Mental Health Nursing: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 6 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Mental health nursing

Method

  1. Decide whether there is an immediate risk: suicide, violence, a drug emergency or a physical illness.
  2. Act on safety first: observe, remove means, de-escalate, stop a harmful drug, get help.
  3. Choose the therapeutic response: acknowledge feelings, present reality, avoid false reassurance and “why” questions.
  4. Respect rights: the least restrictive option, consent and confidentiality with its limits.

2Practice problems

1.Mental health nursingMedium

Which statement about buspirone for anxiety is correct?

  1. AIt is highly addictive
  2. BIt must be taken with alcohol
  3. CIt takes weeks to work and is not useful as an as-needed drug
  4. DIt works within minutes during a panic attack, like a benzodiazepine
2.Mental health nursingHard

Five days after starting haloperidol, a patient has a temperature of 40 °C, rigid limbs, confusion, fluctuating blood pressure and sweating. What should the nurse do first?

  1. AWithhold the antipsychotic and get urgent medical help
  2. BGive paracetamol for the fever and recheck the observations in 4 hours
  3. CGive another dose of haloperidol to calm him
  4. DEncourage him to exercise to reduce stiffness
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

Which criterion of abnormality judges behaviour as abnormal when it is rare in the population?

  1. AFailure to function adequately
  2. BDeviation from social norms
  3. CStatistical infrequency
  4. DDeviation from ideal mental health
4.Clinical psychologyHard

Why is the medical model of mental illness criticised by proponents of the psychological approaches?

  1. AIt may overlook psychological and social causes and reduce people's sense of agency
  2. BIt is based only on dream analysis
  3. CIt denies that the brain and biological factors have any role in behaviour or emotion
  4. DIt rejects the use of medication entirely
5.PharmacologyMedium

Which receptor do beta blockers such as metoprolol mainly block?

  1. AMuscarinic receptors in the heart
  2. BAlpha-1 receptors in blood vessels
  3. CBeta-3 receptors in fat tissue
  4. DBeta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart
6.PharmacologyHard

A patient on digoxin and furosemide develops nausea, visual disturbances and an irregular pulse. Which electrolyte disturbance most likely made digoxin toxicity more likely?

  1. AHypokalaemia
  2. BHyperkalaemia
  3. CHypocalcaemia
  4. DHypernatraemia

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: C · It takes weeks to work and is not useful as an as-needed drug

Why this is the answer

Buspirone has little sedation and low dependence risk, but its effect builds up over weeks. It is taken regularly, not as needed.

Answer

C · It takes weeks to work and is not useful as an as-needed drug
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: A · Withhold the antipsychotic and get urgent medical help

Why this is the answer

These findings suggest neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Stop the antipsychotic, call for urgent medical review, start cooling and supportive care, and monitor vital signs, kidney function and CK.

Answer

A · Withhold the antipsychotic and get urgent medical help
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · Statistical infrequency

Why this is the answer

Statistical infrequency defines abnormality as behaviour far from the average. Its weakness is that some rare traits, such as very high IQ, are desirable.

Answer

C · Statistical infrequency
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: A · It may overlook psychological and social causes and reduce people's sense of agency

Why this is the answer

The medical model treats disorders as illnesses with biological causes, which reduces blame but can neglect life events, meaning and context, and may encourage passive reliance on drugs.

Answer

A · It may overlook psychological and social causes and reduce people's sense of agency
5.Pharmacology

Answer: D · Beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart

Why this is the answer

Cardioselective beta blockers block beta-1 receptors, lowering heart rate, contractility and renin release.

Answer

D · Beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart
6.Pharmacology

Answer: A · Hypokalaemia

Why this is the answer

Digoxin binds the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase at the same site as potassium. Low potassium, often caused by loop or thiazide diuretics, increases digoxin binding and toxicity.

Answer

A · Hypokalaemia

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