Author Question: A 30-year-old female patient is describing feelings of hopelessness and depression. She has ... (Read 74 times)

dakota nelson · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A 30-year-old female patient is describing feelings of hopelessness and depression. She has attempted self-mutilation and has a history of suicide attempts. She describes difficulty sleeping at night and has lost 10 pounds in the past month.

Which of these statements or questions is the nurse's best response in this situation?

a.
Do you have a weapon?
b.
How do other people treat you?
c.
Are you feeling so hopeless that you feel like hurting yourself now?
d.
People often feel hopeless, but the feelings resolve within a few weeks.

Question 2

The nurse is providing instructions to newly hired graduates for the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Which statement best describes this examination?

a. Scores below 30 indicate cognitive impairment.
b. The MMSE is a good tool to evaluate mood and thought processes.
c. This examination is a good tool to detect delirium and dementia and to differentiate these from psychiatric mental illness.
d. The MMSE is useful tool for an initial evaluation of mental status. Additional tools are needed to evaluate cognition changes over time.

ciecieme · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
When the person expresses feelings of hopelessness, despair, or grief, assessing the risk of physical harm to him or herself is important. This process begins with more general questions. If the answers are affirmative, then the assessment continues with more specific questions.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
The MMSE is a quick, easy test of 11 questions and is used for initial and serial evaluations and can demonstrate a worsening or an improvement of cognition over time and with treatment. It evaluates cognitive functioning, not mood or thought processes. MMSE is a good screening tool to detect dementia and delirium and to differentiate these from psychiatric mental illness.