Mental health nursing worksheet with answers

A patient who was just diagnosed with cancer says, "The test results must be wrong; I feel fine." Which defence mechanism is this?

1. ADenial
2. BProjection
3. CSublimation
4. DDisplacement

In adults, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) involves a depressed mood on most days for at least how long?

1. A6 weeks
2. B2 weeks
3. C2 years
4. D2 months

What is a psychiatric advance directive (advance statement)?

1. AA court order that allows a patient to be detained in hospital
2. BA note from the doctor that lists the patient's diagnoses
3. CA contract in which the patient promises the team to take every prescribed medicine for life
4. DA document in which a person states their treatment wishes for a time when they may lack capacity

The nurse notices that she is spending much longer with one patient than with the others and feels she is the only one who can help him. What does this most likely indicate?

1. ATransference by the patient towards the nurse, which is never the nurse's concern
2. BAn ideal therapeutic relationship
3. CThat the patient needs to be transferred to another unit
4. DPossible boundary problems that she should discuss in supervision

How does conduct disorder differ from oppositional defiant disorder?

1. AThe two disorders are exactly the same and differ only in the age at which they are diagnosed
2. BOppositional defiant disorder includes serious physical aggression towards animals
3. CConduct disorder involves only arguing with adults and losing one's temper
4. DConduct disorder involves violating others' rights, such as cruelty, theft or fire setting

Which effects of methadone should the nurse monitor for?

1. ARespiratory depression, sedation and a prolonged QT interval
2. BHair loss, weight loss and a painful red rash on the face
3. CAgranulocytosis and a sore throat
4. DHypertensive crisis after eating aged cheese

A nurse suspects that a patient is hiding his tablets in his cheek and later spitting them out. What is the best approach?

1. AAccuse him in front of other patients so that he is embarrassed and stops
2. BCrush all his tablets into his food without telling him
3. CCheck his mouth after each dose, as policy allows, and explore why he does not want it
4. DStop giving him his medicine at all, because he is not taking it anyway, and record that he refused

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

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