253 Mental Galen Unit 1 Exam 1 With 100% correct answers 2025-2026 already graded A+

Mental health continuum

mental health and mental illness are conceptualized as points along this continuum

Resilience

the ability and capacity for people to secure the resources they need to support their well-being. Are effective @ regulating their emotions & not falling victim to negative, self defeating thoughts.

Risk factors

-individual attributes and behaviors-biological

genetic

-prenatal exposures (alcohol & oxygen deprivation)

-social & economic circumstances-earliest social group is family

-environmental factors- political climate & cultural considerations

Patient's rights

-Right to treatment

-Right to be free from excessive or unnecessary meds

-Right to policy & dignity

-Right to least restrictive environment

-Right to attorney, clergy, & private care providers

-Right to not be subjected to lobotomies, electroconvulsive treatments, & other tx w/o fully informed consent

Right to refuse tx-pt may withhold consent or withdraw consent at any time, even if involuntarily committed, can retract consent previously given;

Right to informed consent

Epidemiology

The quantitative study of the distribution of mental disorders in human populations. Can help identify high risk groups and behaviors and can lead to a better understanding of the causes of the disorders.

Comorbid conditions

simultaneous existence of two or more disorders.

Exp. schizophrenia frequently comorbid with diabetes

DSM-V-DSM5

identifies disorders based on specific criteria developed in the US. A publication from the American Psychiatric Association (APA)

Therapeutic relationship

nurse maximizes skills, understanding of human behaviors & personal strengths to enhance the pt's growth, focuses on pt's problems & needs

Concepts of the relationship

consists of

1. dignity and respect

2. information sharing

3. Pt. & family participation

4. collaboration in policy & program development

Very 1st connection is to establish an understanding that the nurse is safe, confidential, reliable, & consistent and that the relationship will occur w/in appropriate and clear boundaries.

Therapeutic use of self

using unique personality traits and talents to promote healing in others; use of our gifts to promote healing in others; pos therapeutic alliance (collaboration and respect) is one of the best predictor of pos outcomes in therapy.

Transference

Freud, Patient unconsciously & inappropriately displaces onto the nurse feelings and behaviors r/t significant figures in pts past

Countertransference

(transference in reverse)

nurse unconsciously displaces feelings r/t significant figure onto patient.

Self-awareness

key component to forming a therapeutic relationship

(important to develop awareness & acknowledge then monitor our responses to patients who possess different values and beliefs.

Therapeutic communication

technique that uses silence, active listening, listening with empathy

Communication process

stimulus, sender, message, channel, receiver

Verbal

all words a person speaks; these are the symbols for emotions and mental images. The content of the message (what is said)

Non Verbal communication skills for nurses

tone of voice

emphasis on certain words

manner in which a person paces

speech, physical appearance, body posture, eye contact, hand gestures, sighs, fidgeting, yawning

The process of the message (non verbal cues a person gives to substantiate or contradict the verbal message)

Cultural considerations

areas that may be problematic include communication style, use of eye contact, perception of touch, cultural filters

Clinical interview

Patient decides and leads the content and direction of the clinical interview.

Pace

Permit patient to set pace, no matter how slow of halting the progress may be

Setting

quality of interaction depends on degree to which the nurse and patient feel safe.

Establish a setting that enhances feelings of security. Exp. conference room, quiet part of unit

Seating

arrange chairs so conversation can take place in normal tones of voice & eye contact can comfortably maintained and avoided.

1. should be at same HT sitting or standing

2. avoid sitting face to face should be at a angle or side by side position

3. Do not position pt. between nurse and door, nor in such a way that makes pt. feel trapped.

4. Avoid desk barrier between nurse and pt.

Introductions

in orientation phase, tells patient

who they are

what the purpose is

how long & what time they will be meeting w/ patient

Initiating the interview

after introduction turn interview over to patient using one of a number of open-ended questions or statements

Empathy

the helping person attempts to understand the world from the patients perspective.

consistent w/ improved patient outcomes & increased patient satisfaction w/ care

Empathy understands the feelings of others while sympathy we feel pity or sorrow for others.