NUR 190 Mental Health Nursing

The Correct Answer is:

D. He is fearful of what his roommate might do to him while he’s asleep

Detailed Explanation:

In a psychiatric or unfamiliar hospital environment, suspiciousness or paranoia can cause a client to remain awake and hypervigilant. Being placed with a roommate may heighten feelings of fear, mistrust, or insecurity, leading to insomnia. The client’s wakefulness is most likely due to fear of potential harm rather than ordinary worry or sleep habits. This behavior warrants further assessment for paranoid ideation or psychotic symptoms to ensure safety and provide appropriate therapeutic interventions.

The Correct Answer is:

C. Dopamine

Detailed Explanation:

Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter responsible for regulating movement, coordination, and emotional responses. In Parkinson’s disease, dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra degenerate, leading to motor symptoms like tremors, muscle rigidity, and slow movement. Restoring dopamine balance through medications such as levodopa-carbidopa helps relieve these symptoms. Norepinephrine and epinephrine are involved in the body’s stress response, while GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety.

The Correct Answer is:

B. Word salad

Detailed Explanation:

Word salad refers to a disorganized, incoherent mixture of words and phrases that lack logical connection or meaning. It is a severe form of disordered thinking often seen in clients with schizophrenia. This speech disturbance reflects a breakdown in thought organization, making communication nearly impossible to follow. In contrast, loose associations involve illogical connections between ideas, tangential thinking means never reaching the point, and flight of ideas is rapid shifting from topic to topic.

The Correct Answer is:

A. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Detailed Explanation:

Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is a central nervous system stimulant commonly prescribed for children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It improves focus, attention span, and impulse control while reducing hyperactivity. The medication works by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain, which enhances attention and behavioral regulation. The other drugs listed—Haloperidol, Imipramine, and Fluphenazine—are used for psychotic or depressive disorders, not for ADHD management.

The Correct Answer is:

B. Paranoid

Detailed Explanation:

Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive distrust and suspicion of others, leading individuals to interpret benign remarks or actions as hostile or malicious. These clients are often guarded, hypersensitive, and unwilling to share personal information due to fear of betrayal. In contrast, schizotypal personality disorder involves eccentric behavior and odd beliefs, histrionic focuses on attention-seeking and dramatic emotions, and narcissistic features grandiosity and a lack of empathy for others.

The Correct Answer is:

C. Auditory hallucinations

Detailed Explanation:

Auditory hallucinations are the most common type of hallucination in schizophrenia and involve hearing sounds or voices that are not real. Clients often perceive voices commenting on their behavior, issuing commands, or insulting them. This symptom reflects a disturbance in sensory perception linked to altered brain function. Visual hallucinations involve seeing things, tactile involve sensations on the skin, and olfactory involve smelling odors that are not present.

The Correct Answer is:

B. Borderline

Detailed Explanation:

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is marked by emotional instability, impulsivity, intense but unstable relationships, and chronic fear of abandonment. Clients may alternate between idealizing and devaluing others, display self-destructive behaviors, and struggle with identity. Unlike antisocial personality disorder, which involves disregard for others’ rights, or histrionic, which centers on attention-seeking, borderline personality is primarily defined by unstable emotions and relationships. Dependent personality disorder involves submissive behavior and excessive need for reassurance.

The Correct Answer is:

A. Suicide

Detailed Explanation:

The primary concern for clients taking antidepressants, especially in the early stages of treatment, is the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. As energy and motivation begin to improve before mood fully stabilizes, clients may be more capable of acting on suicidal impulses. Close monitoring, frequent follow-up, and safety assessments are essential during the first few weeks of therapy. Families and caregivers should also be educated to watch for signs of agitation, restlessness, or worsening depression.

The Correct Answers are:

A and D

A. "You may leave the hospital at any time unless you are suicidal, homicidal, or unable to meet your basic needs."

Detailed Explanation:

This statement is correct because clients admitted voluntarily have the right to request discharge at any time. However, discharge can be delayed if the healthcare team determines the client is a danger to self, others, or unable to care for basic needs. This ensures the client’s safety before leaving the facility.

D. "Because you could hurt yourself, you must be safe before being discharged."

Detailed Explanation:

This statement is correct because ensuring client safety is the top priority in mental health care. Even voluntarily admitted clients cannot leave the hospital if they are suicidal, homicidal, or unsafe. The nurse must verify stability and readiness for discharge to prevent harm and promote recovery.