Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Flashcards
7 cards from real Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing flashcards as text
A patient taking an MAOI for treatment-resistant depression asks about dietary restrictions. Which food poses the GREATEST risk for a hypertensive crisis?
Answer: Aged cheddar cheese
Aged cheeses are high in tyramine, which MAOIs prevent from being metabolized, leading to a dangerous accumulation and potential hypertensive crisis.
A PMHNP is applying Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Which skill module teaches patients to tolerate distress without making a crisis worse?
Answer: Distress tolerance
Distress tolerance skills in DBT teach patients to survive crisis moments without engaging in behaviors that worsen the situation, using techniques like TIPP and ACCEPTS.
A patient with a long history of alcohol use disorder abruptly stops drinking after heavy daily use. Which vital sign pattern should alert the PMHNP to a risk of severe alcohol withdrawal (AWS)?
Answer: Tachycardia, hypertension, and fever
Tachycardia, hypertension, diaphoresis, and fever during alcohol withdrawal reflect autonomic hyperactivity and can progress to seizures and delirium tremens.
A patient with bipolar I disorder who is stabilized on lithium becomes pregnant. The PMHNP knows that lithium carries a risk for which fetal cardiac defect?
Answer: Ebstein's anomaly
Lithium exposure in the first trimester has been associated with Ebstein's anomaly, a rare tricuspid valve malformation, though the absolute risk is low.
A PMHNP treating a patient with anorexia nervosa should monitor MOST closely for which life-threatening electrolyte complication?
Answer: Hypokalemia and hypophosphatemia
Hypokalemia and hypophosphatemia (especially refeeding syndrome) in anorexia nervosa can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias and require vigilant electrolyte monitoring.
Which psychotherapy is considered the gold standard first-line treatment for bulimia nervosa based on the strongest evidence base?
Answer: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is the most extensively studied and recommended first-line treatment for bulimia nervosa, targeting the cognitive distortions and behavioral patterns maintaining the disorder.
A patient is brought to the ED agitated and confused after ingesting an unknown substance. The nurse notes hyperthermia, diaphoresis, muscular rigidity, clonus, and hyperreflexia. The PMHNP suspects:
Answer: Serotonin syndrome
Serotonin syndrome presents with the triad of mental status changes, autonomic instability, and neuromuscular abnormalities including clonus and hyperreflexia, distinguishing it from NMS.