01/06/2026
*2017 to 2024 questions for mental health nursing examinations:*
2017
Question 1:
Mrs. Katebe went through various stages of the grieving process after losing her husband and made several attempts to take her life. She is admitted to the acute ward following suicidal attempts.
a) Explain three (3) significant losses that may lead to grieving.
b) State five (5) stages of grieving.
c) Explain three (3) types of su***de.
d) What are some of the circumstances that may complicate grieving.
e) Outline the management of a client who has had two previous attempts of Su***de while on the ward.
Question 2:
A patient was admitted to your ward for three (3) weeks with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. He has now been discharged on chlorpromazine 100mg twice a day and will need to come for review after one month.
a) Explain the health education you will give to the client about the medication and his condition.
b) Describe the roles of a nurse in the community.
c) Explain four (4) ethical consideration that the nurse should consider in the community.
d) Outline four (4) objectives of the first visit by the community health nurse.
Question 3:
Esther Chileshe, is a schizophrenic patient admitted in Chainama hospital for the past 6 years. She is observed to have developed the symptoms of being institutionalized.
a) Define Institutionalization.
b) Explain five (5) features of institutionalization on the patient and how you would manage them.
c) Explain five (5) measures you would take to prevent patients developing symptoms of institutionalisation.
d) Describe ten (10) points you would include in the rehabilitation programme for Mrs. Chileshe who is institutionalized.
Question 1:
The issue of Child Abuse has raised concern among the Government and Stake Holders.
a) Define the term 'Child Abuse'.
b) Outline five (5) factors that contribute to Child Abuse.
c) Explain five (5) effects of abuse on a Child.
d) Discuss the role of the community Mental Health Nurse in preventing and dealing with abuse.
Question 2:
You are working in an acute male psychiatric ward and you admit Mr Chalwe, aged 35 years from Mtendere compound shouting and threatening violence to his fellow patients and members of staff. He is a known case of Schizophrenia.
a) Define aggression.
b) Discuss the three (3) types of aggression.
c) Outline five (5) causes of aggression in psychiatric patients.
d) How would you manage Mr Chalwe during the episode of aggression.
Question 3:
Mrs Tokozile Gondwe aged 60 years is brought to Chainama Hospital ward B with history of self-neglect and wandering about for the past 2 months. On admission the Doctor does a Mental State Examination and a diagnosis of Dementia is made.
a) Define Dementia.
b) Explain five (5) causes/predisposing factors of Dementia.
c) Describe five (5) cardinal signs of Dementia.
d) Discuss how you are going to nurse Mrs Gondwe during her stay in hospital.
Question 1:
Diana a young female adolescent is brought to the psychiatric hospital amidst talking and shouting on top of her voice non-stop. The father had accompanied her saying this was of sudden onset. The daughter cannot sleep claims she is the newly crowned queen of England, and feels she has some special powers to save the world. The staff on the ward decides to manage this client accordingly.
a) i. Define Mania.
ii. Outline five (5) predisposing factors to Mania.
b) State five (5) clinical manifestation of mania.
c) Mention three (3) drugs that may be given to Diana stating the dose, frequency and two (2) side effects of each drug.
d) Discuss the Nursing Management you would give Diana.
Question 2:
Aggression is one of the common signs that are exhibited by mentally ill patients.
a) Define aggression.
b) Explain the risk factors of aggression.
c) Discuss the nursing intervention of aggression.
d) Discuss how you would prevent episodes of aggression in the ward.
Question 3:
The issue of Child Abuse has raised concern among the Government and Stake Holders.
a) State five (5) types of Child Abuse.
b) Outline five (5) factors that contribute to Child Abuse.
c) Explain five (5) effects of abuse on a Child.
d) Discuss the role of the community Mental Health Nurse in preventing and dealing with abuse.
Question 1:
Mrs. Katebe reports to you that their 9-year-old boy has difficulties in learning and the boy delayed in walking and talking. Upon assessment, you suspect the boy has mental retardation.
a) Define mental retardation.
b) State five causes of mental retardation.
c) Explain four types of mental retardation.
d) Discuss the management of mental retardation in terms of primary prevention, secondary prevention and tertiary prevention.
e) Explain the health education you will give to Mrs. Katebe before allowing them to go home.
Question 2:
Mr. Tembo went through various stages of the grieving process after losing his husband and made several attempts to take his life. He is admitted to the acute ward following suicidal attempts.
a) Explain three (3) significant losses that may lead to grieving.
b) Outline five (5) stages of grieving.
c) Explain four (4) types of su***de.
d) Discuss the management of Mr. Tembo while on the ward.
Question 3:
Stephen Njovu, aged 43 years, married with 6 children is admitted to a hospital ward with a history of alcohol abuse. The wife said that he sometimes experiences tremors. He is on suspension at work for absenteeism. The wife explained that he has impaired thinking and hallucinations. On examination a provisional diagnosis of alcoholism was made.
a) Define alcohol abuse.
b) Explain five (5) social effects of alcohol abuse.
c) Discuss five (5) ways of how alcohol abuse can be prevented.
d) Describe in detail the management of Mr. Njovu.
November 2019 Qualifying Examination
Question 1:
From time in memorial, Mental illness has been considered to be contagious and patients with mental illness have therefore been stigmatized and shunned.
a) Define mental Illness.
b) Outline five (5) causes of mental illness.
c) Discuss any five (5) signs and symptoms of mental illness.
d) As a nurse working in the mental health unit, what measures would you put in place to try and reduce stigma against the mentally ill patients.
Question 2: You work in a community where there are a lot of defilement cases. Most of these cases go unreported to the police and as a community mental health nurse you are concerned about this situation and you decide to intervene.
a) i. Define defilement.
ii. Outline five (5) factors that could have contributed to the development of this problem in this community.
b) Explain five (5) signs and symptoms that you could observe in a child that has been defiled.
c) As a community mental health nurse what could be your role in addressing the situation in the community.
d) Explain measures that Government could put in place to prevent child defilement.
Question 3:
Mr. Andrew Kaira aged 30 years has been referred to your outpatient department with a history of increasing anxiety. This follows a positive HIV test results a few weeks before his wedding day. Mr Kaira needs crisis intervention.
a) Define a crisis.
b) Describe the four (4) phases of a crisis.
c) Outline three (3) types of crisis.
d) Discuss the immediate intervention to help Mr. Kaira resolve the crisis.
Question 1:
Mr. Andrea Kalonde was brought to the Hospital in unconscious state with the history of taking pesticide (doom) after a quarrel with the wife. Upon arrival at the Out Patient Department (OPD), the Nurse In-charge ordered other nurses and clinicians on duty that quick response should be done to save the life of Mr. Kalonde.
a) Define the term psychiatric emergency.
b) Outline five (5) psychiatric emergencies.
c) Discuss five (5) roles of the nurse in su***de prevention.
d) Explain five (5) points you will give to Mr. Kalonde and the family before discharge.
Question 2:
It has been observed that the incidence of mental illness in Zambia is on the increase in the general population as can be seen by statistics in many mental health units.
a) i. Define substance abuse.
ii. State five (5) sign and symptoms of alcohol intoxication.
b) Outline five (5) factors that have led to an increase of mental illness in Zambia.
c) For each factor in (b) explain steps that can be taken to remedy the situation.
d) Describe six (6) health problems of substance abuse.
Question 3:
The minister of Health issued the ministerial statement in parliament, that the Government has set some funds to improve mental health service delivery in the provinces throughout the country. The priority of the utilization of funds is set to support mental health advocacy.
a) Define mental health advocacy.
b) Outline five (5) types of advocacy.
c) Discuss three (3) roles of mass media in advocacy.
d) As an advocator, discuss five (5) services you will provide to reduce stigma against mental patients among the general public.
May 2021 Qualifying Examination
Question 1:
The Minster of Health gave a statement when he addressed the co-operating partners. In his statement, he stated that primary healthcare should be supported and should not be left out.
a) Define the term mental health promotion.
b) State five barriers to mental health promotion.
c) Explain five (5) roles of the community mental health nurse in mental health promotion.
d) Outline three levels of disease prevention, in relation to mental health, and give examples of services offered at each level.
Question 2:
Bwalya Mwenya, is a community mental health nurse. During her community diagnosis she discovers children with mental retardation.
a) Define the term mental retardation.
b) Explain 5 (five) causes of mental retardation.
c) Outline five (5) preventive measures of mental retardation.
d) Outline eight (8) measures you would take in the rehabilitation programme of a child with mental retardation in the community.
Question 3:
Mrs. Mwale, aged 46 years, lost a husband two (2) weeks ago in a motor vehicle accident. She is brought to your ward and a diagnosis of Depression is made.
a) Define the term Depression.
b) Explain five (5) signs and symptoms of Depression.
c) State five (5) predisposing factors to developing depression.
d) Outline the management of Mrs. Mwale during hospitalization.
November/December 2023 Competence Examination
Question 1:
Mr. Mumbi was brought to the Hospital in unconscious state with the history of taking pesticide (doom) after a quarrel with the wife. Upon arrival at the Out Patient Department (OPD), the Nurse In-change ordered other nurses and clinicians on duty that quick response should be done to save the life of Mr. Mumbi.
a) Define the term psychiatric emergency.
b) Explain five (5) psychiatric emergencies.
c) Describe five (5) roles of the nurse in su***de prevention.
d) Explain five (5) points you will give to Mr. Mumbi and the family before discharge.
Question 2: Mrs. Pearson is admitted to your psychiatric facility and she is severely anxious.
a) Define Anxiety.
b) Outline four (4) levels of Anxiety.
c) Describes the Nursing management of Mrs. Pearson during hospitalization.
d) Explain five (5) differences between Neurosis and Psychosis.
Question 3:
Mr. Jones aged 40 years; a well-known Schizophrenic patient has been admitted to your Psychiatric facility for the fourth time in 4 months. The wife admits that he has not been taking his medication regularly.
a) Define Schizophrenia.
b) State five (5) positive signs of Schizophrenia.
c) Explain five (5) types of Schizophrenia.
d) Describe Mr. Jones management from admission until discharge.
May 2024 Competence Examination
Question 1:
Mr. Kalobwe aged 45 years has been admitted to your psychiatric facility with history of extreme sadness, mutism and neglect in his physical appearance. After a thorough mental state examination, a diagnosis of depression is made. The psychiatrist has indicated that Mr. Kalobwe is suicidal as well.
a) Define depression.
b) State five (5) differences between Reactive depression and Endogenous.
c) Discuss the management of Mr. Kalobwe from admission to discharge paying particular attention to his suicidal ideas.
d) Mr. Kalobwe will undergo intensive counseling sessions to help manage his depression. Discuss five (5) counseling principles that you will observe.
Question 2:
Mrs. Madiba a retired University lecturer aged 85 years old has been admitted to your psychiatric facility with a diagnosis of Dementia.
a) Define dementia.
b) State five (5) Clinical features of Dementia.
c) Explain five (5) types of Dementia and their causes other than the one mentioned in the stem.
d) Describe The Nursing Management of Mrs Madiba while in the hospital.
Question 3:
Mulenga Kangwa, a 6-year-old girl has been brought to your Centre with history of being sexually abused. You realize as a Mental Health Nurse that cases of child abuse have been on the increase in the community.
a) Define child abuse.
b) Explain five (5) factors that may contribute to child abuse in the community.
c) Explain five (5) effects of child abuse on a child.
d) Discuss five (5) roles of a Community Health Nurse in preventing and dealing with child abuse.
Kennex Midwives and Nurses Revision