RASMUSSEN MENTAL HEALTH ACTUAL EXAM LATEST
2024/2025 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS/
ALREADY GRADED A++
Milieu -ANSWER the environment in which holistic treatment occurs and
includes all members of the treatment team
mental health -ANSWER balance of psychological and emotional well-
being; ability to adapt to life-changing events
mental illness -ANSWER medical conditions that cause dysfunction of the
brain and neurotransmitters that affect a person's thinking, feeling, mood,
ability to relate to others and daily functioning
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs -ANSWER physiological, safety,
love/belonging, esteem, self-actualization; must start at bottom to work
upwards
Erikson's Stages of Development -ANSWER 1. Trust vs. mistrust (Birth to
12-18 months)
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (12-18 months to 3 years)
3. Initiative vs. Guilt (3 years to 5-6 years)
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (5-6 years to adolescence; 6-12 yrs)
5. Identity vs. role diffusion (Adolescence; 12-20 yrs)
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (Early adulthood; 20-30 yrs)
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle adulthood; 30-60 years)
8. Ego-Integrity vs. Despair (Late adulthood; 60+ yrs)
Freud -ANSWER 1) Oral: birth-1.5yrs; pleasure-pain principle; Id:
unconscious mind
2) Anal: 1.5-3yrs; reality principle
3) Phallic: 3-7yrs; reward and punishment principle (superego develops)
4) Latency: 7-12yrs; sexuality is repressed, form close bonds w/same sex
5) Genital phase (adolesence): 13-20yrs; relationships w/opposite sex
Sullivan -ANSWER 1) Infancy (birth-1.5yrs): mothering object relieves
tension through empathetic intervention/tenderness; goal: biological
satisfaction & psychological security
,2) Childhood (1.5-6yrs): muscular maturation & learning to communicate
verbally; task: learn to delay satisfaction of wishes
3) Juvenile (6-9yrs): absorbed in learning to deal w/ever widening outside
world/peers/adults; task: develop interpersonal relationships
4) Preadolescence (9-12yrs): develop intimate relationships w/same sex;
task: learn to care for others of same sex outside of family; "normal
homosexual phase"
Adolscence (12-20yrs): Early (12-14yrs) establishing satisfying
relationships w/opposite sex, Late (14-20yrs) interdependent and
establishing durable sexual relations w/select member of opposite sex
therapeutic communication -ANSWER Verbal and nonverbal
communication techniques that encourage patients to express their feelings
and to achieve a positive relationship (silence, accepting, giving
recognition, offering self, offering general leads, giving broad openings,
making observations, encouraging description of percetion)
Phases of Nurse-Patient Relationship -ANSWER orientation: setting
boundaries/objectives, working towards a common goal, confidentiality
established
working: symptoms/problem solving skill, challengig negative thoughts and
behaviors
termination: can take a long amount of time, ending relationship, role has
now ended
boundaries with patients -ANSWER do not overshare, focus is on the
patient, do not accept gifts, no special favors, blurring boundaries
(overhelping, controlling, narcissism)
Negligence -ANSWER omission to act and can be charged if nurse does
not report a foreseeable harm to the pt
autonomy -ANSWER respecting the rights of others to make their own
decisions
justice -ANSWER the duty to distribute resources or care equally,
regardless of personal attributes
benficence -ANSWER the duty to act so as to benefit or promote the good
of others
,Fidelity (nonmaleficence) -ANSWER maintaining loyalty and commitment
to the patient and doing no wrong to the patient
veracity -ANSWER one's duty to communicate truthfully
Civil rights -ANSWER people with mental illness are guaranteed the same
rights under the federal and state laws as any other citizen
Civil Rights Examples -ANSWER right to refuse medications (unless court
ordered), right to informed consent, right to be involved in treatment, right
to consult w/spiritual advisors, right to visitors (unless needing restriction),
right to request to leave (if voluntary), right to make self-care decisions
(shower, clothing, etc)
informed consent -ANSWER making sure the pts have everything they
need to be educated on any procedure, medications, or any treatment for
them to be able to give informed consent; pt must be competent
confidentiality/HIPPA -ANSWER right to receive psychiatric treatment and
have confidential medical recors legally protected
Psychiatric nursing assessment (priority interventions, nursing dx, etc.) -
ANSWER 1) always safety first, pt specific
2) establish rapport
3) obtain an understanding of the current problem or chief complaint
4) review physical status and obtain baseline VS
5) assess for risk factors affecting safety of pt or others (suicide/homicide)
6) perform a mental status examination (MSE)
7) assess psychosocial status
8) identify mutual treatment goals
9) formulate POC prioritizing pts immediate condition/needs
10) document data
primary depression -ANSWER depression ALONE
secondary depression -ANSWER depression secondary to another dx or
reason
seasonal affective disorder treatment options -ANSWER light therapy
, First-line treatment for depression -ANSWER SSRIs (block the neuronal
uptake of serotonin, leaving more available at the synaptic site)
Examples: citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Fluoxetine
(Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft)
Take 5-6 weeks to fully work; take in AM
SSRI side effects -ANSWER GI upset, sexual dysfunction, nervousness,
headaches, dry mouth; suicidal idealation is major concern first few weeks
TCAs ("start low go slow") -ANSWER inhibit the reuptake of
neurotransmitters, norepinephrine, and serotonin by the presynaptic
neurons in CNS; receptors: norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine,
histamine
Ex: amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), doxepin (Sinequan); 6-8
weeks to work
TCA side effects -ANSWER Sedation, anticholinergic, orthostatic
hypotension, decreased libido, cardiac dysrhythmias
MAOIs -ANSWER second-line medications, prevent breakdown of
norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in brain, increasing levels of
these amines = elevated mood; receptors: norepinephrine, serotonin,
dopamine; examples: isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil),
tranylcypromine (Parnate)
MAOIs side effects -ANSWER hypertensive crisis when taken with
tyramine
caution when taking with SSRIs, meperidine, decongestants, TCAs,
antipsychotics, st johns wort, tryptophan, ritalin, asthma meds
other side effects include insomnia, wgt gain, anticholinergic effects,
lightheadedness or dizziness, sexual dysfunction; avoid foods containing
tyramine
risk factors for suicide -ANSWER depression/mental disorders; family hx of
abuse, violence, suicide; substance abuse; exposure to suicidal behavior;
firearms in the home; previous attempt; hopelessness; isolation; recent
unemployment; loss of relationships; separate/divorced/widowed; 4x more
likely in males; age (elderly men more common, then adolscents, then
college students)
2024/2025 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS/
ALREADY GRADED A++
Milieu -ANSWER the environment in which holistic treatment occurs and
includes all members of the treatment team
mental health -ANSWER balance of psychological and emotional well-
being; ability to adapt to life-changing events
mental illness -ANSWER medical conditions that cause dysfunction of the
brain and neurotransmitters that affect a person's thinking, feeling, mood,
ability to relate to others and daily functioning
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs -ANSWER physiological, safety,
love/belonging, esteem, self-actualization; must start at bottom to work
upwards
Erikson's Stages of Development -ANSWER 1. Trust vs. mistrust (Birth to
12-18 months)
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (12-18 months to 3 years)
3. Initiative vs. Guilt (3 years to 5-6 years)
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (5-6 years to adolescence; 6-12 yrs)
5. Identity vs. role diffusion (Adolescence; 12-20 yrs)
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (Early adulthood; 20-30 yrs)
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle adulthood; 30-60 years)
8. Ego-Integrity vs. Despair (Late adulthood; 60+ yrs)
Freud -ANSWER 1) Oral: birth-1.5yrs; pleasure-pain principle; Id:
unconscious mind
2) Anal: 1.5-3yrs; reality principle
3) Phallic: 3-7yrs; reward and punishment principle (superego develops)
4) Latency: 7-12yrs; sexuality is repressed, form close bonds w/same sex
5) Genital phase (adolesence): 13-20yrs; relationships w/opposite sex
Sullivan -ANSWER 1) Infancy (birth-1.5yrs): mothering object relieves
tension through empathetic intervention/tenderness; goal: biological
satisfaction & psychological security
,2) Childhood (1.5-6yrs): muscular maturation & learning to communicate
verbally; task: learn to delay satisfaction of wishes
3) Juvenile (6-9yrs): absorbed in learning to deal w/ever widening outside
world/peers/adults; task: develop interpersonal relationships
4) Preadolescence (9-12yrs): develop intimate relationships w/same sex;
task: learn to care for others of same sex outside of family; "normal
homosexual phase"
Adolscence (12-20yrs): Early (12-14yrs) establishing satisfying
relationships w/opposite sex, Late (14-20yrs) interdependent and
establishing durable sexual relations w/select member of opposite sex
therapeutic communication -ANSWER Verbal and nonverbal
communication techniques that encourage patients to express their feelings
and to achieve a positive relationship (silence, accepting, giving
recognition, offering self, offering general leads, giving broad openings,
making observations, encouraging description of percetion)
Phases of Nurse-Patient Relationship -ANSWER orientation: setting
boundaries/objectives, working towards a common goal, confidentiality
established
working: symptoms/problem solving skill, challengig negative thoughts and
behaviors
termination: can take a long amount of time, ending relationship, role has
now ended
boundaries with patients -ANSWER do not overshare, focus is on the
patient, do not accept gifts, no special favors, blurring boundaries
(overhelping, controlling, narcissism)
Negligence -ANSWER omission to act and can be charged if nurse does
not report a foreseeable harm to the pt
autonomy -ANSWER respecting the rights of others to make their own
decisions
justice -ANSWER the duty to distribute resources or care equally,
regardless of personal attributes
benficence -ANSWER the duty to act so as to benefit or promote the good
of others
,Fidelity (nonmaleficence) -ANSWER maintaining loyalty and commitment
to the patient and doing no wrong to the patient
veracity -ANSWER one's duty to communicate truthfully
Civil rights -ANSWER people with mental illness are guaranteed the same
rights under the federal and state laws as any other citizen
Civil Rights Examples -ANSWER right to refuse medications (unless court
ordered), right to informed consent, right to be involved in treatment, right
to consult w/spiritual advisors, right to visitors (unless needing restriction),
right to request to leave (if voluntary), right to make self-care decisions
(shower, clothing, etc)
informed consent -ANSWER making sure the pts have everything they
need to be educated on any procedure, medications, or any treatment for
them to be able to give informed consent; pt must be competent
confidentiality/HIPPA -ANSWER right to receive psychiatric treatment and
have confidential medical recors legally protected
Psychiatric nursing assessment (priority interventions, nursing dx, etc.) -
ANSWER 1) always safety first, pt specific
2) establish rapport
3) obtain an understanding of the current problem or chief complaint
4) review physical status and obtain baseline VS
5) assess for risk factors affecting safety of pt or others (suicide/homicide)
6) perform a mental status examination (MSE)
7) assess psychosocial status
8) identify mutual treatment goals
9) formulate POC prioritizing pts immediate condition/needs
10) document data
primary depression -ANSWER depression ALONE
secondary depression -ANSWER depression secondary to another dx or
reason
seasonal affective disorder treatment options -ANSWER light therapy
, First-line treatment for depression -ANSWER SSRIs (block the neuronal
uptake of serotonin, leaving more available at the synaptic site)
Examples: citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Fluoxetine
(Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft)
Take 5-6 weeks to fully work; take in AM
SSRI side effects -ANSWER GI upset, sexual dysfunction, nervousness,
headaches, dry mouth; suicidal idealation is major concern first few weeks
TCAs ("start low go slow") -ANSWER inhibit the reuptake of
neurotransmitters, norepinephrine, and serotonin by the presynaptic
neurons in CNS; receptors: norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine,
histamine
Ex: amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), doxepin (Sinequan); 6-8
weeks to work
TCA side effects -ANSWER Sedation, anticholinergic, orthostatic
hypotension, decreased libido, cardiac dysrhythmias
MAOIs -ANSWER second-line medications, prevent breakdown of
norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in brain, increasing levels of
these amines = elevated mood; receptors: norepinephrine, serotonin,
dopamine; examples: isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil),
tranylcypromine (Parnate)
MAOIs side effects -ANSWER hypertensive crisis when taken with
tyramine
caution when taking with SSRIs, meperidine, decongestants, TCAs,
antipsychotics, st johns wort, tryptophan, ritalin, asthma meds
other side effects include insomnia, wgt gain, anticholinergic effects,
lightheadedness or dizziness, sexual dysfunction; avoid foods containing
tyramine
risk factors for suicide -ANSWER depression/mental disorders; family hx of
abuse, violence, suicide; substance abuse; exposure to suicidal behavior;
firearms in the home; previous attempt; hopelessness; isolation; recent
unemployment; loss of relationships; separate/divorced/widowed; 4x more
likely in males; age (elderly men more common, then adolscents, then
college students)
