NUR2459 Mental and Behavioral Health Nursing
Appearance (observed) -(answer)Gait, posture, clothes, grooming
Behavior (observed) -(answer)Mannerisms, gestures, psychomotor activity, expression, eye
contact, ability to follow commands/requests, compulsions
Attitude (observed) -(answer)Cooperative, hostile, open, secretive, evasive, suspicious, apathetic,
easily distracted, focused, defensive
Level of Consciousness (observed) -(answer)Vigilant, alert, drowsy, lethargic, stuporous, asleep,
comatose, confused, fluctuating
orientation (inquired) -(answer)What is your full name?
Where are we at (floor, building, city, county, and state)?
What is the full date today (date, month, year, day of the week, and season of year)?
How would you describe the situation we are in?
Speech and Language (observed) -(answer)Quantity-talkative, spontaneous, expansive, paucity,
poverty
Rate-fast, slow, normal, pressured
Volume (tone)-loud, soft, monotone, weak, strong
Fluency and Rhythm-slurred speech, with appropriately placed inflections, hesitant, with good
articulation, aphasic
Mood (inquired)
A sustained state of inner feeling -(answer)How are your spirits?
How are you feeling?
Have you been discouraged/depressed/low/blue lately?
Have you been energized/elated/high/out of control lately?
Have you been angry/irritable/edgy lately?
Affect (observed)
An observed expression of inner feeling -(answer)Appropriateness to situation, consistency with
mood, congruency with thought content.
Fluctuations-labile, even
Range-Broad, restricted
Intensity-Blunted, flat, normal intensity
Appearance (observed) -(answer)Gait, posture, clothes, grooming
Behavior (observed) -(answer)Mannerisms, gestures, psychomotor activity, expression, eye
contact, ability to follow commands/requests, compulsions
Attitude (observed) -(answer)Cooperative, hostile, open, secretive, evasive, suspicious, apathetic,
easily distracted, focused, defensive
Level of Consciousness (observed) -(answer)Vigilant, alert, drowsy, lethargic, stuporous, asleep,
comatose, confused, fluctuating
orientation (inquired) -(answer)What is your full name?
Where are we at (floor, building, city, county, and state)?
What is the full date today (date, month, year, day of the week, and season of year)?
How would you describe the situation we are in?
Speech and Language (observed) -(answer)Quantity-talkative, spontaneous, expansive, paucity,
poverty
Rate-fast, slow, normal, pressured
Volume (tone)-loud, soft, monotone, weak, strong
Fluency and Rhythm-slurred speech, with appropriately placed inflections, hesitant, with good
articulation, aphasic
Mood (inquired)
A sustained state of inner feeling -(answer)How are your spirits?
How are you feeling?
Have you been discouraged/depressed/low/blue lately?
Have you been energized/elated/high/out of control lately?
Have you been angry/irritable/edgy lately?
Affect (observed)
An observed expression of inner feeling -(answer)Appropriateness to situation, consistency with
mood, congruency with thought content.
Fluctuations-labile, even
Range-Broad, restricted
Intensity-Blunted, flat, normal intensity
