Mental health nursing worksheet with answers

In a mental status examination, what is the difference between mood and affect?

1. AMood and affect mean exactly the same thing
2. BMood is what the patient reports feeling; affect is the emotion the nurse observes
3. CMood describes thinking; affect describes memory
4. DMood is what the nurse observes in the patient; affect is what the patient reports feeling

The nurse says to a withdrawn patient, "I'll sit with you for a while." Which technique is this?

1. APlacing the event in sequence
2. BOffering self
3. CPresenting reality
4. DGiving advice

After shouting at his partner, a man buys her flowers and cooks her a special dinner to "make it go away". Which defence mechanism is this?

1. ADenial
2. BSublimation
3. CUndoing
4. DProjection

Which measurement should be monitored regularly in a patient taking venlafaxine?

1. ASerum lithium level
2. BPeak expiratory flow
3. CVisual acuity
4. DBlood pressure

Which goal for a patient with depression is written in a SMART way?

1. A"The patient will improve her mood and sleep and start exercising more at some point."
2. B"The patient will feel better soon."
3. C"The patient will be happier."
4. D"The patient will walk with staff for 15 minutes once a day by Friday."

A patient taking sertraline wants to take ibuprofen regularly for arthritis. What should the nurse teach?

1. AIbuprofen will make the sertraline work faster
2. BIbuprofen should be taken instead of sertraline on the days when the arthritis pain is bad, to avoid any interaction
3. CThe combination is completely safe because they act on different systems
4. DThe combination increases the risk of bleeding, especially in the stomach, so discuss it with the prescriber

A patient with a known panic disorder says she has chest pain and difficulty breathing. What should the nurse do first?

1. AAsk her to breathe slowly into a paper bag and leave her alone until the panic has passed, as it always does in panic disorder
2. BTell her it is just another panic attack
3. CGive her a lecture on cognitive restructuring
4. DAssess her physically, including vital signs, and get an ECG according to policy, before assuming it is panic

A patient says, "My boss didn't say hello this morning, so she must think I'm useless." Which cognitive distortion is shown, and what is a helpful nursing response?

1. AAll-or-nothing thinking; agree that the boss is being unfair
2. BCatastrophising; tell the patient that she will definitely not be fired
3. CPersonalisation; advise the patient to ask for a new manager
4. DMind reading; ask what other reasons there might be for the boss's behaviour