Mental health nursing worksheet with answers

A patient says, "If I make one mistake at work, I'll be fired, lose my flat and end up on the street." Which cognitive distortion is this?

1. AEmotional reasoning
2. BCatastrophising
3. CPersonalisation
4. DMind reading

A patient says, "I feel so alone since my wife died." Which nurse response belittles the patient's feelings?

1. A"Losing your wife must have been very hard for you."
2. B"It sounds very lonely without her."
3. C"Tell me what it has been like since she died."
4. D"Everybody feels that way sometimes. You'll get over it."

The nurse asks a patient, "What does 'people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones' mean?" Which ability is being assessed?

1. AOrientation
2. BLevel of consciousness
3. CImmediate memory
4. DAbstract thinking

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

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

A patient with borderline personality disorder praises one nurse as "the only one who understands me" and calls the others useless. What is the best team response?

1. AAgree on consistent rules and responses across the whole team
2. BAvoid the patient
3. CTell the patient that the other nurses are also useless
4. DLet the favoured nurse make all decisions for this patient

When is the best time to teach a patient with an anxiety disorder a relaxation technique?

1. ADuring a panic attack, when the patient needs it most
2. BWhen the patient's anxiety is at a mild level
3. CWhen the patient's anxiety is severe, so that the effect can be seen clearly
4. DOnly after the patient has been discharged from hospital

A patient with schizophrenia has marked negative symptoms. He stays in bed most of the day and neglects his hygiene. Which nursing approach is most helpful?

1. AAgree a simple daily routine with small, achievable activities and give positive feedback
2. BLet him stay in bed, because negative symptoms cannot change
3. CTell him firmly that he will lose his ward privileges unless he gets up and showers at once
4. DWait until he asks to join activities before involving him

A colleague suggests putting a loud but non-violent patient in seclusion "because he's annoying everyone". What is the correct response?

1. AIt is acceptable, because it will make the ward quieter and safer for the other patients
2. BIt is acceptable as long as the seclusion lasts for less than an hour
3. CIt is acceptable as long as the patient agrees afterwards
4. DIt would be inappropriate, because seclusion is only a last resort for serious risk of harm