Psych/Mental Health Nursing – Restraints, Benzodiazepines, and Speech Patterns

18 question-and-answer flashcards covering restraints, benzodiazepines, acute-care assumptions, speech patterns, and fundamentals of therapeutic communication.

What is the first principle to follow before applying restraints to a patient?

Use the least-invasive intervention first and document it.

What is the primary goal when restraints are considered for a patient?

To calm the patient, if possible, without resorting to restraints.

When assessing a patient in restraints, what two signs can indicate decreased circulation in an extremity?

Paleness and coolness of the limb.

Why should patients taking benzodiazepines avoid driving or operating heavy machinery initially?

Benzodiazepines can cause drowsiness, and patients need to know how the medications affect them before engaging in such activities.

What is the reversal agent for benzodiazepine overdose?

Flumazenil (Mazicon).

In ATI test questions, what is the assumed care setting unless otherwise stated?

Acute care.

Are bed alarms considered restraints in acute-care settings?

No, bed alarms are not classified as restraints in acute care.

What factor determines whether bed alarms are considered restraints in long-term-care settings?

Individual facility policy and the type of alarm.

Define the speech pattern "circumstantiality."

Providing excessive and unnecessary details before finally answering a question or reaching the point.

What characterizes a "neologism" in patient speech?

The patient uses made-up or invented words.

Which speech pattern involves a patient repeating another person’s words?

Echolalia.

What is "verbigeration"?

Repetition of an entire sentence or phrase by the patient.

Describe a "loose association" speech pattern.

A series of sentences in which a single word or idea loosely links the thoughts (e.g., “The sky is blue. Blue is my old dog. Dogs like walks.”).

How does "flight of ideas" differ from loose associations?

The patient jumps rapidly from one unrelated idea to another (e.g., “I have homework. My car is red. The light needs changed.”).

What is a "word salad" speech pattern?

Random, unconnected words spoken together (e.g., “dog, rain, ceiling”).

Define "clang association."

Speech in which words are chosen based on their sound (rhyming) rather than meaning (e.g., “I’m blue and need a clue to tie my shoe.”).

Name the four standard phases of a professional therapeutic nurse–patient relationship.

Pre-interaction, Orientation (or Introduction), Working, and Termination phases.

When interacting with patients, why is it important to distinguish therapeutic from non-therapeutic communication techniques?

Therapeutic techniques promote patient trust, understanding, and growth, whereas non-therapeutic techniques can hinder communication and patient progress.