A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has taken a first generation antipsychotic medication for a year. Hallucinations are less intrusive but the patient continues to have apathy, poverty of thought, and social isolation. The nurse expects a change to which medication?

A) Haloperidol (Haldol)
B) Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
C) Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
D) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

Which patient scenario of a surgical patient in pain is most indicative of critical thinking?

A) Administering pain-relief medication according to what was given last shift
B) Offering pain-relief medication based on the health care provider's orders
C) Asking the patient what pain-relief methods, pharmacological and nonpharmacological, have worked in the past
D) Explaining to the patient that self-reporting of severe pain is not consistent with the minor procedure that was performed

A community psychiatric nurse facilitates medication adherence for a patient by having the health care provider prescribe depot medications by injection every 3 weeks at the clinic. For this plan to be successful, which factor will be of critical importance?

A) Attitude of significant others toward the patient
B) Nutritional services in the patient's neighborhood
C) Level of trust between the patient and the nurse
D) Availability of transportation to the clinic

When assessing a patient's pulse, the nurse should also notice which of these characteristics?

A) Force
B) Pallor
C) Capillary refill time
D) Timing in the cardiac cycle