LVN Mental Health Nursing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the difference between anxiety and a panic attack?
- Anxiety is prolonged worry; a panic attack is a sudden, intense episode of fear with physical symptoms (Correct answer)
- They are the same
- Panic attacks last for days
- Anxiety is always visible
Correct answer: Anxiety is prolonged worry; a panic attack is a sudden, intense episode of fear with physical symptoms
Anxiety is a sustained emotional state while panic attacks are acute, time-limited episodes with severe physical symptoms.
Question 2: What are therapeutic boundaries in nurse-patient relationships?
- Professional limits that define the appropriate scope of the relationship and protect both parties (Correct answer)
- Personal friendships with patients
- Avoiding all patient interaction
- Only following doctor's orders
Correct answer: Professional limits that define the appropriate scope of the relationship and protect both parties
Professional boundaries maintain therapeutic relationships while preventing exploitation or dependency.
Question 3: What is de-escalation in psychiatric nursing?
- Communication techniques used to calm an agitated patient and prevent escalation to violence (Correct answer)
- Using physical restraints immediately
- Ignoring agitated behavior
- Sedating the patient
Correct answer: Communication techniques used to calm an agitated patient and prevent escalation to violence
De-escalation uses verbal and nonverbal techniques to reduce tension: calm voice, empathetic listening, and giving choices.
Question 4: What are the warning signs of suicide?
- Expressing hopelessness, giving away possessions, social withdrawal, previous attempts, and sudden calmness (Correct answer)
- Only verbal threats
- Only depression
- There are no warning signs
Correct answer: Expressing hopelessness, giving away possessions, social withdrawal, previous attempts, and sudden calmness
Multiple behavioral changes may indicate suicide risk and require immediate assessment.
Question 5: What is the role of an LVN in medication management for psychiatric patients?
- Administering prescribed psychiatric medications, monitoring for side effects, and ensuring compliance (Correct answer)
- Prescribing psychiatric medications
- Providing psychotherapy
- Diagnosing mental disorders
Correct answer: Administering prescribed psychiatric medications, monitoring for side effects, and ensuring compliance
LVNs administer medications, observe for therapeutic and adverse effects, and report findings to the supervising nurse or physician.
Question 6: What is the importance of milieu therapy?
- Creating a therapeutic environment that promotes healing through structure, safety, and supportive interactions (Correct answer)
- Only providing medication
- Physical therapy
- Recreational activities only
Correct answer: Creating a therapeutic environment that promotes healing through structure, safety, and supportive interactions
Milieu therapy uses the entire treatment environment as a therapeutic tool, with structure, boundaries, and social interactions promoting recovery.
LVN Mental Health Nursing 1
What is the difference between anxiety and a panic attack?