Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Flashcards
6 cards from real BSN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing flashcards as text
A patient with schizophrenia tells the nurse that the television is sending them personal messages. The nurse correctly identifies this as:
Answer: An idea of reference
An idea of reference is a delusion in which a patient believes that external events, objects, or people have a special personal meaning directed at them.
A patient is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Which nursing intervention takes priority during the first 24 hours?
Answer: Assess for suicidal ideation and means
Safety assessment for suicidal ideation is always the first priority when caring for a patient with major depressive disorder.
A nurse is using therapeutic communication with a patient who says, 'I don't know what to do about my marriage.' Which response best demonstrates the technique of reflection?
Answer: 'It sounds like you're feeling confused about your marriage.'
Reflection restates the emotional content of the patient's message back to them, encouraging further exploration of feelings.
A patient with bipolar disorder is in a manic episode and is pacing the hallway, talking rapidly, and refusing to eat. What is the nurse's priority intervention?
Answer: Provide high-calorie finger foods the patient can eat while moving
During mania, patients cannot focus long enough to sit and eat; portable, high-calorie foods maintain nutrition without increasing agitation.
A patient is taking haloperidol (Haldol) and develops sustained muscle spasms in the neck, facial grimacing, and tongue protrusion. The nurse recognizes this as:
Answer: Acute dystonia
Acute dystonia is an early extrapyramidal side effect of antipsychotics characterized by involuntary muscle contractions typically affecting the head and neck.
When a nurse uses the technique of 'setting limits' with a manipulative patient, the primary purpose is to:
Answer: Establish consistent, predictable boundaries to promote safe behavior
Limit setting provides a structured, consistent environment that promotes patient safety and reduces manipulative behaviors without being punitive.