The PMHNP is called to the emergency department to evaluate a patient with an acute onset mental status change. The patient has a long history of schizophrenia and has been managed on a variety of antipsychotic therapies that have had some success, but the patient has not ever really achieved goal remission. Most recently he was started on a first generation antipsychotic along with benztropine (Cogentin). Today the patient is in the ED with confusion and muscle stiffness.

Which of the following represents anticipated vital signs?

A. T 103.5o F, P 54 bpm, RR 24 bpm, BP 150/100 mm Hg

B. T 102.5o F, P 129 bpm, RR 22 bpm, BP 170/110 mm Hg

C. T 96.4o F, P 60 bpm, RR 24 bpm, BP 190/120 mm Hg

D. T 98.6o F, P 102 bpm, RR 18 bpm, BP 147/99 mm Hg

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9emyKQQhmYc&list=PLf0PFEPBXfq5HGfNV-GbOlYHtDwd35OeG&index=120

The PMHNP is evaluating a 73-year-old patient who has just been discharged from the hospital after being treated for a urinary tract infection with associated delirium. She has a baseline major neurocognitive disorder and the spouse has been told in the past that the patient cannot take antipsychotics. However, while she was hospitalized she was given an antipsychotic for delirium and it seemed to help a lot. The spouse wants to know why the patient cannot take an antipsychotic for her chronic behavioral symptoms.

The PMHNP knows that the patient most likely has which underlying cause of major neurocognitive disorder?

A. Pick’s disease (FTD)

B. Alzheimer’s disease (AD)

C. Vascular disease (VaD)

D. Parkinson’s disease (PD)

A 3-year-old child is being seen because the daycare facility staff have suggested to the parents that the child is having difficulty interacting with other children. Additionally, the staff have observed that when the child seems to become anxious or upset, he always becomes fixated on stacking building blocks one on top of the other to the extent that he will not acknowledge anyone or anything else.

When the parents ask if their child has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the PMHNP advises the parents that:

A. The repetitive and predictable nature of stacking blocks is calming in children with ASD

B. Stacking blocks is a very typical activity in children at this developmental stage and is not suggestive of ASD.

C. The child should be tested for ASD, but in any event he should be discouraged from using building blocks as a coping mechanism.

D. While the social dysfunction at this age may suggest ASD, the building block activity is not an abnormal finding in a 3-year-old.

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf3inZzulEg&list=PLf0PFEPBXfq5HGfNV-GbOlYHtDwd35OeG&index=118