Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

Which therapy was considered essential for skilled nursing during the 1930s and 1940s?

1. Electroconvulsive Therapy

2. Coma Therapy

3. Psychoanalysis

4. Behavioral Therapy

The correct answer is: Coma Therapy

The therapy that was considered essential for skilled nursing during the 1930s and 1940s was Coma Therapy. This approach was primarily used for treating certain psychiatric disorders, particularly among patients with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. The technique involved inducing a prolonged state of unconsciousness in patients, which was thought to help in resetting abnormal thought processes and facilitating recovery. This period marked significant advancements in the treatment of mental health conditions, and while other therapies like psychoanalysis also gained traction during this time, Coma Therapy was particularly highlighted for its application in hospital settings, especially in psychiatric nursing. The use of physical and metabolic methods, including Coma Therapy, reflected the prevailing understanding of mental health and the focus on more intensive medical interventions rather than purely talk-based therapies. This context underscores why Coma Therapy was regarded as essential during that era in skilled nursing practices.