EXAM 3: NR548/ NR 548 2025/2026/2027 PSYCHIATRIC
ASSESSMENT FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSE
PRACTITIONER REVIEW |WEEKS 5-6 COVERED WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
Individual who presents with an extremely rapid and pressured speech with constant
interruptions may be experiencing __________ or __________ -
(ANSWERS)hypomania or mania
An absence of speech is seen with some diagnoses such as ___________ -
(ANSWERS)dementia
Non-sensical speech is often associated with _______________ -
(ANSWERS)psychotic disorders
MSE: Mood and Affect - (ANSWERS)Mood
-client's state of mind or prevalent emotional state
-subjective
-typically self-reported
-Stable: mood is appropriate to their current situation
-other: bright, happy, angry, agitated, irritable, labile, anxious, depressed, or
euphoric
Affect
-physical manifestation of the client's emotional state as observed by the provider
-normal, blunted, flat, bizarre, dysphoric, or euphoric
-Qualities of affect
• stability (stable or labile)
• appropriateness
• range (does it change with diff. Situations)
• intensity
MSE: Thought Process - (ANSWERS)-rate of thoughts and how they flow and are
connected
, EXAM 3: NR548/ NR 548 2025/2026/2027 PSYCHIATRIC
ASSESSMENT FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSE
PRACTITIONER REVIEW |WEEKS 5-6 COVERED WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
-coherent vs. Incoherent
-Normal: linear & goal-directed
-Other: loose, circumstantial, or tangential
-Clients may experience flight of ideas with little connection between thoughts or
words
-Assessment: questioning client, listening to responses
MSE: Suicidal and Homicidal Ideation - (ANSWERS)-Direct terms should be used
to assess suicide preoccupation and planning
-assess for homicidal ideation, intent, attempts, and plans
-critical to determine whether a plan exists
• access to the resources needed to execute the plan
• more detailed and thorough the plan, the higher the risk
• assess if plan is composed of fleeting thoughts rather than action steps
• assess whether the client is angry and lashing out or intending to bring actual harm
-SCREENING FOR SUICIDAL AND HOMICIDAL IDEATIONS IS AN
ETHICAL OBLIGATION OF THE PMHNP & IS ESSENTIAL FOR
PROTECTING ONESELF, THE CLIENT, & THE PUBLIC
MSE: Cognitive Assessment - (ANSWERS)-evaluation of a client's level of
awareness, attention, concentration, and memory
-Awareness: observation with emphasis on the client's eyes and speech
-alertness or wakefulness provides information about cognitive function
• help rule out potential substance use or intoxication
-levels of awareness: alert and oriented, somnolent, drowsy, or even comatose
-Attention and concentration: observation of responses during the interview
• can they stay on topic?
• able to focus and respond to q's?
• can use standardized tools such as the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), digit
ASSESSMENT FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSE
PRACTITIONER REVIEW |WEEKS 5-6 COVERED WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
Individual who presents with an extremely rapid and pressured speech with constant
interruptions may be experiencing __________ or __________ -
(ANSWERS)hypomania or mania
An absence of speech is seen with some diagnoses such as ___________ -
(ANSWERS)dementia
Non-sensical speech is often associated with _______________ -
(ANSWERS)psychotic disorders
MSE: Mood and Affect - (ANSWERS)Mood
-client's state of mind or prevalent emotional state
-subjective
-typically self-reported
-Stable: mood is appropriate to their current situation
-other: bright, happy, angry, agitated, irritable, labile, anxious, depressed, or
euphoric
Affect
-physical manifestation of the client's emotional state as observed by the provider
-normal, blunted, flat, bizarre, dysphoric, or euphoric
-Qualities of affect
• stability (stable or labile)
• appropriateness
• range (does it change with diff. Situations)
• intensity
MSE: Thought Process - (ANSWERS)-rate of thoughts and how they flow and are
connected
, EXAM 3: NR548/ NR 548 2025/2026/2027 PSYCHIATRIC
ASSESSMENT FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSE
PRACTITIONER REVIEW |WEEKS 5-6 COVERED WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
-coherent vs. Incoherent
-Normal: linear & goal-directed
-Other: loose, circumstantial, or tangential
-Clients may experience flight of ideas with little connection between thoughts or
words
-Assessment: questioning client, listening to responses
MSE: Suicidal and Homicidal Ideation - (ANSWERS)-Direct terms should be used
to assess suicide preoccupation and planning
-assess for homicidal ideation, intent, attempts, and plans
-critical to determine whether a plan exists
• access to the resources needed to execute the plan
• more detailed and thorough the plan, the higher the risk
• assess if plan is composed of fleeting thoughts rather than action steps
• assess whether the client is angry and lashing out or intending to bring actual harm
-SCREENING FOR SUICIDAL AND HOMICIDAL IDEATIONS IS AN
ETHICAL OBLIGATION OF THE PMHNP & IS ESSENTIAL FOR
PROTECTING ONESELF, THE CLIENT, & THE PUBLIC
MSE: Cognitive Assessment - (ANSWERS)-evaluation of a client's level of
awareness, attention, concentration, and memory
-Awareness: observation with emphasis on the client's eyes and speech
-alertness or wakefulness provides information about cognitive function
• help rule out potential substance use or intoxication
-levels of awareness: alert and oriented, somnolent, drowsy, or even comatose
-Attention and concentration: observation of responses during the interview
• can they stay on topic?
• able to focus and respond to q's?
• can use standardized tools such as the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), digit
