A patient asks the nurse, “Why did my health care provider prescribe buspirone (Buspar) for my anxiety instead of diazepam (Valium)?” The nurse’s reply is based on the knowledge of which characteristic of buspirone?
It can be administered as needed
It is faster acting than diazepam
It may produce blood dyscrasias
It is not known to cause dependence
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Buspirone is not used as needed; it requires weeks for serotonin modulation to reduce anxiety. Diazepam’s rapid GABA enhancement suits acute use. Buspirone’s chronic dosing schedule makes this characteristic incorrect for explaining its preference over diazepam for long-term anxiety management.
Choice B reason: Buspirone is slower-acting, taking weeks to enhance serotonin activity, unlike diazepam’s rapid GABA-mediated effects. For anxiety driven by amygdala hyperactivity, diazepam acts faster, making buspirone’s slower onset an incorrect reason for its prescription over diazepam in this context.
Choice C reason: Blood dyscrasias are not a known side effect of buspirone, which primarily affects serotonin receptors. This is unrelated to its preference over diazepam, which carries dependence risks. This characteristic is inaccurate and irrelevant to the rationale for choosing buspirone.
Choice D reason: Buspirone’s lack of dependence risk, unlike diazepam’s GABA-mediated addiction potential, makes it safer for long-term anxiety management. By enhancing serotonin in the prefrontal cortex, it reduces chronic anxiety without habit-forming effects, aligning with its preference for sustained treatment, making this the correct reason.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Freedom from restraints or seclusion is a recognized right unless safety is compromised. Restraints, used for severe agitation linked to dopamine or serotonin imbalances, must be justified and minimized to respect patient dignity, aligning with ethical standards in mental health care, making this a valid right.
Choice B reason: Refusing treatment in emergencies, such as acute psychosis with safety risks, is not a right. Emergency interventions, like antipsychotics for dopamine-driven hallucinations, prioritize safety over autonomy. Legal frameworks allow treatment without consent in such cases, making this an incorrect right, requiring further discussion.
Choice C reason: Access to mental health records is a patient right, supporting autonomy and transparency. Understanding one’s diagnosis, like serotonin-related depression, empowers informed decisions. This right is protected under health privacy laws, ensuring patients can review their neurobiological and treatment data, making it a valid right.
Choice D reason: An individualized treatment plan is a right, ensuring care tailored to specific neurobiological needs, like dopamine modulation in schizophrenia. This promotes effective treatment and patient involvement, aligning with ethical standards. It is a recognized right in mental health care, not requiring further discussion.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Intervening in self-harm prioritizes beneficence, ensuring safety, over autonomy. Self-mutilation, often linked to dysregulated serotonin or impulsivity, requires immediate action to prevent harm, overriding patient choice. Autonomy is secondary when safety is at risk, making this an incorrect application of the principle.
Choice B reason: Exploring medication options respects autonomy by involving patients in decisions, aligning with their values. This considers individual neurobiological responses (e.g., serotonin reuptake variations) and preferences, empowering informed choice. Autonomy emphasizes patient control over treatment, making this the correct approach for ethical psychiatric care.
Choice C reason: Restricting patients for fighting prioritizes safety and unit order, not autonomy. Conflict may stem from emotional dysregulation or neurotransmitter imbalances, but restricting movement limits patient choice. This action reflects beneficence or justice, not autonomy, making it an incorrect choice for this ethical principle.
Choice D reason: Staying with an anxious patient supports emotional regulation, possibly linked to GABA deficits, but emphasizes beneficence over autonomy. While supportive, it does not involve patient decision-making. Autonomy requires empowering patient choice, not just presence, making this an incorrect application of the ethical principle.
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