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 on an antipsychotic paces constantly and says he cannot sit still. What is this called?

  1. ATardive dyskinesia
  2. BCatatonia
  3. CPseudoparkinsonism
  4. DAkathisia
2.Mental health nursingHard

A patient on suicide precautions asks for his razor to shave. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. AFollow policy, for example by supervising the shave or offering an electric razor
  2. BRefuse, and tell him he cannot shave at all while in hospital
  3. CLet another patient lend him a razor so that staff do not need to be involved and he can keep his privacy
  4. DGive him the razor, because he has the right to his own belongings
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

A person avoids buses, shops, open car parks and queues because escape might be difficult if they panic. Which diagnosis fits best?

  1. AGeneralised anxiety disorder
  2. BAgoraphobia
  3. CSocial anxiety disorder
  4. DClaustrophobia as a specific phobia
4.Clinical psychologyHard

A man who hears the word "thud" is admitted to hospital, then behaves normally. Staff record his note-taking as "engages in writing behaviour". In Rosenhan's study, what does this illustrate?

  1. ANote-taking is a recognised symptom of schizophrenia, so the staff were right to record it as such
  2. BPseudopatients developed real symptoms in hospital
  3. COnce a label is applied, normal behaviour tends to be interpreted as a sign of the disorder
  4. DStaff deliberately falsified records
5.PharmacologyMedium

Which approach is usually recommended to prevent constipation in a patient on regular opioids?

  1. ANo laxative until the patient has not opened the bowels for a week
  2. BAn antidiarrhoeal drug at night to slow the gut
  3. CBulk-forming fibre alone, with fluid intake restricted
  4. DA stimulant laxative such as senna, often with a stool softener
6.PharmacologyHard

A drug is ordered at 5 micrograms/kg/min for an 80 kg patient. The infusion contains 1,600 micrograms per mL. What rate in mL/h is needed?

  1. A4 mL/h
  2. B25 mL/h
  3. C15 mL/h
  4. D150 mL/h

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: D · Akathisia

Why this is the answer

Akathisia is an inner restlessness with an urge to move. It is distressing, can be mistaken for agitation or anxiety and is linked to non-adherence and increased suicide risk.

Answer

D · Akathisia
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: A · Follow policy, for example by supervising the shave or offering an electric razor

Why this is the answer

Patients at risk still need hygiene and dignity. Policies usually allow supervised use of sharps or safer alternatives, which balance safety with respect.

Answer

A · Follow policy, for example by supervising the shave or offering an electric razor
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: B · Agoraphobia

Why this is the answer

Agoraphobia involves fear of at least two situations (public transport, open spaces, enclosed spaces, crowds or queues, being outside alone) because escape or help might be unavailable.

Answer

B · Agoraphobia
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · Once a label is applied, normal behaviour tends to be interpreted as a sign of the disorder

Why this is the answer

Rosenhan argued that the label "schizophrenic" made staff see ordinary behaviour as pathological. Critics such as Spitzer argued the study did not prove diagnosis was invalid.

Answer

C · Once a label is applied, normal behaviour tends to be interpreted as a sign of the disorder
5.Pharmacology

Answer: D · A stimulant laxative such as senna, often with a stool softener

Why this is the answer

Opioid-induced constipation does not usually resolve with time, so a laxative is started with the opioid. Stimulant laxatives counter reduced motility; bulk-forming laxatives alone can worsen symptoms if fluid intake is low.

Answer

D · A stimulant laxative such as senna, often with a stool softener
6.Pharmacology

Answer: C · 15 mL/h

Why this is the answer

5 × 80 = 400 micrograms/min, × 60 = 24,000 micrograms/h, ÷ 1,600 micrograms/mL = 15 mL/h. Weight-based infusions are double-checked because errors are easy to make.

Answer

C · 15 mL/h

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