Mental Health Nursing-need help

Balder_LPN, LPN · Jan 26, 2008

There are alot of meds. Just try to remember se 's and labs by groups:

SSRI's

Tricyclic antidepressives

MAOI's

Antipsychotics

Anti-manics

etc, etc

You will never remeber then as individual meds. Look at the spelling on the suffix of each drugs generic name, you will see that many match each other in respective categories. And learn the mechanism of action and all that by groups. THEN study WHAT group they all go in.

Jules A, MSN · Jan 26, 2008

It can be a bit gray, imo. I really liked the Hogan Reviews and Rationales series and the older issues can be picked up on Amazon for like $15. If there is a study guide or CD that goes along with your textbook I'd suggest using it because the more questions you answer the better understanding you will have. Good luck. Jules

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 28, 2008

There are a series of books called "LPN Threads" that I considered to be excellent. There is a book that they sell called Foundations of Mental Health Care that can be purchased on Amazon.com, and also, you can consider the Nursing Incredibly Easy series of books that does, in fact, have a book on mental health. It may explain things in more reader friendly terms. I did not discover the LPN Thread series of books until I graduated from my program, but I have purchased some of their books as references. I always hated seeing an author using 10 pages that can describe the basic point in 2 paragraphs. They also sell an all inclusive book called Foundations and Adult Nursing which will cover everything from fundamentals, med-surg, psych, women's health and pediatrics. I think it sells for about $70 (or maybe you can order a used copy).

Psych was always interesting to me, because I worked as a psych tech for many years, so, I didn't really have issues there, but it was a hard concept for people to learn. Most questions on NCLEX seemed to deal with safety issues, such as if you see a patient giving away their belongings, watch them closely and report immediately, because they may be considering suicide. Also, those with compulsive disorders that have rituals such as washing their hands many times, or checking the door say 10 times before leaving the room, they say to let the patient do their ritual, because it decreases stress. They will even say to wake a patient up a bit earlier to allow them to do this, and from there, to slowly introduce the fact that this is unhealthy. Fingerfoods should be fed to patients that are manicky, because they are restless. Also, the most dangerous time for a depressed patient is when the medication first starts working, because they now have the energy to complete their suicidal plans.

Paranoid schizophrenics should be allowed to see their food wrapped and be able to open it themselves because some of them believe that they are being poisoned. The same for their medications...do not come to them with their pills not being wrapped. Anorexics and bulimics should be monitored for at least two hours after eating to allow their food a chance to digest. Antisocial people need limits placed on them because they are manipulative, charming and murderous. Hope this helps!

josinda421 · Feb 3, 2008

[WIKI]Thanks those key points were so helpful, and I passed my test with a B. Do you have any more key points on substance abuse?:cheers:

There are a series of books called "LPN Threads" that I considered to be excellent. There is a book that they sell called Foundations of Mental Health Care that can be purchased on Amazon.com, and also, you can consider the Nursing Incredibly Easy series of books that does, in fact, have a book on mental health. It may explain things in more reader friendly terms. I did not discover the LPN Thread series of books until I graduated from my program, but I have purchased some of their books as references. I always hated seeing an author using 10 pages that can describe the basic point in 2 paragraphs. They also sell an all inclusive book called Foundations and Adult Nursing which will cover everything from fundamentals, med-surg, psych, women's health and pediatrics. I think it sells for about $70 (or maybe you can order a used copy).
Psych was always interesting to me, because I worked as a psych tech for many years, so, I didn't really have issues there, but it was a hard concept for people to learn. Most questions on NCLEX seemed to deal with safety issues, such as if you see a patient giving away their belongings, watch them closely and report immediately, because they may be considering suicide. Also, those with compulsive disorders that have rituals such as washing their hands many times, or checking the door say 10 times before leaving the room, they say to let the patient do their ritual, because it decreases stress. They will even say to wake a patient up a bit earlier to allow them to do this, and from there, to slowly introduce the fact that this is unhealthy. Fingerfoods should be fed to patients that are manicky, because they are restless. Also, the most dangerous time for a depressed patient is when the medication first starts working, because they now have the energy to complete their suicidal plans.
Paranoid schizophrenics should be allowed to see their food wrapped and be able to open it themselves because some of them believe that they are being poisoned. The same for their medications...do not come to them with their pills not being wrapped. Anorexics and bulimics should be monitored for at least two hours after eating to allow their food a chance to digest. Antisocial people need limits placed on them because they are manipulative, charming and murderous. Hope this helps!