NURS686
1
INITIAL EVALUATION NOTE PART 2: MENTAL STATUS EXAM (MSE)
Initial Evaluation Note Part 2: Mental Status Exam (MSE)
Heidy Canavaciolo
West Coast University
NURS 686
Dr. Vardah Seraphin
May 29, 2022
Initial Evaluation Note Part 2: Mental Status Exam (MSE)
Appearance:
Gender: Female
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Bachelor’s in art history and worked at the museum
Language: English
Birth place: United States
Race / ethnicity: American
Religion: None
Source: Patient
Well dressed and good hygiene noticed
Cooperative, attentive, engaged, frank and appropriate eye contact
Normal motor with no psychomotor retardation/agitation noted
Speech:
Fluent, coherent, normal tone, rate and volume.
Patient noticed to become emotional at times during interview
Mood and affect:
Lack of motivation
Emotional
Feelings of overwhelmed and guilt noticed
Thinking and perception:
Patient answers spontaneously when questions asked.
Answers are relevant and logical
Patient speech is clear and coherent
Cognition is intact
Thought of suicidal attempt with son last hospitalization because feeling of guilt “I thought about taking pills. I was in a really bad place that day”
Impulse Control: Low
No hallucinations or illusions expressed.
Patient denies hearing voices or having visions
Sensorium:
Patient is awake, alert and oriented to time, place and person.
Some level of fatigue noticed in the patient
Current and remote memories are intact
Level of education: Bachelor’s in art history. Patient is currently unemployed.
Abstract thinking: Intact
Insight:
Patient recognized the need for professional help due to worsening of symptoms. Patient express concern about the way she is feeling currently.
Judgment:
This patient noticed to start feeling depressed four months ago claiming that this years has been really stressful since her mother passed aways, she lost her job and her son, that is a special needs one, has been sick. Furthermore, patient had thoughts of suicidal attempt when her son was last hospitalized due to feelings of guilt “I thought about taking pills. I was in a really bad place that day” . After this episode, the patient realized that she needed to get professional help realizing that her depression was getting worse. Judgment refers to the ability to interpret one's environment and situation correctly and to make appropriate decisions and appropriately act on them in social situations. With that said, we can reach to the conclusion that patient’s judgment is a clear one at this moment since she knew it was time for her to get help.