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

A patient answers a question about breakfast: "Eggs come from chickens, chickens live on farms, my uncle had a farm, he drove a red tractor…" and never answers. What is this called?

  1. AWord salad
  2. BThought blocking
  3. CCircumstantiality
  4. DTangentiality
2.Mental health nursingHard

A patient with bulimia nervosa has a serum potassium of 2.8 mmol/L. What is the main concern?

  1. AIncreased appetite
  2. BA risk of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias
  3. CA risk of weight gain
  4. DImproved muscle strength
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase serotonin in the synapse by:

  1. ASpeeding up the breakdown of serotonin by monoamine oxidase enzymes
  2. BBlocking dopamine release
  3. CDestroying serotonin receptors
  4. DBlocking the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic neuron
4.Clinical psychologyHard

Learned helplessness (Seligman) was proposed as a model for:

  1. ASchizophrenia
  2. BAutism spectrum disorder
  3. CDepression
  4. DSpecific phobias
5.PharmacologyMedium

A patient has oral mucositis after chemotherapy. Which advice is appropriate?

  1. ABrush hard with a firm toothbrush to remove debris
  2. BUse an alcohol-based mouthwash several times a day to kill germs
  3. CEat spicy and acidic foods to stimulate healing
  4. DUse a soft toothbrush and rinse with saline or a bland mouthwash
6.PharmacologyHard

A patient with latent tuberculosis feels well and is not infectious. Why is treatment such as isoniazid still offered?

  1. ATo produce a negative skin test quickly
  2. BTo prevent progression to active TB later
  3. CTo stop the patient spreading TB at the moment
  4. DTo cure an active lung infection

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: D · Tangentiality

Why this is the answer

In tangentiality, the speaker drifts away and never reaches the point. In circumstantiality, there are many unnecessary details but the speaker eventually answers. Word salad is a meaningless mix of words.

Answer

D · Tangentiality
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: B · A risk of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias

Why this is the answer

Repeated vomiting causes hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis. A potassium of 2.8 mmol/L is dangerously low and can cause arrhythmias. The patient needs cardiac monitoring and potassium replacement as prescribed.

Answer

B · A risk of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: D · Blocking the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic neuron

Why this is the answer

SSRIs block the serotonin transporter, so serotonin stays longer in the synaptic cleft. Clinical effects usually take several weeks.

Answer

D · Blocking the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic neuron
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · Depression

Why this is the answer

After uncontrollable aversive events, animals and people may stop trying even when escape becomes possible, resembling the passivity and hopelessness of depression.

Answer

C · Depression
5.Pharmacology

Answer: D · Use a soft toothbrush and rinse with saline or a bland mouthwash

Why this is the answer

Chemotherapy damages rapidly dividing mucosal cells. Gentle oral care, saline rinses and avoiding alcohol, spicy and acidic foods reduce pain and infection risk.

Answer

D · Use a soft toothbrush and rinse with saline or a bland mouthwash
6.Pharmacology

Answer: B · To prevent progression to active TB later

Why this is the answer

People with latent TB carry dormant bacteria that can reactivate, especially if immunity weakens. Treatment reduces the risk of active disease, which would be infectious.

Answer

B · To prevent progression to active TB later

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