NSG3233 Mental Health Nursing Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering mental health nursing concepts, pharmacology, and psychiatric disorders based on course exams and ATI review materials.

Mental health

A state of well-being where an individual realizes their potential, manages typical life stressors, works productively, and contributes to their community.

Diathesis-stress model

A high-yield concept suggesting that mental disorders result from a biological predisposition combined with environmental stressors.

Prevalence

The total number of existing cases in a population at a specific point in time.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a condition occurring within a specified timeframe.

Psychoanalytic theory

A framework developed by Freud focusing on the id, ego, and superego, as well as the unconscious mind and defense mechanisms.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A therapy derived from Beck's theories focused on addressing automatic negative thoughts and cognitive distortions.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Developed by Linehan to balance acceptance and change; primarily used for borderline personality disorder.

Milieu therapy

The therapeutic use of the environment, including structure, safety, and norms, to facilitate treatment.

Voluntary admission

An admission where the patient consents and retains most rights, though the facility may hold them for $24–72$ hours if they are imminently dangerous.

Involuntary admission

A court-ordered or provider-ordered admission for individuals posing a danger to themselves or others, or experiencing grave disability.

Least restrictive environment

The guiding ethical and legal principle to use the minimal intervention necessary to maintain safety.

Duty to warn

Also known as the Tarasoff exception, this allows for a breach of confidentiality when a patient poses a specific threat to another person.

Tertiary prevention

Efforts focused on rehabilitation and the prevention of relapse for individuals already diagnosed with a condition.

Orientation phase

The initial phase of the nurse-patient relationship involving trust-building and establishing the clinical contract.

Transference

Occurs when a patient projects feelings regarding someone else onto the nurse.

Countertransference

Occurs when the nurse projects their own feelings onto a patient, requiring self-monitoring.

Serotonin syndrome

A life-threatening condition involving agitation, hyperthermia, tremor, and diaphoresis, often caused by combining serotonergic agents.

SSRI Black Box Warning

A label indicating an increased risk of suicide in individuals aged $<25$ years during the first few weeks of treatment.

MAOI dietary restriction

A requirement to avoid tyramine-rich foods, such as aged cheeses and cured meats, to prevent hypertensive crisis.

Lithium therapeutic range

A narrow therapeutic index of $0.6–1.2\,mEq/L$, with toxicity levels commonly starting above $1.5\,mEq/L$.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

A medical emergency associated with antipsychotics characterized by muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, and autonomic instability.

Agranulocytosis

A serious drop in white blood cell counts associated with Clozapine, requiring frequent Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) monitoring.

Acute dystonia

A sudden, emergent muscle spasm or torticollis treated with intramuscular anticholinergics.

Tardive dyskinesia

Involuntary movements such as lip smacking or tongue protrusion resulting from long-term antipsychotic use, often irreversible.

Conversion Disorder

The presence of neurological symptoms, such as paralysis or blindness, without an organic cause, often following stress.

DIGFAST

A mnemonic for mania symptoms: Distractibility, Indiscretion, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increase, Sleep deficit, and Talkativeness.

SIGECAPS

A mnemonic for Major Depressive Disorder: Sleep, Interest (loss), Guilt, Energy (loss), Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor, and Suicidal ideation.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A procedure for treatment-resistant depression; priority care includes monitoring the airway and addressing temporary memory loss postwar.

Refeeding syndrome

A dangerous complication in malnourished patients where phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium levels drop rapidly upon reintroducing nutrition.

Positive symptoms

Excessive or additional functions in schizophrenia, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech.

Negative symptoms

The loss of normal functions in schizophrenia, often called the '5 A's,' including flat affect, avolition, and anhedonia.

Command hallucinations

A safety priority in psychiatric nursing where the patient hears voices instructing them to harm themselves or others.

Bulimia Nervosa signs

Indicators include dental erosion, parotid gland swelling, and Russell's sign (calluses on knuckles) from purging behaviors.

Maturational crisis

A disruption in functioning caused by expected life transitions and developmental milestones.

Adventitious crisis

A crisis resulting from unplanned disasters, such as natural catastrophes or acts of mass violence.

Splitting

A defense mechanism common in Borderline Personality Disorder where individuals view others as entirely good or entirely bad.

Delirium tremens (DTs)

A life-threatening alcohol withdrawal reaction occurring $48–96$ hours after the last drink, involving severe confusion and autonomic instability.

CAGE questionnaire

A screening tool for alcohol use disorder assessing the need to Cut down, being Annoyed by criticism, feeling Guilty, and using an Eye-opener.

Delirium

A sudden, fluctuating, and usually reversible state of impaired consciousness often caused by medical conditions like an infection.

Dementia

A gradual, progressive, and generally irreversible neurocognitive decline characterized by memory loss and executive dysfunction.