ATI Capstone Content Review:
Mental Health
, ATI Capstone Content Review: Mental Health
Mental Health tips:
• All clients should have a Mental Status Exam, which includes:
o Level of consciousness
o Physical appearance
o Behavior
o Cognitive and intellectual abilities
• The nurse conducts the MSE as part of his or her routine and ongoing
assessment of the client.
• Changes in Mental Status should be investigated further and the provider notified
• There are two types of mental health hospitalizations:
o Voluntary commitment and involuntary or civil commitment.
o Involuntary commitment is against the client’s will.
• Despite that, unless proven otherwise, clients are still considered
competent and have the right to refuse treatment.
• Use the following communication tips when answering questions
on NCLEX:
• If the client is anxious or depressed use
▪ Open ended, supportive statements
• If the client is suicidal
▪ use direct, yes or no questions to assess suicide risk
• If the client is panicked
▪ use gentle guidance and direction
• If the client is confused
▪ provide reality orientation
• If the client has delusions / hallucinations / paranoia
▪ acknowledge these, but don’t reinforce
• If the client has obsessive / compulsive behavior
▪ communicate AFTER the compulsive behavior
• If the client has a personality or cognitive disorder
▪ be calm and matter-of-fact
• Treatment for mental health illnesses and disorders can include
▪ Medications
▪ Talk
▪ behavior therapy
▪ brain stimulation
• Clients undergoing care for mental health disorders may feel
pressure to deny behavior or issues to appear ‘normal’.
• The nurse should always carefully assess each individual to
ensure optimal response to therapies.
• The most common type of brain stimulation therapy is
electroconvulsive therapy or ECT.
• ECT is generally performed for major depressive disorders,
schizophrenia, or acute manic disorders.
• Most clients receive therapy three times a week for two to three weeks.
• Prior to ECT, carefully screen the client for any home medication use.
• Lithium, MAOIs, and all seizure threshold medications should be
discontinued two weeks prior to ECT.
Mental Health
, ATI Capstone Content Review: Mental Health
Mental Health tips:
• All clients should have a Mental Status Exam, which includes:
o Level of consciousness
o Physical appearance
o Behavior
o Cognitive and intellectual abilities
• The nurse conducts the MSE as part of his or her routine and ongoing
assessment of the client.
• Changes in Mental Status should be investigated further and the provider notified
• There are two types of mental health hospitalizations:
o Voluntary commitment and involuntary or civil commitment.
o Involuntary commitment is against the client’s will.
• Despite that, unless proven otherwise, clients are still considered
competent and have the right to refuse treatment.
• Use the following communication tips when answering questions
on NCLEX:
• If the client is anxious or depressed use
▪ Open ended, supportive statements
• If the client is suicidal
▪ use direct, yes or no questions to assess suicide risk
• If the client is panicked
▪ use gentle guidance and direction
• If the client is confused
▪ provide reality orientation
• If the client has delusions / hallucinations / paranoia
▪ acknowledge these, but don’t reinforce
• If the client has obsessive / compulsive behavior
▪ communicate AFTER the compulsive behavior
• If the client has a personality or cognitive disorder
▪ be calm and matter-of-fact
• Treatment for mental health illnesses and disorders can include
▪ Medications
▪ Talk
▪ behavior therapy
▪ brain stimulation
• Clients undergoing care for mental health disorders may feel
pressure to deny behavior or issues to appear ‘normal’.
• The nurse should always carefully assess each individual to
ensure optimal response to therapies.
• The most common type of brain stimulation therapy is
electroconvulsive therapy or ECT.
• ECT is generally performed for major depressive disorders,
schizophrenia, or acute manic disorders.
• Most clients receive therapy three times a week for two to three weeks.
• Prior to ECT, carefully screen the client for any home medication use.
• Lithium, MAOIs, and all seizure threshold medications should be
discontinued two weeks prior to ECT.
