SNLE Mental Health Nursing Practice Questions
What this topic covers
Therapeutic communication, depression and suicide risk, psychosis, anxiety, substance use and psychiatric medicines.
Free SNLE mental health nursing questions
- Take the dose at bedtime to reduce daytime drowsiness
- Expect weight gain as the most common side effect
- Stop the medicine suddenly if it does not work within a day
- Take the last dose of the day at least 6 hours before bedtime
Show answer and rationale
Answer: D. Take the last dose of the day at least 6 hours before bedtime
Methylphenidate is a stimulant that commonly causes insomnia, so the last dose is taken well before bedtime. It usually reduces appetite and can cause weight loss, so weight and growth are monitored.
Reference: Standard nursing pharmacology – methylphenidate
- Thyroid and renal function
- Liver enzymes and amylase
- Troponin and creatine kinase
- Blood cultures and CRP
Show answer and rationale
Answer: A. Thyroid and renal function
Long-term lithium can cause hypothyroidism and impair kidney function, so thyroid and renal function are checked before starting and regularly during treatment.
Reference: Standard nursing pharmacology – lithium monitoring
- Tachycardia and fever
- Heavy menstrual periods
- Fine, soft body hair (lanugo)
- Increased abdominal fat
Show answer and rationale
Answer: C. Fine, soft body hair (lanugo)
Lanugo, bradycardia, hypotension, low body temperature and amenorrhoea are typical of severe starvation in anorexia nervosa.
Reference: Varcarolis Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing – eating disorders
- "Yes, but I can't tell you anything more."
- "Let me put you through to the patient's room."
- "No, there is nobody here by that name."
- "I'm unable to confirm or deny whether that person is a patient here."
Show answer and rationale
Answer: D. "I'm unable to confirm or deny whether that person is a patient here."
Without consent, the nurse must not disclose whether someone is receiving mental health care. Confirming admission breaches confidentiality, and lying about it is dishonest.
Reference: Varcarolis Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing – legal and ethical issues
- "I can't share my personal number, as our relationship is professional. Let's talk about the support you will have after discharge."
- "Of course, but please only call me in an emergency."
- "I'll give it to you, but don't tell the other staff."
- "You shouldn't have asked me that."
Show answer and rationale
Answer: A. "I can't share my personal number, as our relationship is professional. Let's talk about the support you will have after discharge."
The nurse keeps professional boundaries while responding kindly and redirects the patient to appropriate sources of support after discharge. Sharing personal contact details blurs boundaries, and a curt reply damages the relationship.
Reference: Varcarolis Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing – professional boundaries
Questions are written with AI assistance. About 10% (150+) have been reviewed by a licensed nurse so far, and more are reviewed every month. Practice questions are for study only and may contain mistakes; verify with official study guides from your destination country. Report a question
Study tip
Safety comes first: a patient with a suicide plan and means is always the priority.
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