Foundations of Mental Health and Medical-Surgical Nursing Review

This set of 150 vocabulary flashcards covers foundations of mental health, cancer care, hematology, and cardiovascular/renal nursing based on lecture notes.

Mental Health

The ability to cope with stress, function productively, maintain relationships, and adapt to change.

Mental Illness

Disorders that affect thinking, mood, behavior, and functioning.

Recovery

Living a meaningful life despite the presence of a mental illness.

Recovery-Oriented Care

Care focused on hope, strengths, independence, patient goals, and empowerment.

Stigma

Negative attitudes toward mental illness that may prevent treatment, cause shame, or affect quality of care.

Nursing Role in Stigma

Using nonjudgmental language, promoting dignity, and advocating for patients.

Therapeutic Relationship Goals

Building trust, encouraging expression of feelings, and promoting coping and problem-solving.

Active listening

A therapeutic communication technique involving full attention to the patient.

Open-ended questions

A therapeutic technique using questions that require more than a yes or no answer.

Reflection

A therapeutic technique where the nurse repeats or mirrors what the patient has expressed.

Silence

A therapeutic communication technique that allows the patient time to think and respond.

False reassurance

A nontherapeutic technique (e.g., "Everything will be fine") that blocks communication.

"Why" questions

A nontherapeutic technique that can make patients feel defensive.

Changing the subject

A nontherapeutic technique that avoids the patient's concerns.

Mental Status Assessment (MSE)

A component of assessment including appearance, behavior, speech, mood, affect, thought process, and cognition.

MSE: Appearance

Observations of hygiene, clothing, and eye contact.

MSE: Behavior

Observations of agitation, calmness, and motor activity.

MSE: Speech

Observation of the rate, volume, and fluency of the patient's talk.

Mood

The emotion a patient states they are feeling.

Affect

The emotion observed by the nurse.

Thought Process

A component of MSE assessing if thoughts are logical, disorganized, or involve flight of ideas.

Flight of ideas

A rapid shifting of ideas from one topic to another in a disorganized manner.

Thought Content

A component of MSE including delusions, suicidal ideation, and obsessions.

Delusions

Fixed false beliefs (e.g., grandiose, persecutory, or somatic).

Perception (MSE)

The assessment of hallucinations or false sensory perceptions.

Cognition (MSE)

The assessment of orientation, memory, and attention.

Insight

The patient's awareness of their own illness.

Judgment

The patient's decision-making ability.

Nursing Process: Step 1

Assess (collecting data).

Nursing Process: Step 2

Diagnose (identifying nursing problems).

Nursing Process: Step 3

Plan (setting goals and interventions).

Nursing Process: Step 4

Implement (carrying out interventions).

Nursing Process: Step 5

Evaluate (determining if goals were met).

Priority Nursing Diagnosis (Psychiatric)

Risk for suicide.

Ductal carcinoma

Breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts.

Lobular carcinoma

Breast cancer that starts in the lobules.

In situ

Noninvasive cancer that remains in its place of origin.

Invasive cancer

Cancer that has spread into the surrounding tissue.

ER positive

Breast cancer where estrogen stimulates the tumor growth.

PR positive

Breast cancer where progesterone stimulates the tumor growth.

HER2 positive

A type of breast cancer characterized by aggressive, rapid growth.

Paget Disease

A special type of breast cancer involving a crusting or red nipple lesion.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

An aggressive breast cancer presenting with a red, swollen breast and Peau d’orange appearance.

Peau d’orange

An orange-peel skin appearance often seen in inflammatory breast cancer.

BRCA mutations

Genetic mutations that serve as a risk factor for breast cancer.

Hard fixed mass

A significant physical finding during a breast assessment indicating potential cancer.

Skin dimpling

An important physical finding in breast cancer assessment.

Mammogram

A diagnostic test used for breast cancer screening.

Biopsy

The definitive diagnostic test to determine if a mass is cancerous.

Lymphedema Prevention

No blood pressure or IVs on the affected arm, elevating the arm, and protecting the skin.

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors

Older age, family history, and African American race.

Urinary hesitancy

A symptom of later-stage prostate cancer.

Hematuria

The presence of blood in the urine, seen in later prostate cancer stages.

PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)

A blood test used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Radical Prostatectomy Nursing Care

Monitor urine output, catheter care, and watch for erectile dysfunction or incontinence.

Anemia

A condition defined by low hemoglobin or RBC count causing decreased oxygen delivery.

Iron Deficiency Anemia Causes

Blood loss, poor intake, or pregnancy.

Ferritin

A lab value that is low in iron deficiency anemia.

Microcytic cells

Small red blood cells characteristic of iron deficiency anemia.

Ferrous Sulfate Teaching

Take with vitamin C, expect dark stools, avoid calcium, and manage constipation.

Glossitis

A symptom of Vitamin B12 deficiency characterized by an inflamed tongue.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Neurologic Symptoms

Numbness and tingling.

Cyanocobalamin

The medication used to treat Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Aplastic Anemia

Bone marrow failure resulting in pancytopenia.

Pancytopenia

A deficiency of all three cellular components of the blood (RBCs, WBCs, and platelets).

Sickle Cell Disease Pathophysiology

Abnormal hemoglobin causing sickling of cells and vessel occlusion.

Sickle Cell Nursing Care

Hydration, oxygen, pain control, and infection prevention.

Hemochromatosis

An iron overload disorder that can cause liver disease, heart disease, or diabetes.

Phlebotomy

The primary treatment for hemochromatosis.

Polycythemia

A condition with too many red blood cells, leading to thick blood and risk of clots or stroke.

Neutropenia

A low Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) resulting in high infection risk.

Febrile Neutropenia

A medical emergency in neutropenic patients involving a fever.

AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia)

An acute, rapidly progressing leukemia.

CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia)

A chronic, slower progressing leukemia.

Hodgkin Lymphoma Marker

Reed-Sternberg cells.

Multiple Myeloma

Cancer of plasma cells causing bone pain, fractures, hypercalcemia, and renal damage.

Filgrastim

A growth factor used to increase neutrophils; a major side effect is bone pain.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) symptoms

Persistent sadness, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, and suicidal thoughts.

SSRIs

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors used to increase serotonin levels in depression.

ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy)

Treatment used for severe or refractory depression.

Suicide Risk Factors

Prior attempts, mental illness, substance use, isolation, and hopelessness.

Suicide Warning Signs

Giving away belongings, talking about death, and sudden calmness after depression.

Nursing Priority for Suicide

Direct suicide assessment and safety precautions.

Hemostasis Step 1

Vessel constriction.

Hemostasis Step 2

Platelet plug formation.

Hemostasis Step 3

Clotting cascade.

Hemostasis Step 4

Clot stabilization.

PT/INR

Lab tests used specifically to monitor Warfarin therapy.

PTT

The lab test used to monitor Heparin therapy.

D-dimer

A lab test that indicates the breakdown of clots.

Protamine sulfate

The antidote for Heparin.

Vitamin K

The antidote for Warfarin; intake must be kept consistent.

Enoxaparin

A low molecular weight heparin given subcutaneously.

DOACs

Direct Oral Anticoagulants like Apixaban and Rivaroxaban; main risk is bleeding.

Antiplatelet Drugs

Aspirin, Clopidogrel, and Ticagrelor.

Thrombocytopenia Symptoms

Petechiae, bruising, and bleeding gums.

Thrombocytopenia Nursing Care

Bleeding precautions, soft toothbrush, and avoid IM injections.

HIT (Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia)

A paradoxical decrease in platelets causing clotting risk after heparin use.

HIT Nursing Action

STOP heparin immediately.

DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation)

Massive clotting followed by depletion of factors, leading to severe bleeding.