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 woman is convinced that a famous actor she has never met is secretly in love with her and sends her signals through his films. Which type of delusion is this?

  1. AGrandiose
  2. BErotomanic
  3. CSomatic
  4. DNihilistic
2.Mental health nursingHard

A patient has had delusions and hallucinations for a year. For most of this time he has also had episodes of major depression, but for at least two weeks at a time his psychotic symptoms continued without any mood symptoms. Which diagnosis best fits this pattern?

  1. ASchizoaffective disorder
  2. BDelusional disorder
  3. CBrief psychotic disorder
  4. DMajor depression with psychotic features
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

Which pattern defines bipolar II disorder?

  1. AAt least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode
  2. BNumerous mild mood swings over at least two years without full mood episodes
  3. CAt least one full manic episode with psychotic features
  4. DMajor depressive episodes only, with no elevated mood
4.Clinical psychologyHard

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

  1. AVitamin C
  2. BThiamine (vitamin B1)
  3. CVitamin D
  4. DIron
5.PharmacologyMedium

Which rule applies to intravenous potassium chloride?

  1. AIt is given as a rapid IV push to correct low levels quickly
  2. BIt may be given intramuscularly if there is no IV access
  3. CIt must be diluted and given as an infusion, never as an IV push
  4. DIt is mixed into blood products to save time
6.PharmacologyHard

How does levonorgestrel emergency contraception mainly work?

  1. AIt delays or prevents ovulation
  2. BIt ends an established pregnancy
  3. CIt causes an immediate period
  4. DIt kills sperm in the vagina

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: B · Erotomanic

Why this is the answer

Erotomanic delusions are the false belief that another person, often of higher status, is in love with the patient. They can lead to stalking or unwanted contact.

Answer

B · Erotomanic
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: A · Schizoaffective disorder

Why this is the answer

In schizoaffective disorder, a major mood episode occurs alongside schizophrenia symptoms, mood episodes are present for most of the illness, and psychotic symptoms are also present for at least 2 weeks without a mood episode. In psychotic depression, the psychosis occurs only during the mood episode.

Answer

A · Schizoaffective disorder
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: A · At least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode

Why this is the answer

Bipolar II requires hypomanic and major depressive episodes but no manic episode. A single manic episode leads to a bipolar I diagnosis.

Answer

A · At least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: B · 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

B · Thiamine (vitamin B1)
5.Pharmacology

Answer: C · It must be diluted and given as an infusion, never as an IV push

Why this is the answer

Concentrated potassium given as a bolus can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias. It is always diluted and given at a controlled rate, usually with an infusion pump.

Answer

C · It must be diluted and given as an infusion, never as an IV push
6.Pharmacology

Answer: A · It delays or prevents ovulation

Why this is the answer

Levonorgestrel emergency contraception mainly prevents or delays ovulation and does not disrupt an implanted pregnancy. Its effectiveness falls the longer it is delayed after unprotected sex.

Answer

A · It delays or prevents ovulation

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