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

Which monitoring is especially important for patients on second-generation antipsychotics such as olanzapine?

  1. AWeight, waist circumference, blood glucose and lipids
  2. BPlatelet count only
  3. CHearing and eyesight only, as these are most affected by the drug
  4. DBone density only
2.Mental health nursingHard

A patient who has taken haloperidol for many years now has repeated lip smacking and tongue movements. Which action is most appropriate?

  1. AIncrease the haloperidol dose, because a higher dose suppresses the abnormal movements of the mouth and tongue
  2. BReassure the patient that the movements will soon stop on their own
  3. CGive benztropine, because it reliably reverses these movements
  4. DReport the movements, assess them with a scale such as the AIMS and ask for a medication review
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

A client says "I failed one test, so I will fail everything." Which cognitive distortion is this?

  1. AMind reading
  2. BPersonalisation
  3. COvergeneralisation
  4. DEmotional reasoning
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, stable and global
  2. BExternal, stable and specific
  3. CInternal, unstable and specific
  4. DExternal, unstable and specific
5.PharmacologyMedium

Which fraction of a drug in plasma can reach the receptor and produce an effect?

  1. AThe unbound (free) fraction
  2. BThe fraction stored in red blood cells
  3. CThe fraction bound to albumin
  4. DThe fraction bound to globulins
6.PharmacologyHard

A patient's record shows anaphylaxis to penicillin. Amoxicillin has been prescribed. What should the nurse do?

  1. AGive half the dose and observe for a reaction
  2. BWithhold it and contact the prescriber, as amoxicillin is a penicillin
  3. CGive the amoxicillin with an antihistamine to prevent a reaction
  4. DGive the amoxicillin, as it belongs to a different antibiotic group

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: A · Weight, waist circumference, blood glucose and lipids

Why this is the answer

Many second-generation antipsychotics cause weight gain, insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. Metabolic monitoring is done at baseline and regularly during treatment.

Answer

A · Weight, waist circumference, blood glucose and lipids
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: D · Report the movements, assess them with a scale such as the AIMS and ask for a medication review

Why this is the answer

These are signs of tardive dyskinesia, which can be permanent. Early detection and review of the antipsychotic are key; anticholinergic drugs do not treat tardive dyskinesia and may worsen it.

Answer

D · Report the movements, assess them with a scale such as the AIMS and ask for a medication review
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · Overgeneralisation

Why this is the answer

Overgeneralisation draws a sweeping conclusion from a single event. Beck's cognitive therapy teaches clients to notice and test such distortions.

Answer

C · Overgeneralisation
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: A · 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

A · Internal, stable and global
5.Pharmacology

Answer: A · The unbound (free) fraction

Why this is the answer

Only the free drug can diffuse into tissues, act on receptors and be metabolised or excreted. Protein-bound drug acts as a reservoir.

Answer

A · The unbound (free) fraction
6.Pharmacology

Answer: B · Withhold it and contact the prescriber, as amoxicillin is a penicillin

Why this is the answer

Amoxicillin is a penicillin, so it must not be given to someone with penicillin anaphylaxis. The nurse holds the dose, informs the prescriber and makes sure the allergy is clearly recorded.

Answer

B · Withhold it and contact the prescriber, as amoxicillin is a penicillin

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