Psychiatric Nursing Review: Key Concepts and Interventions

Vocabulary flashcards covering diagnoses, treatments, interventions, safety, and client-care concepts from the lecture notes.

Involuntary commitment criteria

Danger to self or others; grave disability; or imminent risk due to inability to meet basic needs, warranting involuntary hospitalization.

Stage 5 Alzheimer’s caregiver topics

Techniques to assist with ADLs (hygiene, dressing, grooming) and strategies to reorient the person to time and place.

Essential psychiatric nursing concepts

Evidence-based practice; integration of biological knowledge; psychosocial adaptation and physical functioning; understanding psychiatric/mental health conditions.

PTSD indicators

Intrusive thoughts; persistent fear of flying; nightmares about the crash; symptoms consistent with PTSD.

Therapy session initiation actions

Opening the session by guiding problem-solving and encouraging development of coping strategies.

Restraint and seclusion safety

Know and follow policies; assess circulation, nutrition, respiration, hydration, elimination; discontinue at the earliest safe time.

Incest survivor nursing diagnoses

Powerlessness and low self-esteem may be present due to abuse; these are common nursing diagnoses.

Electroconvulsive therapy indications

Indicated for severe depression not responsive to medication and in certain cases where rapid response is needed or meds are not tolerated.

Alzheimer’s unit room safety strategies

Provide hearing aids/glasses; place familiar personal items outside the door; prioritize monitoring and safety near staff.

Healthy stress management strategies

Identify stressors; employ deep breathing and relaxation techniques to reduce tension.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome symptoms

High fever; severe muscle rigidity; autonomic instability (dysrhythmias can occur).

Personality disorder traits

Traits are rigid/inflexible; often lack insight; individuals may have difficulty accepting consequences; genetic/biochemical factors contribute.

Anxiety coping mechanisms

Awareness of anxiety triggers; use relaxation techniques; practice meditation.

Therapeutic delusion-focused responses

Acknowledge fears nonjudgmentally and validate experiences while guiding reality testing.

ECT risk factors

Increased risk with osteoporosis, acute/chronic pulmonary disorders, and recent cardiovascular events; anesthesia considerations.

Anxiety being common and coping

Anxiety is a common experience in society; exercise can function as a coping mechanism.

Grief interventions for school-age children

Provide presence (offer self) and refer to child grief support groups; allow expression with appropriate privacy.

Effective suicide-risk interventions

Safety planning and supportive interventions, including individual attention and encouraging contact with supports.

MAOI dietary restrictions

Avoid tyramine-rich foods such as aged cheeses, cured meats (e.g., salami, pepperoni) and red wine to prevent hypertensive crisis.

Bereavement high-risk indicators

Recent loss of multiple significant relationships or sudden/unexpected deaths places individuals at higher risk for complicated grief.

Coping after deployment grief support

Journaling feelings; engaging in enjoyable activities; participating in support groups to alleviate distress.

Home-visit diagnosis considerations

Common conditions addressed in home health include major depressive disorder and Alzheimer’s disease as reasons for home visits.

Persistent depressive disorder characteristics

Chronic depressed mood with accompanying appetite disturbance, sleep problems, and loss of interest in activities.

Involuntary medication criteria

Need for medications when patient is dangerous to self or others, or deemed incompetent, with meds offering a reasonable chance of benefit.

Therapeutic nurse-client relationship traits

Key elements include trust, empathy, boundaries, respect, and collaborative goal-setting fostering rapport.

Relapse prevention focus

Maintain physical health; reduce solitary unstructured time; sustain long-term involvement in treatment.

Self-esteem improvement in aging adults

Encourage social engagement and structured social activities to boost self-esteem.

Crisis inventory goal

Achieve psychological resolution of the client’s immediate crisis.

Benzodiazepine discharge misconception

Routine blood level monitoring for toxicity is typically not required; educate on safety, dependence, and interactions instead.

PTSD from sexual abuse recall

Re-experiencing symptoms such as distressing dreams or memories related to sexual abuse.

DSM-IV-TR anxiety duration criterion

Anxiety is excessive when present most days for at least six months.

Manic episode nursing intervention

Use a calm, unemotional, non-confrontational approach to reduce stimulus and help communication.

Persecutory delusion

A false belief that one is being persecuted or targeted by others (delusion of persecution).

Abuse safety planning

Discuss options for safety and resources to leave or stay safe after abuse.

Elder abuse indicators

Fractures in elderly living with caregivers; suspicion of abuse/neglect; must assess for safety.

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Diminished or flat affect, alogia, avolition; decline in emotional expression.

Situational crisis

Crisis resulting from an external event (e.g., theft) rather than ongoing psychiatric illness.

Sharing client information appropriately

Confidentiality permitted when there is imminent risk to others; otherwise share only with the team as needed.

Therapeutic response to acute distress

Validate feelings, stay with the client, and invite them to talk about their emotions.

Non-therapeutic response example

Dismissive phrases such as 'everything will be fine' that minimize the client's distress.

Ageism definition

Stereotype that older adults cannot understand or learn new information.

Crisis intervention steps order

Typical step sequence in crisis requires prioritizing safety, rapport, assessment, and planning; represented as 2,1,4,3 in the notes.

Alcohol withdrawal risk for injury

Due to CNS stimulation and autonomic changes, patients are at risk of physical injury during withdrawal.

Lifetime suicide risk in midlife history

Individuals with prior attempts have a significant lifetime risk of completed suicide.

Bipolar disorder: priority nursing diagnosis

Risk for suicide related to hopelessness; a critical safety concern in bipolar disorder.

First step with suspicious schizophrenia patient

Establish safety and build therapeutic rapport; assess trust and basic needs before other interventions.