NURS 3122 - Nursing Care Plans Final
Exam and All Actual Answers 2026-2027
Updated.
Depression - Patient & Family, Assessment - Answer Patient Assessment:
(depends on the case study)
Symptoms of depression can vary among age groups, although irritability, sadness, and
anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure) are common at all ages.
Differences
include the following:
• Infants experiencing depression may fail to eat and grow.
• Toddlers can show regressive behaviors in toileting and
other activities.
• Preschoolers have less symbolic and other play activities, and demonstrate self-destructive
play themes. They may whine and show irritability, disinterest, and lack of
confidence.
• School-age children may show a decrease in academic
performance, increased or decreased physical activity, somatic complaints, and loss of friends.
The older school-age child may talk of running away or show signs of boredom and low self-
esteem.
• The adolescent can have a wide array of symptoms such as anxiety, decreased social contact,
poor school performance, lack of involvement in typical activities, poor self-care, difficulty with
parents and teachers, or focus on
violence.
Depression - Patient & Family, Priorities - Answer 1. Safety
2. Assess and monitor emotional state
3. Clinical therapy
Depression - Analysis (what are the physiological implications of what you found?) - Answer
What is depression?
Psychological distress that can range from mild to severe.
What causes depression?
Theories have been proposed to explain the cause of depression in children and adolescents.
Depression may be biological in origin or a result of learned helplessness, cognitive distortion,
social skills deficit, or family dysfunction. The physiologic theory focuses on monoamine
neurotransmission. These amines include indolamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and
dopamine, and decreases are sometimes found in depression.
, Depression - Analysis (what are the physiological implications of what you found? 2 - Answer
Who is at risk?
Parental depression is a strong predictor of childhood depression. Abuse and neglect, family
conflict, parental death, and low socioeconomic status predispose children to depression. Other
psychiatric diagnoses are common in children with depression; these include conditions such as
ADHD, anxiety disorder, bipolar disease, or substance abuse (Shatkin, 2015).
What are some clinical manifestations?
Characteristic findings of major depression in children and adolescents include declining school
performance, withdrawal from social activities, sleep disturbance (either too much or too little),
appetite disturbance (too much or too little), multiple somatic complaints (especially headaches
and stomachaches), decreased energy, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, low self-
esteem, and feelings of hopelessness. There is much variation among children in the symptoms
displayed, and they often have
some but not all of the major criteria.
Depression - Plan/Goals
must be STROMMC
(singular, client centered, time-limited, observable, realistic, mutual, measurable) - Answer If
we want to target safety: We want to ensure that the child remains free from self-harm and
injury throughout the shift.
If we want to assess and monitor mental status: Regularly assess the child's mood, affect, and
emotional well-being. Use the appropriate screening tool according to age.
If we want to target clinical therapy: ensure that the child will take prescribed medication on
time and without resistance throughout the shift. If the child is prescribed antidepressants or
other medications, it's important to ensure adherence and monitor for side effects.
Depression - Interventions or Implementation
Focused on Nursing Scope and with rationale for interventions - Answer Safety interventions:
Assess the child for signs of suicidal ideation or self-harm behaviors.
Maintain a safe environment (e.g., remove harmful objects).
Establish a suicide prevention plan if necessary.
Monitor the child closely, especially during high-risk times (after stressful events or changes in
mood).
Mental status interventions:
Use tools like mood charts or age-appropriate depression screening instruments.
Ask about feelings of sadness, irritability, or hopelessness.
Monitor for changes in mood, energy levels, or behavior.
Exam and All Actual Answers 2026-2027
Updated.
Depression - Patient & Family, Assessment - Answer Patient Assessment:
(depends on the case study)
Symptoms of depression can vary among age groups, although irritability, sadness, and
anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure) are common at all ages.
Differences
include the following:
• Infants experiencing depression may fail to eat and grow.
• Toddlers can show regressive behaviors in toileting and
other activities.
• Preschoolers have less symbolic and other play activities, and demonstrate self-destructive
play themes. They may whine and show irritability, disinterest, and lack of
confidence.
• School-age children may show a decrease in academic
performance, increased or decreased physical activity, somatic complaints, and loss of friends.
The older school-age child may talk of running away or show signs of boredom and low self-
esteem.
• The adolescent can have a wide array of symptoms such as anxiety, decreased social contact,
poor school performance, lack of involvement in typical activities, poor self-care, difficulty with
parents and teachers, or focus on
violence.
Depression - Patient & Family, Priorities - Answer 1. Safety
2. Assess and monitor emotional state
3. Clinical therapy
Depression - Analysis (what are the physiological implications of what you found?) - Answer
What is depression?
Psychological distress that can range from mild to severe.
What causes depression?
Theories have been proposed to explain the cause of depression in children and adolescents.
Depression may be biological in origin or a result of learned helplessness, cognitive distortion,
social skills deficit, or family dysfunction. The physiologic theory focuses on monoamine
neurotransmission. These amines include indolamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and
dopamine, and decreases are sometimes found in depression.
, Depression - Analysis (what are the physiological implications of what you found? 2 - Answer
Who is at risk?
Parental depression is a strong predictor of childhood depression. Abuse and neglect, family
conflict, parental death, and low socioeconomic status predispose children to depression. Other
psychiatric diagnoses are common in children with depression; these include conditions such as
ADHD, anxiety disorder, bipolar disease, or substance abuse (Shatkin, 2015).
What are some clinical manifestations?
Characteristic findings of major depression in children and adolescents include declining school
performance, withdrawal from social activities, sleep disturbance (either too much or too little),
appetite disturbance (too much or too little), multiple somatic complaints (especially headaches
and stomachaches), decreased energy, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, low self-
esteem, and feelings of hopelessness. There is much variation among children in the symptoms
displayed, and they often have
some but not all of the major criteria.
Depression - Plan/Goals
must be STROMMC
(singular, client centered, time-limited, observable, realistic, mutual, measurable) - Answer If
we want to target safety: We want to ensure that the child remains free from self-harm and
injury throughout the shift.
If we want to assess and monitor mental status: Regularly assess the child's mood, affect, and
emotional well-being. Use the appropriate screening tool according to age.
If we want to target clinical therapy: ensure that the child will take prescribed medication on
time and without resistance throughout the shift. If the child is prescribed antidepressants or
other medications, it's important to ensure adherence and monitor for side effects.
Depression - Interventions or Implementation
Focused on Nursing Scope and with rationale for interventions - Answer Safety interventions:
Assess the child for signs of suicidal ideation or self-harm behaviors.
Maintain a safe environment (e.g., remove harmful objects).
Establish a suicide prevention plan if necessary.
Monitor the child closely, especially during high-risk times (after stressful events or changes in
mood).
Mental status interventions:
Use tools like mood charts or age-appropriate depression screening instruments.
Ask about feelings of sadness, irritability, or hopelessness.
Monitor for changes in mood, energy levels, or behavior.
