Exam 13: Depressive Disorders

A patient diagnosed with depression repeatedly tells staff, "I have cancer. It's my punishment for being a bad person." Diagnostic tests reveal no cancer. Select the priority nursing diagnosis.

A nurse is caring for a patient with low self-esteem. Which nonverbal communication should the nurse anticipate from this patient?

A patient being treated for depression has taken 300 mg amitriptyline (Elavil) daily for a year. The patient calls the case manager at the clinic and says, "I stopped taking my antidepressant 2 days ago. Now I am having cold sweats, nausea, a rapid heartbeat, and nightmares." What will the nurse advise the patient to do?

During a psychiatric assessment, the nurse observes a patient's facial expression is without emotion. The patient says, "Life feels so hopeless to me. I've been feeling sad for several months." How will the nurse document the patient's affect and mood?

A patient being treated with paroxetine (Paxil) 50 mg po daily for depression reports to the clinic nurse, "I took a few extra tablets earlier today and now I feel bad." Which assessments are most critical?

A patient says to the nurse, "My life doesn't have any happiness in it anymore. I once enjoyed holidays, but now they're just another day." The nurse documents this report as an example of which of the following?

A nurse provided medication education for a patient diagnosed with major depression who began a new prescription for phenelzine (Nardil). Which behaviour indicates effective learning?

A patient became depressed after the last of the family's six children moved out of the home 4 months ago. Select the best initial outcome for the nursing diagnosis Situational low self-esteem related to feelings of abandonment.

A patient was diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). During which month would this patient's symptoms be most acute?

A patient diagnosed with major depression takes a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and refuses solid foods. In order to meet nutritional needs, which beverage will the nurse offer to this patient?

The admission note indicates a patient diagnosed with major depression has anergia and anhedonia. For which measures should the nurse plan?

A patient became severely depressed when the last of the family's six children moved out of the home 4 months ago. The patient repeatedly says, "No one cares about me. I'm not worth anything." Which response by the nurse would be the most helpful?

When counselling patients diagnosed with major depression, an advanced practice nurse will address the negative thought patterns by using which of the following?

Major depression resulted after a patient's employment was terminated. The patient now says to the nurse, "I'm not worth the time you spend with me. I am the most useless person in the world." Which nursing diagnosis applies?

A nurse taught a patient about a tyramine-restricted diet. Which menu selection would the nurse approve?

A disheveled patient with severe depression and psychomotor retardation has not showered for several days. What will the nurse do?

Priority interventions for a patient diagnosed with major depression and feelings of worthlessness should include which of the following?

A patient diagnosed with major depression shows vegetative signs of depression. Which nursing actions should be implemented?

A patient diagnosed with major depression tells the nurse, "Bad things that happen are always my fault." Which response by the nurse will best assist the patient to reframe this overgeneralization?

What is the focus of priority nursing interventions for the period immediately after electroconvulsive therapy treatment?