Mental Health Nursing Fundamentals Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering mental health definitions, legal/ethical principles, communication zones, and therapeutic relationship phases.

Mental Health

A dynamic, ever-changing state influenced by individual (personal), interpersonal (relationship), and social/cultural (environmental) factors, with no single, universal definition.

Mental Illness

Disorders that affect mood, behavior, and thinking, often causing significant distress and/or impaired day-to-day functioning.

DSM-5-R

A taxonomy published by the American Psychiatric Association to standardize nomenclature, present defining characteristics/symptoms, and assist in identifying causes of disorders.

Involuntary Hospitalization

Detention in a psychiatric facility for $48$ to $72$ hours on an emergency basis when a person is a danger to themselves or others, governed by state laws.

Guardianship

Legal status for individuals with grave disability or incompetency who are unable to provide for their own food, clothing, or shelter, requiring a legal guardian to speak for them.

Least Restrictive Environment

The right to treatment appropriate to meet client needs while remaining free of restraint or seclusion unless necessary as a last resort.

Restraint

The direct application of physical force to a person without permission, which can be human or mechanical.

Seclusion

Involuntary confinement in a specially constructed, locked room equipped with a security window or camera for direct visual monitoring.

Duty to Warn

An exception to the client's right to confidentiality under HIPAA where third parties must be informed of potential threats or abuse.

Malpractice Elements

The four required elements to prove a tort: Duty, Breach of duty, Injury or damage, and Causation.

Deontology

An ethical theory where decisions are based on whether an action is morally right or wrong, regardless of the consequences.

Autonomy

The ethical principle representing the right to self-determination and independence.

Beneficence

The ethical duty to benefit others or promote good.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical requirement to do no harm.

Veracity

The ethical principle of honesty and truthfulness.

Fidelity

The ethical obligation to honor commitments and contracts.

Proxemics: Intimate Zone

A distance of $0-18$ in from the person.

Proxemics: Personal Zone

A distance of $18-36$ in from the person.

Proxemics: Social Zone

A distance of $4-12$ ft from the person.

Proxemics: Public Zone

A distance of $12-25$ ft from the person.

Active Listening

Concentrating exclusively on what the patient says during communication.

Active Observation

Watching nonverbal actions as a speaker communicates to recognize important issues.

Overt Signals

Clear and direct statements made by the client.

Covert Signals

Vague or indirect messages that require interpretation of cues.

Congruence

When oral communication matches nonverbal cues and actions, showing genuine interest.

Empathy

The ability to perceive the client's meanings and feelings and to communicate compassion and understanding.

Orientation Phase

The phase of the therapeutic relationship where roles are established, purposes of meetings are discussed, and contracts/confidentiality are clarified.

Working Phase

The phase focused on problem identification, examination of feelings, and development of better coping skills and behavioral change.

Termination Phase

The final phase that begins when problems are resolved and ends the relationship; clients may experience regression or feel it as an impending loss.

Flat Affect

A type of emotional expression characterized by the absence of facial expression or emotion.

Blunted Affect

An emotional expression showing only mild or minimal outward signs of emotion.

Euthymic

A normal or even-keeled mood state.

Transference

A phenomenon where the person in treatment redirects feelings for others (such as a parent) onto the nurse.

Countertransference

Occurs when a nurse transfers their own emotions or feelings onto the patient.

Projection

Attributing a behavior or feeling that you have about a person onto them, such as convincing yourself a boss dislikes you because you dislike them.