How frequently must a patient be assessed for current suicidality? - Answers At every single visit.
Besides suicidality, what other safety risks must be assessed at every visit if clinically indicated? -
Answers Homicidal Ideation (HI) and Auditory/Visual Hallucinations (AVH).
While standardized suicidal screeners are helpful, what specific components must your own individual
assessment questions always include? - Answers Suicidal ideation and suicidal intent.
What 6 distinct patient factors must be considered when formulating a comprehensive plan of care
for mood and sleep disorders? - Answers Culture, genetics, lifestyle, religion, socio-economic status,
and age/life span stage.
What core elements must be interrelated to positively impact patient outcomes? - Answers Clinical
theory, assessment, diagnosis, and intervention.
What 3 types of underlying scientific theories must be applied when planning treatment strategies for
mood and sleep disruptions? - Answers Neurobiological, psychophysiologic, and mechanistic
theories.
Across what age range should a nurse be prepared to utilize non-pharmacological treatments for
mood and sleep disorders? - Answers Across the entire life span, specifically from childhood to
geriatrics.
When providing treatment counseling to individuals and families, what two patient factors dictate the
appropriate level of communication? - Answers The patient's developmental stage and educational
stage.
What clinical objective must be met regarding the various phases of a mood disorder? - Answers
Identifying specific risk factors associated with each phase.
What 3 pillars of psychiatric nursing knowledge must be synthesized to effectively review and develop
case study treatment plans? - Answers Psychopharmacology, assessment/diagnosis, and non-
pharmacological treatments.
What are the two primary classifications of diagnoses reviewed under the category of mood
disorders? - Answers Depressive disorders and bipolar disorders.
In addition to neurobiological theories, what specific sleep-related objective must be reviewed to
treat sleep disorders? - Answers The specific factors affecting a patient's sleep.
Minimum duration for a depressive episode - Answers Two weeks.
How depression often presents in pediatric patients - Answers As irritability.
Two key physiological labs to check in depressed patients - Answers Vitamin D levels and thyroid
levels.
Clinical rule of thumb for starting psychotropic medications - Answers Start low and go slow to
minimize unwanted side effects.
Typical onset time for SSRIs and SNRIs to reach optimum effectiveness - Answers Several weeks.
Key symptoms of atypical depression - Answers Overeating, sleeping too much, and temporary mood
reactivity (appearing happy at times).
Crucial clinical precautions for patients taking Lithium - Answers Narrow therapeutic index; avoid
dehydration and obtain periodic lithium levels.
Risk of combining Trazodone with Seroquel - Answers Increased QTC intervals; requires caution and
EKG evaluation.
Diagnostic hallmarks of Narcolepsy - Answers Repeated daytime sleep episodes, cataplexy, and REM
latency ≤ 15 minutes.
Labs to monitor for patients on second-generation antipsychotics - Answers Insulin, lipids with HDL,
TSH, hepatic panel, CBC with diff, and BMP.
Behavioral intervention for pediatric night terrors - Answers Chart terrors for a week; wake child 30
minutes before typical onset.
Why Wellbutrin should not be administered after 4 PM - Answers It can be activating and interfere
with sleep.
Wellbutrin precaution regarding seizure history - Answers Always consult their neurologist before
starting, especially if the patient smokes tobacco.
Demographic at highest risk for suicide completion - Answers White males over 65 years old.
Four components that must be included in a current suicidal assessment - Answers Ideation, intent,
means, and plan.