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 patient lies awake in bed for hours worrying about not sleeping. Which stimulus control advice is correct?

  1. AIf still awake after about 20 minutes, get up, do something calm and return when sleepy
  2. BStay in bed and watch television or use a phone until sleep finally comes
  3. CDo vigorous exercise in the bedroom until tired enough to fall asleep straight away
  4. DLook at the clock often to check how much sleep is being lost
2.Mental health nursingHard

An 80-year-old surgical patient becomes confused overnight, with fluctuating attention and pulling at his IV line. He was well oriented on admission. What is the most appropriate interpretation?

  1. ARapid progression of dementia that cannot be treated, so no further tests are needed
  2. BBad behaviour that needs restraint immediately
  3. CProbable delirium: look for an underlying physical cause and inform the team
  4. DNormal ageing that needs no action
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

Motivational interviewing is especially used to help clients who:

  1. ANeed a formal diagnosis for insurance
  2. BHave hallucinations that need immediate medication and hospital care
  3. CFear a single specific object
  4. DFeel ambivalent about changing a behaviour such as drinking
4.Clinical psychologyHard

Which brain finding has been repeatedly reported in groups of people with schizophrenia compared with controls?

  1. AA tumour in the pituitary gland
  2. BAn enlarged frontal lobe in all patients
  3. CEnlarged lateral ventricles
  4. DA complete absence of the hippocampus
5.PharmacologyMedium

During an infusion of a vesicant chemotherapy drug, the patient reports burning, and the site is swollen. What should the nurse do first?

  1. AStop the infusion, leave the cannula in and follow the protocol
  2. BIncrease the infusion rate to finish quickly
  3. CFlush the line with a large volume of saline
  4. DRemove the cannula at once and massage the area firmly
6.PharmacologyHard

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

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

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: A · If still awake after about 20 minutes, get up, do something calm and return when sleepy

Why this is the answer

Stimulus control strengthens the bed as a cue for sleep. Getting up when unable to sleep, using the bed only for sleep and intimacy, and keeping a regular wake time are key parts.

Answer

A · If still awake after about 20 minutes, get up, do something calm and return when sleepy
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: C · Probable delirium: look for an underlying physical cause and inform the team

Why this is the answer

Acute, fluctuating confusion suggests delirium, often caused by infection, pain, drugs, dehydration, urinary retention or hypoxia. It is a medical emergency; the cause is treated and the patient is kept safe with non-drug measures first.

Answer

C · Probable delirium: look for an underlying physical cause and inform the team
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: D · Feel ambivalent about changing a behaviour such as drinking

Why this is the answer

Motivational interviewing (Miller and Rollnick) is a collaborative style that resolves ambivalence and strengthens the client's own motivation for change, widely used in addiction.

Answer

D · Feel ambivalent about changing a behaviour such as drinking
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · Enlarged lateral ventricles

Why this is the answer

Enlarged ventricles and reduced grey matter are found on average in schizophrenia. The differences are group averages and are not diagnostic for individuals.

Answer

C · Enlarged lateral ventricles
5.Pharmacology

Answer: A · Stop the infusion, leave the cannula in and follow the protocol

Why this is the answer

Suspected extravasation of a vesicant is an emergency. The infusion is stopped, the cannula is left in so that drug can be aspirated, and the protocol, which may include an antidote and cold or warm packs, is followed.

Answer

A · Stop the infusion, leave the cannula in and follow the protocol
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

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