Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of milieu therapy in an inpatient psychiatric unit?

Answer: To use the therapeutic environment to promote healing and social skills

Milieu therapy uses the entire treatment environment — including peers, staff, and activities — as a therapeutic tool.

A patient with borderline personality disorder is engaging in splitting behavior. How should the nursing staff respond?

Answer: Maintain consistent communication and unified team responses

Consistent team communication prevents the patient from manipulating staff through idealization and devaluation dynamics.

Which symptom cluster is most characteristic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Answer: Intrusion, avoidance, negative cognitions, hyperarousal

PTSD is defined by four symptom clusters: intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition/mood, and hyperarousal.

A nurse is conducting a suicide risk assessment. Which factor is most strongly associated with completed suicide?

Answer: Previous suicide attempt

A previous suicide attempt is the single strongest predictor of a future completed suicide.

Which antipsychotic medication requires mandatory REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) enrollment due to risk of agranulocytosis?

Answer: Clozapine

Clozapine requires REMS enrollment with mandatory absolute neutrophil count monitoring due to its risk of life-threatening agranulocytosis.

A patient with major depressive disorder is started on an SSRI. The nurse teaches that full antidepressant effects typically occur after how long?

Answer: 2–4 weeks

SSRIs typically require 2–4 weeks to show initial antidepressant benefit, with full effects often seen at 4–6 weeks.