Mental Health Nursing Concepts Flashcards

A client with borderline personality disorder is in crisis and threatening to cut themselves. What is the therapeutic response?

Answer: Use calm, empathic communication to de-escalate, assess safety, and involve the team

De-escalation with calm, empathic communication is the first-line response in crisis. Engagement and validation reduce the emotional intensity driving the urge to self-harm.

Which statement best describes the recovery model of mental health care as applied in Canadian mental health nursing?

Answer: Recovery is a personal journey toward living a meaningful life despite the challenges of mental illness

The recovery model emphasizes personal meaning, hope, and quality of life rather than symptom elimination, centered on the client's goals and strengths.

A client is unconscious with respiratory rate 6 breaths per minute and miosis following an apparent opioid overdose. Which medication should the practical nurse prepare?

Answer: Naloxone (Narcan)

Naloxone (Narcan) is the opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid overdose, characterized by the classic triad of unconsciousness, respiratory depression, and miosis.

When applying seclusion or restraint to a client with acute psychiatric disturbance, which principle guides practice?

Answer: Seclusion and restraint are last resorts used only when all less restrictive de-escalation measures have failed

Seclusion and restraint are last-resort measures when de-escalation has failed and there is imminent risk of harm.

A practical nurse observes a client with OCD performing a 45-minute hand-washing ritual before dinner. Which nursing response is therapeutic?

Answer: Engage matter-of-factly without reinforcing or criticizing the ritual while maintaining a safe and structured environment

A matter-of-fact, non-judgmental approach maintains therapeutic relationship without reinforcing or confronting the compulsion.

A client who experienced childhood trauma presents with nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbing, and avoidance of reminders of the event. Which diagnosis is most consistent?

Answer: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The triad of re-experiencing, hyperarousal, and avoidance/numbing lasting more than 1 month following trauma characterizes PTSD.