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 goal for a patient with depression is written in a SMART way?

  1. A"The patient will improve her mood and sleep and start exercising more at some point."
  2. B"The patient will walk with staff for 15 minutes once a day by Friday."
  3. C"The patient will be happier."
  4. D"The patient will feel better soon."
2.Mental health nursingHard

A voluntary patient who has no immediate risk of harm wants to leave the ward against medical advice. What is the correct general approach?

  1. AExplain the risks, inform the team, document the discussion and respect their right to leave according to the law and policy
  2. BHide the patient's belongings
  3. CLock the door to stop the patient leaving
  4. DTell the patient that staff will restrain them and bring them back to the ward if they try to leave without the doctor's permission
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has best evidence for:

  1. APreventing relapse in people with recurrent depression
  2. BCuring dementia
  3. CTreating acute psychosis
  4. DTreating attention problems in young children with ADHD
4.Clinical psychologyHard

A chronic heavy drinker develops confusion, an unsteady gait and abnormal eye movements. Which deficiency must be treated urgently?

  1. AIron
  2. BVitamin D
  3. CVitamin C
  4. DThiamine (vitamin B1)
5.PharmacologyMedium

Which type of diuretic acts on the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle?

  1. AThiazide diuretics
  2. BLoop diuretics such as furosemide
  3. CPotassium-sparing diuretics
  4. DOsmotic diuretics
6.PharmacologyHard

Which regimen is standard for eradicating Helicobacter pylori?

  1. AAn H2 blocker taken only when pain occurs
  2. BA single dose of an antibiotic given intravenously
  3. CAcid suppression plus at least two antibiotics, often with bismuth, for 14 days
  4. DAn antacid alone, taken after meals and at bedtime for six months

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: B · "The patient will walk with staff for 15 minutes once a day by Friday."

Why this is the answer

A SMART goal states exactly what the patient will do, how much and by when, so that progress can be evaluated. Vague goals cannot be measured.

Answer

B · "The patient will walk with staff for 15 minutes once a day by Friday."
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: A · Explain the risks, inform the team, document the discussion and respect their right to leave according to the law and policy

Why this is the answer

Voluntary patients can usually leave, although they may be asked to wait while their risk is assessed. Detaining someone needs legal authority. The nurse informs the team, assesses risk and documents.

Answer

A · Explain the risks, inform the team, document the discussion and respect their right to leave according to the law and policy
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: A · Preventing relapse in people with recurrent depression

Why this is the answer

MBCT combines mindfulness practice with cognitive therapy. Trials show it reduces relapse in people with three or more previous depressive episodes.

Answer

A · Preventing relapse in people with recurrent depression
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: D · Thiamine (vitamin B1)

Why this is the answer

Wernicke's encephalopathy results from thiamine deficiency and presents with confusion, ataxia and eye signs. Untreated, it can progress to Korsakoff syndrome with severe amnesia and confabulation.

Answer

D · Thiamine (vitamin B1)
5.Pharmacology

Answer: B · Loop diuretics such as furosemide

Why this is the answer

Loop diuretics block the Na⁺/K⁺/2Cl⁻ cotransporter in the thick ascending limb and are the most powerful diuretics.

Answer

B · Loop diuretics such as furosemide
6.Pharmacology

Answer: C · Acid suppression plus at least two antibiotics, often with bismuth, for 14 days

Why this is the answer

Eradication combines acid suppression (usually a PPI) with at least two antibiotics; bismuth quadruple therapy for 14 days is now often first-line because clarithromycin resistance makes older triple therapy fail. Taking every dose matters, and cure is confirmed with a breath or stool test.

Answer

C · Acid suppression plus at least two antibiotics, often with bismuth, for 14 days

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