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 4-year-old asks when her grandmother, who died last week, will come back. How should the nurse explain this to the parents?

  1. AThe child does not care about her grandmother and has not been affected by the death
  2. BThe child should not be told anything about the death until she is older
  3. CThe child is in denial and needs psychiatric treatment
  4. DYoung children often do not yet see death as permanent, so simple, honest words help
2.Mental health nursingHard

A nurse feels strong irritation every time she cares for a patient who reminds her of her abusive father. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. ATell the patient that he reminds her of her father
  2. BAvoid the patient and let other staff do all of his care
  3. CRecognise this as countertransference and discuss it in clinical supervision
  4. DIgnore the feeling, because feelings do not affect nursing care
3.Clinical psychologyMedium

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase serotonin in the synapse by:

  1. ABlocking the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic neuron
  2. BDestroying serotonin receptors
  3. CSpeeding up the breakdown of serotonin by monoamine oxidase enzymes
  4. DBlocking dopamine release
4.Clinical psychologyHard

The "scientist-practitioner" (Boulder) model in clinical psychology means that clinicians should:

  1. AOnly conduct laboratory experiments
  2. BUse research evidence to guide practice and evaluate their own interventions
  3. CPrescribe medication as their main treatment, following psychiatric guidelines closely
  4. DAvoid research completely
5.PharmacologyMedium

Which factor increases the risk of lithium toxicity?

  1. ATaking the dose with food
  2. BA high-salt diet
  3. CDrinking extra water
  4. DDehydration
6.PharmacologyHard

A drug with a short half-life is given at a dosing interval much longer than its half-life. What is the result at steady state?

  1. ASteady state is never reached
  2. BGradual accumulation to toxic levels
  3. CLarge swings between peak and trough levels
  4. DVery stable levels with almost no fluctuation

3Solutions

1.Mental health nursing

Answer: D · Young children often do not yet see death as permanent, so simple, honest words help

Why this is the answer

Preschool children often see death as temporary or reversible. Clear, simple language, such as "her body stopped working", and avoiding phrases like "gone to sleep" help the child understand.

Answer

D · Young children often do not yet see death as permanent, so simple, honest words help
2.Mental health nursing

Answer: C · Recognise this as countertransference and discuss it in clinical supervision

Why this is the answer

Countertransference is common and is not a failure, but it can affect care if not recognised. Supervision helps the nurse understand the reaction and keep the relationship therapeutic.

Answer

C · Recognise this as countertransference and discuss it in clinical supervision
3.Clinical psychology

Answer: A · Blocking the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic neuron

Why this is the answer

SSRIs block the serotonin transporter, so serotonin stays longer in the synaptic cleft. Clinical effects usually take several weeks.

Answer

A · Blocking the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic neuron
4.Clinical psychology

Answer: B · Use research evidence to guide practice and evaluate their own interventions

Why this is the answer

The Boulder model trains clinical psychologists to integrate scientific research and clinical practice, the basis of evidence-based practice.

Answer

B · Use research evidence to guide practice and evaluate their own interventions
5.Pharmacology

Answer: D · Dehydration

Why this is the answer

When the body is short of water or sodium, the kidney reabsorbs more lithium, so its level rises. Thiazides, ACE inhibitors and NSAIDs can have the same effect.

Answer

D · Dehydration
6.Pharmacology

Answer: C · Large swings between peak and trough levels

Why this is the answer

When the interval is long compared with the half-life, most of each dose is eliminated before the next one. Levels rise high after each dose and fall low before the next, so there may be toxic peaks or ineffective troughs.

Answer

C · Large swings between peak and trough levels

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