Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 80%
Simulated
The nurse in the emergency department (ED) is caring for a client experiencing agitation, anxiety, and hypertension. On assessment, the client has mydriasis and diaphoresis. The nurse suspects that this client may be intoxicated with which substance?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
Agitation, anxiety, hypertension, mydriasis, and diaphoresis are consistent with amphetamine intoxication (C), a stimulant causing sympathetic activation. Opioids (A) cause sedation and miosis, barbiturates (B) cause sedation, and cannabis (D) causes euphoria and conjunctival injection, not hypertension or mydriasis.