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

An 84-year-old asks for an over-the-counter sleep aid containing diphenhydramine. What is the main concern?

  1. AIt raises blood pressure to dangerous levels in older adults
  2. BIts anticholinergic effects can cause confusion, urine retention and falls
  3. CIt is a strong opioid that causes severe dependence
  4. DIt has no effects at all in people over 80, so it will not help her sleep
2.Mental health nursingHard

After her house burned down, a woman developed delusions and disorganised speech. Ten days later the symptoms have gone completely and she is back to normal. Which diagnosis best fits?

  1. ABrief psychotic disorder
  2. BSchizophrenia
  3. CDelusional disorder
  4. DSchizophreniform disorder
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

Which personality disorder is characterised by a pervasive pattern of disregard for the rights of others?

  1. AAvoidant personality disorder
  2. BDependent personality disorder
  3. CAntisocial personality disorder
  4. DBorderline personality disorder
4.Clinical psychologyHard

Why is the medical model of mental illness criticised by proponents of the psychological approaches?

  1. AIt is based only on dream analysis
  2. BIt may overlook psychological and social causes and reduce people's sense of agency
  3. CIt rejects the use of medication entirely
  4. DIt denies that the brain and biological factors have any role in behaviour or emotion
5.PharmacologyMedium

After a vaccination, why is a person asked to wait for a short time before leaving?

  1. ATo check that the vaccine has already created protective antibodies
  2. BTo make sure the injection site does not bruise
  3. CTo measure the person's temperature for fever
  4. DTo watch for anaphylaxis, which usually starts within minutes
6.PharmacologyHard

The volume of distribution of a drug is very large (for example 500 L in an adult). What does this suggest?

  1. AThe drug is extensively taken up into tissues
  2. BThe drug stays almost entirely in the plasma compartment
  3. CThe drug is quickly excreted by the kidneys
  4. DThe drug cannot be given intravenously

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: B · Its anticholinergic effects can cause confusion, urine retention and falls

Why this is the answer

Diphenhydramine is strongly anticholinergic and sedating. In older adults, it can cause delirium, constipation, urinary retention and falls, and is generally avoided.

Answer

B · Its anticholinergic effects can cause confusion, urine retention and falls
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: A · Brief psychotic disorder

Why this is the answer

Brief psychotic disorder lasts at least 1 day but less than 1 month, followed by a full return to the previous level of functioning. It may follow a severe stressor.

Answer

A · Brief psychotic disorder
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · Antisocial personality disorder

Why this is the answer

Antisocial personality disorder includes deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggression and lack of remorse, with evidence of conduct disorder in childhood.

Answer

C · Antisocial personality disorder
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: B · It may overlook psychological and social causes and reduce people's sense of agency

Why this is the answer

The medical model treats disorders as illnesses with biological causes, which reduces blame but can neglect life events, meaning and context, and may encourage passive reliance on drugs.

Answer

B · It may overlook psychological and social causes and reduce people's sense of agency
5.Pharmacology

Answer: D · To watch for anaphylaxis, which usually starts within minutes

Why this is the answer

Anaphylaxis after vaccination is rare but usually begins soon after the injection. Staff and adrenaline must be available during the observation period.

Answer

D · To watch for anaphylaxis, which usually starts within minutes
6.Pharmacology

Answer: A · The drug is extensively taken up into tissues

Why this is the answer

A Vd far above total body water means the plasma concentration is low because most of the drug sits in tissues (for example fat or muscle), as with digoxin or amiodarone.

Answer

A · The drug is extensively taken up into tissues

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