A patient asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced." Select the nurse’s best response.

How do you feel about having imbalanced neurotransmitters?

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that help your brain communicate; an imbalance can affect mood and behavior

Let’s focus on your medication to fix the imbalance

Your doctor can explain that better than I can

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A reason: Asking about feelings explores emotions but does not address the patient’s question about neurotransmitters. Educational queries require informative responses to enhance understanding, not redirection to feelings, making this choice non-therapeutic and incorrect for the patient’s need.

Choice B reason: Explaining neurotransmitters as brain communication chemicals directly addresses the patient’s question. It provides clear, accurate information about their role in mood and behavior, aligning with patient education principles in psychiatric nursing, making this the correct, informative response.

Choice C reason: Focusing on medication avoids explaining neurotransmitters, failing to address the patient’s educational need. It shifts focus prematurely to treatment, which may confuse the patient, making this response less effective and incorrect for providing the requested information.

Choice D reason: Deferring to the doctor dismisses the nurse’s role in patient education, undermining trust. Nurses are equipped to explain basic concepts like neurotransmitters, and this response fails to meet the patient’s need for understanding, making it non-therapeutic and incorrect.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Administering an antipsychotic without a completed care plan risks inappropriate treatment, as the plan outlines specific needs and interventions. This could lead to adverse effects or mismanagement of the patient’s condition, violating evidence-based practice in psychiatric care, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: Completing the care plan promptly ensures individualized, evidence-based interventions, critical for effective psychiatric treatment. It addresses the patient’s specific needs, guides therapy, and ensures safety, aligning with nursing standards and patient-centered care principles, making this the correct choice for prioritization.

Choice C reason: Transferring the patient to another unit does not address the immediate need for a care plan and may disrupt continuity of care. Staffing issues should be managed locally, and transfer is not a primary solution for incomplete planning, making this choice incorrect.

Choice D reason: Documenting staffing issues, while important for administrative purposes, does not directly address the patient’s immediate care needs. A completed care plan is critical for guiding treatment and ensuring safety, making this choice a lower priority compared to completing the plan.

A. Don’t speak that way. Of course, you will leave here! B. Keep up the good work and you will leave soon C. Everyone feels that way sometimes D. It sounds as though you don’t think you’re making progress?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Dismissing the patient’s feelings by saying they will leave is non-therapeutic, as it invalidates their emotions. Therapeutic communication requires empathy and exploration of feelings, not reassurance that may feel dismissive, as it fails to address the patient’s underlying concerns, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: Encouraging effort with a promise of discharge is overly optimistic and may pressure the patient, ignoring their emotional state. Therapeutic responses focus on understanding feelings, not conditional reassurance, which can undermine trust in psychiatric care, making this response non-therapeutic and incorrect.

Choice C reason: Generalizing the patient’s feelings as common minimizes their unique experience, reducing therapeutic engagement. It fails to explore the patient’s specific concerns or foster a trusting nurse-patient relationship, which is critical in mental health care, making this response non-therapeutic and incorrect.

Choice D reason: Reflecting the patient’s statement by exploring perceived lack of progress demonstrates active listening and empathy, key to therapeutic communication. It encourages the patient to elaborate on feelings, fostering trust and insight, aligning with psychiatric nursing principles, making this the most therapeutic and correct

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A patient asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced." Select the nurse’s best response.

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The plan of care for a patient is not completed within 24 hours of the patient’s admission due to the unit being short-staffed. Which action should the nurse prioritize?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A patient tells the nurse, "I don’t think I’ll ever get out of here." Select the nurse’s most therapeutic response.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A fearful patient has an increased heart rate and blood pressure. The nurse suspects increased activity of which neurotransmitter?

A patient was hospitalized for 24 hours after a reaction to a psychotropic medication. While planning discharge, the nurse learned the patient received a notice of eviction immediately prior to admission. Select the nurse’s most appropriate action.

A patient has acute anxiety related to a car accident. The nurse knows the patient will need teaching about which medication category?

What is an important nursing consideration for patients taking a nonbenzodiazepine such as zolpidem?

The nurse administers a medication that potentiates the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Which effect would be expected?

Silence can be a helpful therapeutic tool for group participants by giving each an opportunity to contemplate what has transpired, weigh alternatives, and formulate ideas. Which statement best supports this?

An adolescent hospitalized after a physical outburst tells the nurse, "I’m going to kill my father, but you can’t tell anyone." Select the nurse’s best response.