certification Exam Questions With Correct Answers
]1. Psychiatric Nursing Study Guide: Summaries & Key Points
Topic: Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders
Overview: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health condition that affects a person's ability to think, feel,
and behave clearly. It's characterized by episodes of psychosis, hallucinations, and delusions.
Key Points:
Symptoms:
o Positive symptoms: Hallucinations (auditory, visual), delusions, disorganized thinking.
o Negative symptoms: Flattened affect, anhedonia, social withdrawal.
o Cognitive symptoms: Impaired memory, difficulty concentrating.
Nursing Interventions:
o Establish a trusting relationship, maintaining clear and direct communication.
o Monitor and assess for hallucinations or delusions; avoid reinforcing delusional thinking.
o Ensure the client has a safe environment during acute psychosis episodes.
o Educate on medication compliance, particularly with antipsychotics such as Risperidone
and Clozapine.
Pharmacological Treatment:
o First-generation antipsychotics (e.g., Haloperidol) target positive symptoms but may
cause extrapyramidal side effects (EPS).
o Second-generation antipsychotics (e.g., Clozapine, Risperidone) are preferred due to
fewer motor side effects.
Example Nursing Exam Questions:
1. What is the primary concern when a patient with schizophrenia experiences auditory
hallucinations?
o Answer: Safety, as the patient may be at risk for self-harm or harm to others depending
on the nature of the hallucination.
2. What is the rationale behind using Clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia?