Practice Question
A client with major depressive disorder has been taking fluoxetine, an SSRI, for 5 weeks. During the first outpatient visit, the client smiles and states, "l feel like a great weight is off my chest." How should the nurse interpret this behavior change?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
The client's behavioral change is expected after the time period of medication.
Rationale:
💠 Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which typically requires 4 to 6 weeks to produce therapeutic effects in clients with major depressive disorder.
💠 Improvement in mood, energy, and outlook is expected and should be viewed as a positive treatment response, especially around the fifth week.
💠 The client’s statement suggests symptom relief, consistent with the expected pharmacologic timeline of SSRIs.
💠 This behavioral change indicates that the medication is effective, and the client is likely transitioning into recovery.
💠 Monitoring should continue, but the smile and statement reflect improvement, not an immediate red flag.
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This question is from RN ATI N200 Mental Health Exam 2 which contains 62 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Mental Health
- Answer Choices: 4