Practice Settings

Question 1

what is acute care for mental health?

Answer 1

care for patients with severe mental illness

Question 2

what kinds of settings are used for acute mental health care?

Answer 2

medical hospital - patient with mental health needs also has medical needs
emergency rooms
inpatient psych units

Question 3

mental health admission criteria

Answer 3

• unable to meet own basic needs
• significant decline in health
• unable to meet community care goals
• risk of harm to self or others

Question 4

mental health admission goals

Answer 4

• prevention of further harm
• stabilization
• therapeutic care
• discharge to community care

Question 5

what is a voluntary commitment?

Answer 5

patient comes to facility on purpose and chooses to be admitted, retains right to apply for release at any time

Question 6

what is temporary emergency admission?

Answer 6

patient is unable to make decisions regarding care
length of stay can vary

Question 7

what is involuntary commitment?

Answer 7

admitted for indefinite period
requires sign-off by 2 providers

Question 8

what is long-term involuntary commitment?

Answer 8

imposed by court order
ranges from 6-180 days

Question 9

nursing responsibilities in acute mental health care

Answer 9

manage unit
milieu - safe environment

Question 10

what to remove from mental health patient environment

Answer 10

remove unnecessary cords, electronic and BP cuff
remove IV poles
remove sharps container from the room
remove unnecessary items from the walls or have them bolted down
remove doorknobs or accessibility poles that could be used to hang oneself, along with sheets
remove anything that could be a projectile - metal trays etc
make sure light fixtures cannot be broken and used for harm to self or others

Question 11

mental health unit safe items

Answer 11

• bed bolted to the floor
• sheets tear easily
• lights embedded to the wall and lightbulbs covered
• soft flexible pencils
• shower head comes straight out from wall, completely smooth
• slide door hook, no handle

Question 12

what is primary mental illness prevention?

Answer 12

removal of risk factors helps to prevent mental health problems from occuring

Question 13

what is secondary mental illness prevention?

Answer 13

early detection of mental illness

Question 14

what is tertiary mental illness prevention?

Answer 14

period after mental health crisis occurred
rehabilitation
prevention of further problems

Question 15

risk factors for developing mental illness

Answer 15

genetic predisposition
homelessness
unemployment
discrimination and racial injustice
family conflict
stressful life events
poverty

Question 16

protective attributes against mental illness

Answer 16

resilience - ability to secure resources for support, regulate one’s emotions, and optimism
positive relationships

Question 17

examples of primary mental illness prevention

Answer 17

• stress reduction resources on a college campus
• resources to prevent burnout
• support for parents
• extracurriculars to form healthy friendships

Question 18

examples of secondary mental illness prevention

Answer 18

• annual PCP visit screening for depression and anxiety
• school teachers can notice signs and help family find resources
• suicide hotlines

Question 19

examples of tertiary mental illness prevention

Answer 19

• therapy and follow up appointments
• medication adherence
• rehab facilities

Question 20

what is community care?

Answer 20

• community based setting outside of hospital
• goal is to stabilize and improve mental functioning
• promotes social activities and independence

Question 21

what is partial hospitalization?

Answer 21

• intense short-term treatment
• patient goes home every night
• police are called if patient does not come in every day

Question 22

what is community residence?

Answer 22

• long term housing with mental and medical care
• case manager is involved to help prevent re-hospitalization
• goal is to transition patients to live on their own
• teach patients how to manage medications and interventions

Question 23

Assertive care team

Answer 23

• nontraditional case management by IP team
• used for patients with history of noncompliance: multiple admissions, multiple relapses, incarceration
• helps with social, medical, and psych needs

Question 24

role of nursing in community care

Answer 24

• link acute care to community care
• ensure med compliance
• monitor patients for decompensation
• provide education
• communicate with patient’s healthcare team