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

Which risk applies when antipsychotics are used in older people with dementia?

  1. AAn increased risk of stroke and death
  2. BA guaranteed cure of the dementia
  3. CA lower risk of falls than with no medicine at all
  4. DImproved memory within a few days
2.Mental health nursingHard

A patient in a mental health unit asks to read his own health records. What is the correct general principle?

  1. APatients generally have a right of access, with limited exceptions to prevent serious harm
  2. BThe nurse should give him the records immediately without following any procedure
  3. CPsychiatric patients are never allowed to see their records
  4. DOnly his family can request access to his records on his behalf
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

The diathesis–stress model proposes that mental disorders arise from:

  1. AStress alone
  2. BPoor parenting alone
  3. CAn underlying vulnerability combined with environmental stress
  4. DGenes alone
4.Clinical psychologyHard

A client's binge eating occurs at least once a week for three months, with loss of control and distress, but no vomiting, laxatives or excessive exercise. Which diagnosis fits?

  1. AAnorexia nervosa, binge-purge type
  2. BAvoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
  3. CBulimia nervosa
  4. DBinge-eating disorder
5.PharmacologyMedium

How is adenosine given for supraventricular tachycardia?

  1. AAs an intramuscular injection into the outer thigh muscle
  2. BAs a slow infusion over one hour
  3. CAs a tablet under the tongue
  4. DAs a rapid IV push followed by a fast saline flush
6.PharmacologyHard

Which pair of adverse effects is characteristic of long-term amiodarone treatment?

  1. ADry cough and angioedema
  2. BGum overgrowth and excess hair growth
  3. CThyroid dysfunction and pulmonary fibrosis
  4. DOtotoxicity and nephrotoxicity

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: A · An increased risk of stroke and death

Why this is the answer

Antipsychotics in older people with dementia are linked to increased rates of stroke and death. They are used only when non-drug approaches have failed and distress or risk is severe, at the lowest dose for the shortest time.

Answer

A · An increased risk of stroke and death
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: A · Patients generally have a right of access, with limited exceptions to prevent serious harm

Why this is the answer

Data protection and health records laws in many countries give patients a right to access their records. Requests follow a formal procedure, and information may be withheld only in limited cases, for example if it could cause serious harm.

Answer

A · Patients generally have a right of access, with limited exceptions to prevent serious harm
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: C · An underlying vulnerability combined with environmental stress

Why this is the answer

The model holds that a predisposition (biological or psychological) leads to disorder only when triggered by sufficient stress.

Answer

C · An underlying vulnerability combined with environmental stress
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: D · Binge-eating disorder

Why this is the answer

Binge-eating disorder involves recurrent binges with distress but without regular compensatory behaviour. Bulimia requires compensatory behaviour, and anorexia requires significantly low weight.

Answer

D · Binge-eating disorder
5.Pharmacology

Answer: D · As a rapid IV push followed by a fast saline flush

Why this is the answer

Adenosine must reach the heart quickly, so it is pushed rapidly into a large vein and flushed. Patients are warned about brief flushing, chest tightness and a short pause in the heartbeat.

Answer

D · As a rapid IV push followed by a fast saline flush
6.Pharmacology

Answer: C · Thyroid dysfunction and pulmonary fibrosis

Why this is the answer

Amiodarone is iodine-rich and accumulates in tissues, causing hypo- or hyperthyroidism, pulmonary fibrosis, liver injury, photosensitivity and corneal deposits. The other pairs fit aminoglycosides, phenytoin and ACE inhibitors.

Answer

C · Thyroid dysfunction and pulmonary fibrosis

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