Mental Health Nursing: cram pack

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

New problemsBack to the course

In the print window, choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy on your device.

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

A 78-year-old woman who started citalopram two weeks ago is newly confused and drowsy. Which laboratory result would best explain this?

  1. AA low serum sodium
  2. BA high serum potassium
  3. CA high haemoglobin
  4. DA low serum cholesterol
2.Mental health nursingHard

A patient being treated for opioid dependence is about to receive his first dose of buprenorphine. He last used heroin 2 hours ago. What is the risk?

  1. ABuprenorphine will add to the heroin and cause a dangerous opioid overdose with respiratory depression
  2. BBuprenorphine will have no effect at all
  3. CBuprenorphine can cause precipitated withdrawal if given while full agonists are still active
  4. DThere is no risk; it should be given at once
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

Which personality disorder is marked by instability in relationships, self-image and emotions, together with marked impulsivity?

  1. ASchizoid personality disorder
  2. BBorderline personality disorder
  3. CAvoidant personality disorder
  4. DNarcissistic personality disorder
4.Clinical psychologyHard

In Seligman's later reformulation of learned helplessness (Abramson, Seligman and Teasdale), depression is most likely when people attribute negative events to causes that are:

  1. AInternal, unstable and specific
  2. BExternal, stable and specific
  3. CInternal, stable and global
  4. DExternal, unstable and specific
5.PharmacologyMedium

Long-term use of metformin can cause a deficiency of which vitamin?

  1. AVitamin K
  2. BVitamin B12
  3. CVitamin D
  4. DVitamin A
6.PharmacologyHard

A baby born to a mother on methadone becomes irritable on day 2, with a high-pitched cry, tremors, sneezing and poor feeding. What is the most likely cause?

  1. ANeonatal hypoglycaemia from maternal diabetes
  2. BNormal newborn behaviour
  3. CNeonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
  4. DVitamin K deficiency bleeding

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: A · A low serum sodium

Why this is the answer

SSRIs can cause hyponatraemia through SIADH, especially in older adults. Confusion, falls and drowsiness after starting an SSRI should prompt a sodium check.

Answer

A · A low serum sodium
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: C · Buprenorphine can cause precipitated withdrawal if given while full agonists are still active

Why this is the answer

Buprenorphine displaces full agonists from opioid receptors but activates them less, causing sudden withdrawal. It is usually started when the patient already shows signs of withdrawal, assessed for example with a withdrawal scale.

Answer

C · Buprenorphine can cause precipitated withdrawal if given while full agonists are still active
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: B · Borderline personality disorder

Why this is the answer

Borderline personality disorder involves unstable relationships and identity, affective instability, fear of abandonment, impulsivity and recurrent self-harm. DBT is a well-supported treatment.

Answer

B · Borderline personality disorder
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · Internal, stable and global

Why this is the answer

The attributional reformulation proposed that a depressive attributional style explains bad events by internal, stable and global causes, which leads to hopelessness.

Answer

C · Internal, stable and global
5.Pharmacology

Answer: B · Vitamin B12

Why this is the answer

Metformin reduces vitamin B12 absorption in the ileum. Deficiency can cause anaemia and neuropathy, so levels may be checked in long-term users.

Answer

B · Vitamin B12
6.Pharmacology

Answer: C · Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome

Why this is the answer

After birth the baby no longer receives opioid from the mother and develops withdrawal. Assessment uses a scoring tool, with non-drug care first and opioid treatment if signs are severe.

Answer

C · Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome

ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/mental-health-nursing