NURS 6501 Final EXAM (2026)
QUESTIONS AND (Elaborated)
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
What is the role of the primary care provider in mental health? - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔- Screen for mental health issues
- Improve outcomes and reduce health care costs
- Assess and give care to mild-moderate disorders or patients with stable
severe mental disorders
- From strong links with mental health specialty care for complex cases
Sharing patient info (ex: meds used)
,about PHQ2
- what does it screen for, what are the questions, scoring - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔-
Screens for MDD
- It is the first two questions of the PHQ9
- In the last two week, have you been feeling these (not at all, several days,
more than half the day, nearly everyday):
- Little interest or pleasure in doing things?
- Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless?
Scoring:
A single yes or score >3 (out of 0-6) = possible clinical depression ⇒ due
the PHQ9
If the pt screens (+) ⇒ continue to eval with the PHQ9
about PHQ9
,- what its used for, questions, scoring - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Used for screening,
diagnosing, and treating
- It asks about functioning impairments which is needed for the DSM-based
diagnosis
Includes asking about suicide or hurting self
Scoring:
0-27 available
0-4: Minimal/none
Monitor; may not require treatment
5-9: Mild
Use clinical judgment; follow-up in one month
10-14: Moderate
Use clinical judgment; may need meds if functionally impaired
15-19: Moderately Severe
Warrants active treatment with psychotherapy, meds, or combo
COPYRIGHT©PROFFKERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2026. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE.
PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, 20-27: Severe
Warrants active treatment with psychotherapy, meds, or combo
What is the appropriate initiation dose for fluoxetine for adults and geriatric
adults? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔20mg PO once daily in the AM
- May ↑ daily dose after several weeks if inadequate response
- Full therapeutic effect may be delayed 4 weeks or longer
- Max dose: 80mg/day
What labs would be appropriate to draw if you initiate fluoxetine in a
geriatric patient? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Sodium levels
- Baseline screening & after 3-4 weeks in high-risk patients (> 65yrs,
previous hx of antidepressant-induced hyponatremia, low body weight,
concomitant use of thiazides or other hyponatremia-inducing agents)
- monitor regularly in the elderly
What are potential side effects of SSRI medications?
- what are the common SSRIs, LEAP of them, and zoloft AE - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔Common SSRIs:
Lexapro, celexa, paxil, zoloft, prozac
QUESTIONS AND (Elaborated)
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
What is the role of the primary care provider in mental health? - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔- Screen for mental health issues
- Improve outcomes and reduce health care costs
- Assess and give care to mild-moderate disorders or patients with stable
severe mental disorders
- From strong links with mental health specialty care for complex cases
Sharing patient info (ex: meds used)
,about PHQ2
- what does it screen for, what are the questions, scoring - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔-
Screens for MDD
- It is the first two questions of the PHQ9
- In the last two week, have you been feeling these (not at all, several days,
more than half the day, nearly everyday):
- Little interest or pleasure in doing things?
- Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless?
Scoring:
A single yes or score >3 (out of 0-6) = possible clinical depression ⇒ due
the PHQ9
If the pt screens (+) ⇒ continue to eval with the PHQ9
about PHQ9
,- what its used for, questions, scoring - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Used for screening,
diagnosing, and treating
- It asks about functioning impairments which is needed for the DSM-based
diagnosis
Includes asking about suicide or hurting self
Scoring:
0-27 available
0-4: Minimal/none
Monitor; may not require treatment
5-9: Mild
Use clinical judgment; follow-up in one month
10-14: Moderate
Use clinical judgment; may need meds if functionally impaired
15-19: Moderately Severe
Warrants active treatment with psychotherapy, meds, or combo
COPYRIGHT©PROFFKERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2026. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE.
PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, 20-27: Severe
Warrants active treatment with psychotherapy, meds, or combo
What is the appropriate initiation dose for fluoxetine for adults and geriatric
adults? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔20mg PO once daily in the AM
- May ↑ daily dose after several weeks if inadequate response
- Full therapeutic effect may be delayed 4 weeks or longer
- Max dose: 80mg/day
What labs would be appropriate to draw if you initiate fluoxetine in a
geriatric patient? - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Sodium levels
- Baseline screening & after 3-4 weeks in high-risk patients (> 65yrs,
previous hx of antidepressant-induced hyponatremia, low body weight,
concomitant use of thiazides or other hyponatremia-inducing agents)
- monitor regularly in the elderly
What are potential side effects of SSRI medications?
- what are the common SSRIs, LEAP of them, and zoloft AE - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔Common SSRIs:
Lexapro, celexa, paxil, zoloft, prozac
