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 was assaulted 10 days ago. She has nightmares, avoids the area and feels detached. According to DSM-5, which diagnosis fits the timing best?

  1. AAdjustment disorder with anxiety
  2. BAcute stress disorder
  3. CPost-traumatic stress disorder
  4. DGeneralised anxiety disorder
2.Mental health nursingHard

A patient who stopped drinking 24 hours ago has a generalised tonic-clonic seizure in bed. What is the nurse's first action?

  1. ARestrain his arms and legs to stop the movements
  2. BGive oral thiamine with a glass of water
  3. CPut something in his mouth to stop him biting his tongue
  4. DProtect the airway and keep him safe from injury
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

A client says "I failed one test, so I will fail everything." Which cognitive distortion is this?

  1. APersonalisation
  2. BEmotional reasoning
  3. COvergeneralisation
  4. DMind reading
4.Clinical psychologyHard

An interview that follows a fixed set of questions in a fixed order to reach a diagnosis is called:

  1. AA projective test
  2. BAn unstructured interview
  3. CA structured clinical interview
  4. DA free association session
5.PharmacologyMedium

Which patient should usually not receive a live vaccine?

  1. AA patient receiving chemotherapy for leukaemia
  2. BA patient with mild seasonal allergies
  3. CA healthy 1-year-old child
  4. DA healthy adult nurse who works on a children's ward
6.PharmacologyHard

A patient taking digoxin has nausea, yellow-green vision and a dangerous arrhythmia. Which specific treatment can bind the drug?

  1. AIntravenous vitamin K (phytomenadione) given slowly
  2. BProtamine sulfate
  3. CDigoxin immune Fab (antibody fragments)
  4. DFlumazenil

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: B · Acute stress disorder

Why this is the answer

Acute stress disorder lasts from 3 days to 1 month after a trauma. If symptoms last longer than 1 month, PTSD is diagnosed. ICD-11 does not have this diagnosis and describes an acute stress reaction as a normal response rather than a disorder.

Answer

B · Acute stress disorder
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: D · Protect the airway and keep him safe from injury

Why this is the answer

During a seizure, the nurse protects the airway, removes nearby hazards, does not restrain or put anything in the mouth, and calls for help. Alcohol withdrawal seizures are most likely in the first 48 hours.

Answer

D · Protect the airway and keep him safe from injury
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · Overgeneralisation

Why this is the answer

Overgeneralisation draws a sweeping conclusion from a single event. Beck's cognitive therapy teaches clients to notice and test such distortions.

Answer

C · Overgeneralisation
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · A structured clinical interview

Why this is the answer

Structured interviews such as the SCID ask standard questions tied to diagnostic criteria, increasing reliability compared with unstructured interviews.

Answer

C · A structured clinical interview
5.Pharmacology

Answer: A · A patient receiving chemotherapy for leukaemia

Why this is the answer

Live attenuated vaccines can cause serious infection in immunosuppressed people and are generally avoided in pregnancy. Inactivated vaccines are safe but may give a weaker response.

Answer

A · A patient receiving chemotherapy for leukaemia
6.Pharmacology

Answer: C · Digoxin immune Fab (antibody fragments)

Why this is the answer

Digoxin immune Fab binds digoxin in the blood and makes it inactive. It is used for life-threatening toxicity, such as serious arrhythmias or severe hyperkalaemia.

Answer

C · Digoxin immune Fab (antibody fragments)

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