Cannot use his right hand to shave himself or comb his own: b. Is unable to effectively hold a
spoon in the left hand
8. A patient with chronic schizophrenia had a stroke involving the hippocampus. The patient will be
discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need to individualize the patients medication
teaching by:
a. Including the patients caregiver in the education b. Being careful to stress the importance of
taking the medication as prescribed
c. Providing the education at a time when the patient is emotionally calm and relaxed
d. Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with swallowing: a.
Including the patients caregiver in the education
9. The physician tells the nurse, The medication Im prescribing for the patient enhances the g-
aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. Which patient behavior will provide evidence that the medication
therapy is successful?
a. The patient is actively involved in playing cards with other patients.
b. The patient reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of days ago.
c. The patient reports that both auditory and visual hallucinations have de-creased.
d. The patient says that, I am much happier than before I came to the hospi-tal.: b. The patient
reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of days ago.
10. The patients family asks whether a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease creates an increased risk for
any mental health issues. What question would the nurse ask to assess for such a comorbid condition?
a. Has your father exhibited any signs of depression?
b. Does your father seem to experience mood swings?
c. Have you noticed your father talking about seeing things you cant see?
d. Is your dad preoccupied with behaviors that he needs to repeat over and over?: a. Has your
father exhibited any signs of depression?
11. Which explanation for the prescription of donepezil (Aricept) would the nurse provide for a
patient in the early stage of Alzheimers disease?
, NSG 552 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1 10/29/2025
a. It will increase the metabolism of excess GABA.
b. Excess dopamine will be prevented from attaching to receptor sites.
c. Serotonin deficiency will be managed through a prolonged reuptake period.
d. The acetylcholine deficiency will be managed by inhibiting cholinesterase.-: d. The acetylcholine
deficiency will be managed by inhibiting cholinesterase.
12. There remains a stigma attached to psychiatric illnesses. The psychiatric nurse makes the
greatest impact on this sociological problem when:
a. Providing educational programming for patients and the public
b. Arranging for adequate and appropriate social support for the patient
c. Assisting the patient to achieve the maximum level of independent function-ing
d. Regularly praising the patient for seeking and complying with appropriate treatment:
a. Providing educational programming for patients and the public
13. The wife of a patient with paranoid schizophrenia tells the nurse, Ive learned that my husband has
several close relatives with the same disorder. Does this problem run in families? The response based on
recent discoveries in the field of genetics would be:
a. Your children should be monitored closely for the disorder.
b. Research tends to support a familiar tendency to schizophrenia.
c. There is no concrete evidence; it is just as likely a coincidence.
d. Only bipolar disorder has been identified to have a genetic: b. Research tends to support a
familiar tendency to schizophrenia.
14. A patient whose symptoms of mild depression have been managed with antidepressants is
concerned about the affect of accepting a promotion that will require working the night shift. What will
be the basis of the response the nurse gives to address the patients concern?
a. The connection between a new job and possible depression does exist.
b. The medication can be adjusted to manage any increase in depression.
c. The interruption in normal wake-sleep patterns can influence mood disor-ders.
d. The change in sleep routine can be managed with a healthy sleep hygiene routine.: c. The
interruption in normal wake-sleep patterns can influence mood disorders.
NSG 552 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (2025-
2026) ACCURATE EXAM GRADED A+
1. A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression is a chemical
disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on the theory that depression primarily
involves which of the following neurotransmitters?
a. Cortisol and GABA
b. COMT and glutamate
c. Monamine and glycine
d. Serotonin and norepinephrine: d. Serotonin and norepinephrine
2. A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular 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 patients blood pressure
d. Comparing the patients grip strength in both: b. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
3. The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are always
prescribed by the doctor. The nurses answer will be based on information that the therapeutic action of
psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
a. The temporal lobe; especially Wernickes area
b. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
d. The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to the psychotropic medications-: c. The regulation of
neurotransmitters especially dopamine
, NSG 552 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1 10/29/2025
4. A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle with
understanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The mentor would base a
response on the understanding that it is: a. Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus
primarily on behavioral interventions
b. A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently use in their practice
c. Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain trauma caused cognitive
symptoms
d. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those experiencing psychiatric
disorders: d. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those experiencing
psychiatric disorders
5. A patient asks the nurse, My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her chronic
depression? Which response is supported by research data?
a. Too much stress has been proven to cause all kinds of cancer.
b. There have been no research studies done on stress and disease yet.
c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
d. There appears to be little connection between stress and diseases of the body: c. Stress does
cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
6. A patient who has a parietal lobe injury is being evaluated for psychiatric rehabilitation needs.
Of the aspects of functioning listed, which will the nurse identify as a focus of nursing intervention?
a. Expression of emotion
b. Detecting auditory stimuli
c. Receiving visual images
d. Processing associations: d. Processing associations
7. At admission, the nurse learns that some time ago the patient had an infarct in the right
cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find that the patient:
a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech
b. Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
, NSG 552 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1 10/29/2025
c. Has difficulty explaining how to go about using the telephone
d. Cannot use his right hand to shave himself or comb his own: b. Is unable to effectively hold a
spoon in the left hand
8. A patient with chronic schizophrenia had a stroke involving the hippocampus. The patient will be
discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need to individualize the patients medication
teaching by:
a. Including the patients caregiver in the education b. Being careful to stress the importance of
taking the medication as prescribed
c. Providing the education at a time when the patient is emotionally calm and relaxed
d. Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with swallowing: a.
Including the patients caregiver in the education
9. The physician tells the nurse, The medication Im prescribing for the patient enhances the g-
aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. Which patient behavior will provide evidence that the medication
therapy is successful?
a. The patient is actively involved in playing cards with other patients.
b. The patient reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of days ago.
c. The patient reports that both auditory and visual hallucinations have de-creased.
d. The patient says that, I am much happier than before I came to the hospi-tal.: b. The patient
reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of days ago.
10. The patients family asks whether a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease creates an increased risk for
any mental health issues. What question would the nurse ask to assess for such a comorbid condition?
a. Has your father exhibited any signs of depression?
b. Does your father seem to experience mood swings?
c. Have you noticed your father talking about seeing things you cant see?
d. Is your dad preoccupied with behaviors that he needs to repeat over and over?: a. Has your
father exhibited any signs of depression?
11. Which explanation for the prescription of donepezil (Aricept) would the nurse provide for a
patient in the early stage of Alzheimers disease?
, NSG 552 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY EXAM 1 10/29/2025
a. It will increase the metabolism of excess GABA.
b. Excess dopamine will be prevented from attaching to receptor sites.
c. Serotonin deficiency will be managed through a prolonged reuptake period.
d. The acetylcholine deficiency will be managed by inhibiting cholinesterase.-: d. The acetylcholine
deficiency will be managed by inhibiting cholinesterase.
12. There remains a stigma attached to psychiatric illnesses. The psychiatric nurse makes the
greatest impact on this sociological problem when:
a. Providing educational programming for patients and the public
b. Arranging for adequate and appropriate social support for the patient
c. Assisting the patient to achieve the maximum level of independent function-ing
d. Regularly praising the patient for seeking and complying with appropriate treatment:
a. Providing educational programming for patients and the public
13. The wife of a patient with paranoid schizophrenia tells the nurse, Ive learned that my husband has
several close relatives with the same disorder. Does this problem run in families? The response based on
recent discoveries in the field of genetics would be:
a. Your children should be monitored closely for the disorder.
b. Research tends to support a familiar tendency to schizophrenia.
c. There is no concrete evidence; it is just as likely a coincidence.
d. Only bipolar disorder has been identified to have a genetic: b. Research tends to support a
familiar tendency to schizophrenia.
14. A patient whose symptoms of mild depression have been managed with antidepressants is
concerned about the affect of accepting a promotion that will require working the night shift. What will
be the basis of the response the nurse gives to address the patients concern?
a. The connection between a new job and possible depression does exist.
b. The medication can be adjusted to manage any increase in depression.
c. The interruption in normal wake-sleep patterns can influence mood disor-ders.
d. The change in sleep routine can be managed with a healthy sleep hygiene routine.: c. The
interruption in normal wake-sleep patterns can influence mood disorders.
