Psych Nursing Assessment Cheat Sheet

In a mental health nursing assessment, key questions typically cover the patient's current mood, thoughts, and behaviors. Nurses may ask about the patient's history of mental health issues, any recent life changes or stressors, substance use, and coping mechanisms. Specific inquiries might include: "How have you been feeling lately" "Have you experienced any changes in sleep or appetite" and "Do you have thoughts of self-harm or harm to others"

One of the most important assessment tools for a psychiatric nurse is often considered to be the mental status examination (MSE). The MSE provides a structured way to evaluate a patient's cognitive function, emotional state, and overall behavior during the assessment. It includes observations on appearance, behavior, mood, thought processes, perception, cognition, and insight.

The ABCs of mental health assessment refer to Affect, Behavior, and Cognition. Affect assesses the patient's emotional state and expression; Behavior evaluates how the patient interacts with others and responds to their environment; and Cognition examines thought processes, memory, and orientation. Together, these components provide a comprehensive overview of a patient's mental health and are essential for formulating an effective treatment plan.