Mental Health Disorders
Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, & loss of interest in activities.
Major Depressive Disorder
Encourages a patient to continue talking by using brief prompts such as "Tell me more."
Broad Opening
This class of medications includes sertraline and fluoxetine.
SSRIs
The first priority when caring for a suicidal patient.
Ensuring Patient Safety
A patient's right to make decisions about their own care.
Autonomy
Hallucinations, delusions, & disorganized thinking are hallmark symptoms.
Schizophrenia
A patient says, "Nobody cares about me." The nurse responds, "You're feeling alone right now." This technique is called:
Reflecting
Lithium is commonly prescribed for this disorder.
Bipolar Disorder
Asking a patient directly if they have thoughts of self-harm may increase suicide risk: True or False?
False
This legal status allows treatment without consent when criteria are met.
Involuntary Commitment
Episodes of mania and depression.
Bipolar Disorder
The nurse says, "Let's compare how you felt yesterday versus today." This technique is called:
Encouraging Comparison
A serious side effect of antipsychotics characterized by fever, rigidity, and altered mental status.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
This level of observation often requires continuous monitoring of a patient at risk for self-harm.
1:1 Observation
What is a mandated reporting?
The legal obligation of specific professionals to report suspected cases of abuse/neglect, exploitation of vulnerable populations, duty to warn to the appropriate authorities.
Excessive worry occurring more days than not for at least 6 months.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Remaining present and attentive without speaking is called this.
Therapeutic Silence
Patients taking lithium should have this organ system monitored regularly.
Kidneys (renal function)
During escalating aggression, the nurse's initial approach should focus on this intervention.
Verbal De-escalation
This document allows a patient to identify preferred treatments if they become unable to make decisions.
Psychiatric Advance Directive
Recurrent intrusive thoughts & repetitive behaviors.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
"You seem anxious when discussing your family" is an example of this technique.
Making Observations
This potentially life-threatening condition can occur when serotonin levels become excessively high.
Serotonin Syndrome
The use of restraints or seclusion is legally justified only when this condition exists.
Immediate Danger to Self or Others
Before administering psychotropic medication, the nurse must verify the patient has received information regarding risks, benefits, and alternatives. This is called:
Informed Consent