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 at high risk of suicide is placed on constant (one-to-one) observation. What does this mean?

  1. AThe patient is checked every hour during the day only
  2. BA staff member stays with the patient at all times, at the distance set by policy, including in the bathroom
  3. CThe patient is seen once a shift by the nurse in charge, and otherwise checked by camera from the office when staff are free
  4. DThe patient can be left alone while asleep
2.Mental health nursingHard

A patient says she has saved a large supply of tablets at home and plans to take them all this weekend. What is the priority action?

  1. AArrange a routine follow-up appointment in a month
  2. BAsk her to sign a written promise not to harm herself, then let her go home for the weekend as planned
  3. CTell her things will look better after the weekend
  4. DKeep her under close observation, ensure her immediate safety and inform the team urgently
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

Behavioural activation treats depression mainly by:

  1. AExploring childhood conflicts in detail
  2. BPrescribing a period of complete rest
  3. CIncreasing engagement in rewarding and valued activities
  4. DExposing the person to feared bodily sensations in a graded way
4.Clinical psychologyHard

In Seligman's later reformulation of learned helplessness (Abramson, Seligman and Teasdale), depression is most likely when people attribute negative events to causes that are:

  1. AExternal, unstable and specific
  2. BExternal, stable and specific
  3. CInternal, stable and global
  4. DInternal, unstable and specific
5.PharmacologyMedium

A patient uses a salbutamol (albuterol) inhaler and a corticosteroid inhaler at the same time of day. Which order is usually taught?

  1. AUse the salbutamol first, wait a few minutes, then use the steroid
  2. BUse both in the same breath to save time
  3. CThe order does not matter and no waiting is needed
  4. DUse the steroid first, then the salbutamol right after without any gap
6.PharmacologyHard

A patient taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist such as semaglutide has severe, constant upper abdominal pain spreading to the back, with vomiting. What should the nurse suspect?

  1. AAcute pancreatitis; the drug is stopped and urgent assessment arranged
  2. BExpected nausea; the patient should take the next dose with food
  3. CConstipation; a laxative will solve the problem
  4. DHypoglycaemia; the patient should eat sweets and continue as usual

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: B · A staff member stays with the patient at all times, at the distance set by policy, including in the bathroom

Why this is the answer

Constant observation means a member of staff is always with the patient, at a distance set by policy, so they can intervene immediately. It is reviewed regularly and stepped down as risk reduces.

Answer

B · A staff member stays with the patient at all times, at the distance set by policy, including in the bathroom
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: D · Keep her under close observation, ensure her immediate safety and inform the team urgently

Why this is the answer

A specific plan, available means and a time frame indicate high risk. The patient must not be left alone, the team is informed at once, and access to means is reduced as part of urgent assessment and safety planning.

Answer

D · Keep her under close observation, ensure her immediate safety and inform the team urgently
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · Increasing engagement in rewarding and valued activities

Why this is the answer

Behavioural activation schedules activities that bring pleasure or mastery, breaking the cycle of withdrawal and low reinforcement. It is an evidence-based treatment for depression.

Answer

C · Increasing engagement in rewarding and valued activities
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · Internal, stable and global

Why this is the answer

The attributional reformulation proposed that a depressive attributional style explains bad events by internal, stable and global causes, which leads to hopelessness.

Answer

C · Internal, stable and global
5.Pharmacology

Answer: A · Use the salbutamol first, wait a few minutes, then use the steroid

Why this is the answer

The bronchodilator opens the airways so that the inhaled steroid can reach further into the lungs. A short wait between the inhalers is usually advised.

Answer

A · Use the salbutamol first, wait a few minutes, then use the steroid
6.Pharmacology

Answer: A · Acute pancreatitis; the drug is stopped and urgent assessment arranged

Why this is the answer

Mild nausea is common with GLP-1 agonists, but severe persistent abdominal pain radiating to the back suggests pancreatitis. The drug is stopped and the patient needs urgent assessment, including serum lipase or amylase.

Answer

A · Acute pancreatitis; the drug is stopped and urgent assessment arranged

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