PMHNP Exam
1. An adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner uses the
interpersonal therapy model with a patient to establish a therapeutic alliance
based upon empathy and trust. The nurse practitioner recognizes the patient's
readiness to terminate therapy when the patient demonstrates:
A. an understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also
presents an opportunity for growth.
B. breathing and muscle relaxation exercises that decrease muscle tension and anxiety.
C. free association, and considers the nurse practitioner's interpretation of the patient's
dreams.
D. new adaptive skills and responses after completing "homework assign-
ments.": A. an understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also
presents an opportunity for growth.
2. 4. Serving as a member on a crisis team, an adult psychiatric and mental
health nurse practitioner provides crisis intervention to the survivors of a plane
crash. Forty-eight hours after the accident, the survivors describe vivid
flashbacks, startle reactions, and disrupted sleep patterns. The nurse
practitioner responds by:
A. advising the survivors to consider using a hypnotic medication for a brief period.
B. educating the survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress
disorder.
C. encouraging the survivors to rest during the day.
D. suggesting that the survivors join a post trauma support group: B. educating the
survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
3. 3. Which behavior reflects existentially oriented therapy?
A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
B. Challenging a patient's irrational beliefs
, C. Developing specific plans for change
D. Establishing general group goals: A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective
world
4. A patient with borderline personality disorder experiences intense anxiety
when an adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner goes on
vacation. The best explanation for this reaction is that the patient:
A. has failed to develop clear ego boundaries.
B. has failed to master object constancy.
C. is employing primitive idealization.
D. is employing projective identification.: B. has failed to master object constancy.
5. An adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner uses a cognitive-
behavioral approach to help an adolescent patient change self-defeating
behaviors. After identifying the initial stressor that is causing the inappropriate
behavior, the therapeutic intervention is to identify:
A. alternative positive responses to the stressor.
B. negative consequences of the behavioral response to the stressor.
C. possible outcomes of alternative responses.
rational and irrational beliefs about the stressor.: D. rational and irrational
D.
beliefs about the stressor.
6. Which characteristic of fluoxetine (Prozac) provides the greatest degree of
safety for patients who have severe depression?
A. Greater efficacy than tricyclic antidepressants
B. Less potential for drug interaction
C. Less potential for injury with intentional overdose
D. Less potential for suicidal thinking: C. Less potential for injury with intentional overdose
7. For 12 years, a 65-year-old patient with bipolar affective disorder has been
treated with lithium (Eskalith) 900 mg daily. When oral hydrochlorothiazide
1. An adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner uses the
interpersonal therapy model with a patient to establish a therapeutic alliance
based upon empathy and trust. The nurse practitioner recognizes the patient's
readiness to terminate therapy when the patient demonstrates:
A. an understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also
presents an opportunity for growth.
B. breathing and muscle relaxation exercises that decrease muscle tension and anxiety.
C. free association, and considers the nurse practitioner's interpretation of the patient's
dreams.
D. new adaptive skills and responses after completing "homework assign-
ments.": A. an understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also
presents an opportunity for growth.
2. 4. Serving as a member on a crisis team, an adult psychiatric and mental
health nurse practitioner provides crisis intervention to the survivors of a plane
crash. Forty-eight hours after the accident, the survivors describe vivid
flashbacks, startle reactions, and disrupted sleep patterns. The nurse
practitioner responds by:
A. advising the survivors to consider using a hypnotic medication for a brief period.
B. educating the survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress
disorder.
C. encouraging the survivors to rest during the day.
D. suggesting that the survivors join a post trauma support group: B. educating the
survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
3. 3. Which behavior reflects existentially oriented therapy?
A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
B. Challenging a patient's irrational beliefs
, C. Developing specific plans for change
D. Establishing general group goals: A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective
world
4. A patient with borderline personality disorder experiences intense anxiety
when an adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner goes on
vacation. The best explanation for this reaction is that the patient:
A. has failed to develop clear ego boundaries.
B. has failed to master object constancy.
C. is employing primitive idealization.
D. is employing projective identification.: B. has failed to master object constancy.
5. An adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner uses a cognitive-
behavioral approach to help an adolescent patient change self-defeating
behaviors. After identifying the initial stressor that is causing the inappropriate
behavior, the therapeutic intervention is to identify:
A. alternative positive responses to the stressor.
B. negative consequences of the behavioral response to the stressor.
C. possible outcomes of alternative responses.
rational and irrational beliefs about the stressor.: D. rational and irrational
D.
beliefs about the stressor.
6. Which characteristic of fluoxetine (Prozac) provides the greatest degree of
safety for patients who have severe depression?
A. Greater efficacy than tricyclic antidepressants
B. Less potential for drug interaction
C. Less potential for injury with intentional overdose
D. Less potential for suicidal thinking: C. Less potential for injury with intentional overdose
7. For 12 years, a 65-year-old patient with bipolar affective disorder has been
treated with lithium (Eskalith) 900 mg daily. When oral hydrochlorothiazide
