Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is teaching a client who has depression about a new prescription for fluoxetine 20 mg daily. Which of the following statements by the clients understanding of the teaching?
A. I will notice an improvement in my sex drive"
Fluoxetine and other SSRIs can actually have an impact on sexual desire and function as a side effect, often leading to decreased libido. This statement shows a misunderstanding of the medication's potential effects.
B. I should notify my provider if I develop a skin rash."
Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly used to treat depression. It's important for clients to be aware of potential side effects and know when to notify their healthcare provider. One potential serious side effect is an allergic reaction or skin rash, which could indicate an adverse response to the medication. Therefore, the client's statement about notifying the provider if a skin rash develops demonstrates their understanding of monitoring for potential adverse reactions.
C. "I should expect relief from depression within 3 to 4 days."
"Antidepressant medications like fluoxetine typically take several weeks to start showing significant improvements in symptoms. This statement reflects a misconception about the timeline for therapeutic effects.
D. "I will take my fluoxetine at bedtime so I can sleep better."
"Fluoxetine can have stimulating effects for some individuals, so it's often recommended to take it earlier in the day to avoid interference with sleep. Taking it at bedtime could potentially disrupt sleep rather than improve it.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
Fluoxetine and other SSRIs can actually have an impact on sexual desire and function as a side effect, often leading to decreased libido. This statement shows a misunderstanding of the medication's potential effects.
B. "I should notify my provider if I develop a skin rash."
Explanation: Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly used to treat depression. It's important for clients to be aware of potential side effects and know when to notify their healthcare provider. One potential serious side effect is an allergic reaction or skin rash, which could indicate an adverse response to the medication. Therefore, the client's statement about notifying the provider if a skin rash develops demonstrates their understanding of monitoring for potential adverse reactions.
C. "I should expect relief from depression within 3 to 4 days."
Antidepressant medications like fluoxetine typically take several weeks to start showing significant improvements in symptoms. This statement reflects a misconception about the timeline for therapeutic effects.
D. "I will take my fluoxetine at bedtime so I can sleep better."
Fluoxetine can have stimulating effects for some individuals, so it's often recommended to take it earlier in the day to avoid interference with sleep. Taking it at bedtime could potentially disrupt sleep rather than improve it.
Similar Questions
A nurse is caring for a client who is hospitalized and says to the nurse, "My partner called and told me my boss hired someone to take my place." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
A. "There really isn't much you can do about that until you are discharged."
"There really isn't much you can do about that until you are discharged." - This response dismisses the client's feelings and does not offer any support.
B. "You should call your boss and ask if you can have your job back."
This response is directive and may not address the client's emotional needs.
C. You must feel very concerned and disappointed by that information."
This response shows empathy and acknowledges the client's feelings without making judgments or offering solutions. It validates the client's emotions and opens up a supportive space for further discussion.
D. "I don't understand why your partner would upset you with news like that."
This response may be perceived as judgmental and does not show empathy or understanding.
Full Explanation
A. "There really isn't much you can do about that until you are discharged." - This response dismisses the client's feelings and does not offer any support.
B. "You should call your boss and ask if you can have your job back." - This response is directive and may not address the client's emotional needs.
C. "You must feel very concerned and disappointed by that information."
This response shows empathy and acknowledges the client's feelings without making judgments or offering solutions. It validates the client's emotions and opens up a supportive space for further discussion.
D. "I don't understand why your partner would upset you with news like that." - This response may be perceived as judgmental and does not show empathy or understanding.
A nurse is preparing to administer ziprasidone 10 mg IM every 6 hr. Available is ziprasidone 20 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Full Explanation
To calculate the amount of ziprasidone 10 mg IM from the available concentration of 20 mg/mL, you can use the formula:
Amount (mL) = Desired Dose (mg) / Concentration (mg/mL)
Amount (mL) = 10 mg / 20 mg/mL
Amount (Ml) = 0.5 mL
Therefore, the nurse should administer 0.5 mL of ziprasidone per dose.

A nurse is caring for an adolescent who has a history of violent behavior and has asked the nurse to keep confidential information about he desire to kill several classmates and a school teacher. Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate to give?
A. "I can see that you trust me, but you should share those feelings with your psychiatrist, not me."
"I can see that you trust me, but you should share those feelings with your psychiatrist, not me."While encouraging the client to discuss their feelings with a mental health professional is important, this response does not address the immediate safety concern presented by the client's intent to harm others.
B. I will not violate our nurse-client relationship. The information we discuss will remain confidential between us."
"I will not violate our nurse-client relationship. The information we discuss will remain confidential between us."This response is inappropriate because it implies that the nurse will keep the information confidential, even though the client's statement raises concerns about the safety of others.
C. "Because you are a minor, I have to share any information that I feel is important with your parents."
"Because you are a minor, I have to share any information that I feel is important with your parents."While parents may have the right to be informed about their minor child's well-being, this situation goes beyond parental involvement. The nature of the threat requires immediate intervention from appropriate professionals and authorities. "D. I cannot promise that. I must share this information with other members of the team who are responsible for planning your care." Explanation: The client's statement about having a desire to harm others, especially classmates and a school teacher, raises significant concerns about the safety and well-being of not only the client but also the potential victims. In cases where the client poses a risk of harm to themselves or others, the nurse has a duty to breach confidentiality to ensure the safety of all involved parties. This response conveys the nurse's ethical obligation to involve other members of the treatment team and appropriate authorities to address the potential threat.
D. "I cannot promise that. I must share this information with other members of the team who are responsible for planning your care,"
Full Explanation
A. "I can see that you trust me, but you should share those feelings with your psychiatrist, not me."
While encouraging the client to discuss their feelings with a mental health professional is important, this response does not address the immediate safety concern presented by the client's intent to harm others.
B. "I will not violate our nurse-client relationship. The information we discuss will remain confidential between us."
This response is inappropriate because it implies that the nurse will keep the information confidential, even though the client's statement raises concerns about the safety of others.
C. "Because you are a minor, I have to share any information that I feel is important with your parents."
While parents may have the right to be informed about their minor child's well-being, this situation goes beyond parental involvement. The nature of the threat requires immediate intervention from appropriate professionals and authorities.
"D. I cannot promise that. I must share this information with other members of the team who are responsible for planning your care."
Explanation: The client's statement about having a desire to harm others, especially classmates and a school teacher, raises significant concerns about the safety and well-being of not only the client but also the potential victims. In cases where the client poses a risk of harm to themselves or others, the nurse has a duty to breach confidentiality to ensure the safety of all involved parties. This response conveys the nurse's ethical obligation to involve other members of the treatment team and appropriate authorities to address the potential threat.