NR 606- MIDTERM EXAM Questions with Verified Answers
(Correct Update)
Question 1: What are barriers to seeking mental health care in children & adolescents?
Answer: Children- Although children and adolescents may seek help, they usually drop out
before treatment is effective due to poverty, language barriers, living in communities with lack of
resources, stressors such as family issues, violence in the community, unstable housing,
unemployment and food insecurity. Adolescents- Many parents lack an access to sufficient care
for their children or themselves during perinatal. Parents and adolescents are reluctant to receive
care due to the stigmas or negative perceptions towards mental health services.
Question 2: What are some barriers that pregnant women are faced with when attempting to seek
care for mental health?
Answer: Perinatalcost, scheduling conflicts and high staff turnover rate causes issues for families
seeking care. Less than 15% of women get treated for PPD.
Question 3: Explain the sensorimotor stage (ages 0-2) according to Piaget.
Answer: Children experience the world through their senses and motor responses. The goal of
this stage is object permanence.
Question 4: Explain the pre-operational stage (ages 2-7) according to Piaget.
Answer: Children think symbolically and think very concrete. They learn to use words or
pictures to represent objects. They are egocentric and have difficulty seeing things from others'
perspectives. Preoperational thinking is very concrete. So think very straight forward when you
are teaching them: "You know how its hard for you to sit still and pay attention in school? This
medicine will help you" . Imagination is still strong however abstract thinking is difficult. Think
Ade's responses. THE ABSENCE OF OBJECT PERMANENCE.
Question 5: Explain the concrete-operational stage (ages 7-11) according to Piaget.
Answer: Children begin to think more logical and organized about concrete events. They begin to
reason inductively, from specific information to principles. Using similes within teaching is great
for this group. "It's kind of like you've got a great bike. The brakes just need some fixing. The
medication is like fixing the brakes." Time, space, and quantity is understood however not as
separate concepts.
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, Question 6: Explain the Formal-operational stage (ages 12 and up) according to Piaget.
Answer: Adolescents and young adults begin to reason abstractly and can consider hypothetical
problems. They begin to think more about moral, philosophical, ethical, social, and political
issues. "This medication can help you ignore distractions so you can complete tasks. They can
also help with self-control, which may help you get along better with your friends and parents.
Do you have any concerns about taking the medication?" They begin to start planning at this age.
Question 7: How does consent work with children?
Answer: Parents may decide whether to allow treatment if the child is unable to provide true
informed consent (Preston et al., 2021). Although children may not be able to give legal consent,
they should be included in discussions about medication and treatment whenever possible. Child
input into treatment decisions may encourage treatment adherence. Positive experiences with
providers and treatment can help instill the perception that treatment is beneficial, which can
support positive mental health behaviors in the future.
Question 8: What should be included in the consent form and documentation when discussing
information (such as taking psychotropic drugs) with pregnant patients?
Answer: Informed consent should include side effects possible/rare side effects to mother and
baby regardless of incidence the patient's decision to continue or discontinue treatment potential
risks of continuing or discontinuing treatment Referral to perinatal psychiatrist if the patient is at
high risk or on a high-risk medication.
Question 9: What are some points that PMHNP should take into consideration when prescribing
medications for children? Metabolism, Excretion, Side effects
Answer: Metabolism- Children have a higher metabolism than adults and may require higher
dose of medication per body weight. When they reach puberty in adolescents is when the
medication is usually titrated down because they are reaching a metabolism of an adult.
Excretion- Children are going to excrete medications quicker due to high metabolism. Ensure to
use proper prescribing protocol per weight. Again, may need higher doses than adults. Side
effects- Children may not understand that they are experiencing side effects so the PMHNP must
ensure to educate and include the child in prescribing education as well as be keen to side effects
that the child may or may not describe. (Listen to the parents as well). Allow children to
participate in the treatment plan
Question 10: PMHNP are mandatory reporters and MUST report any forms of child abuse, neglect
or suspicions of such to the authorities. There are federal and state guidelines that we are expected to
follow. What is this federal guideline called?
Answer: The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
Page 2
(Correct Update)
Question 1: What are barriers to seeking mental health care in children & adolescents?
Answer: Children- Although children and adolescents may seek help, they usually drop out
before treatment is effective due to poverty, language barriers, living in communities with lack of
resources, stressors such as family issues, violence in the community, unstable housing,
unemployment and food insecurity. Adolescents- Many parents lack an access to sufficient care
for their children or themselves during perinatal. Parents and adolescents are reluctant to receive
care due to the stigmas or negative perceptions towards mental health services.
Question 2: What are some barriers that pregnant women are faced with when attempting to seek
care for mental health?
Answer: Perinatalcost, scheduling conflicts and high staff turnover rate causes issues for families
seeking care. Less than 15% of women get treated for PPD.
Question 3: Explain the sensorimotor stage (ages 0-2) according to Piaget.
Answer: Children experience the world through their senses and motor responses. The goal of
this stage is object permanence.
Question 4: Explain the pre-operational stage (ages 2-7) according to Piaget.
Answer: Children think symbolically and think very concrete. They learn to use words or
pictures to represent objects. They are egocentric and have difficulty seeing things from others'
perspectives. Preoperational thinking is very concrete. So think very straight forward when you
are teaching them: "You know how its hard for you to sit still and pay attention in school? This
medicine will help you" . Imagination is still strong however abstract thinking is difficult. Think
Ade's responses. THE ABSENCE OF OBJECT PERMANENCE.
Question 5: Explain the concrete-operational stage (ages 7-11) according to Piaget.
Answer: Children begin to think more logical and organized about concrete events. They begin to
reason inductively, from specific information to principles. Using similes within teaching is great
for this group. "It's kind of like you've got a great bike. The brakes just need some fixing. The
medication is like fixing the brakes." Time, space, and quantity is understood however not as
separate concepts.
Page 1
, Question 6: Explain the Formal-operational stage (ages 12 and up) according to Piaget.
Answer: Adolescents and young adults begin to reason abstractly and can consider hypothetical
problems. They begin to think more about moral, philosophical, ethical, social, and political
issues. "This medication can help you ignore distractions so you can complete tasks. They can
also help with self-control, which may help you get along better with your friends and parents.
Do you have any concerns about taking the medication?" They begin to start planning at this age.
Question 7: How does consent work with children?
Answer: Parents may decide whether to allow treatment if the child is unable to provide true
informed consent (Preston et al., 2021). Although children may not be able to give legal consent,
they should be included in discussions about medication and treatment whenever possible. Child
input into treatment decisions may encourage treatment adherence. Positive experiences with
providers and treatment can help instill the perception that treatment is beneficial, which can
support positive mental health behaviors in the future.
Question 8: What should be included in the consent form and documentation when discussing
information (such as taking psychotropic drugs) with pregnant patients?
Answer: Informed consent should include side effects possible/rare side effects to mother and
baby regardless of incidence the patient's decision to continue or discontinue treatment potential
risks of continuing or discontinuing treatment Referral to perinatal psychiatrist if the patient is at
high risk or on a high-risk medication.
Question 9: What are some points that PMHNP should take into consideration when prescribing
medications for children? Metabolism, Excretion, Side effects
Answer: Metabolism- Children have a higher metabolism than adults and may require higher
dose of medication per body weight. When they reach puberty in adolescents is when the
medication is usually titrated down because they are reaching a metabolism of an adult.
Excretion- Children are going to excrete medications quicker due to high metabolism. Ensure to
use proper prescribing protocol per weight. Again, may need higher doses than adults. Side
effects- Children may not understand that they are experiencing side effects so the PMHNP must
ensure to educate and include the child in prescribing education as well as be keen to side effects
that the child may or may not describe. (Listen to the parents as well). Allow children to
participate in the treatment plan
Question 10: PMHNP are mandatory reporters and MUST report any forms of child abuse, neglect
or suspicions of such to the authorities. There are federal and state guidelines that we are expected to
follow. What is this federal guideline called?
Answer: The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
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