NR605 EXAM QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWER KEY AT THE END OF THE
DOCUMENT LATEST 2026/2027
1. In CBT, “secondary thinking” is BEST described as:
A. Fast, automatic, global appraisals that feel unquestionably true
B. Deliberate, reflective thinking that evaluates automatic thoughts against evidence
C. A defense mechanism that blocks distressing cognitions
D. A behavioral chain analysis focused on antecedents and consequences
2. A client says, “If my partner would change, I’d finally be happy.” This is MOST consistent with which cognitive distortion
category?
A. Emotional reasoning
B. Fallacy of change (others)
C. Catastrophizing
D. Personalization
3. “Decatastrophizing” in CBT MOST directly involves:
A. Generating multiple alternative explanations and choosing the best one
B. Estimating realistic probability and impact, then planning coping responses
C. Identifying core schemas and linking them to early childhood events
D. Reframing distress as value-consistent action
4. A therapist asks, “What is the evidence for and against that thought?” This is BEST described as:
A. Interpretation
B. Socratic dialogue
C. Paradoxical intervention
D. Empty-chair technique
5. Which diagnosis is MOST classically treated with CBT as a first-line psychotherapy?
A. Schizophrenia (primary treatment)
B. Panic disorder
C. Antisocial personality disorder
D. Acute mania
6. CBT’s relationship to nursing theory is BEST captured by:
A. CBT rejects therapeutic relationship as clinically meaningful
B. CBT aligns with nursing’s emphasis on education, collaboration, and self-management
C. CBT is incompatible with holistic nursing frameworks
7. The MOST defensible reason CBT includes homework is:
A. To test therapist authority and compliance
B. To generalize learning and create behavioral experiments outside session
C. To reduce the need for alliance building
, D. To uncover unconscious conflict
8. Motivational Interviewing (MI) founder(s) are:
A. Beck and Ellis
B. Linehan
C. Miller and Rollnick
D. Minuchin and Haley
9. In MI, OARS stands for:
A. Observe, Assess, Reframe, Summarize
B. Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries
C. Options, Advice, Reinforcement, Strategy
D. Outcome measures, Agenda setting, Role play, Scaling
10. In MI, RULE refers to:
A. Resist, Understand, Lead, Evaluate
B. Review, Use, Listen, Educate
C. Resist the righting reflex; Understand motivations; Listen; Empower
D. Respect, Unify, Leverage, Engage
11. Sustain talk is BEST handled by:
A. Immediate confrontation to reduce avoidance
B. Complex reflection and double-sided reflection to keep autonomy intact
C. Education about consequences until the client agrees
D. Switching immediately to problem-solving
12. “I guess I could cut down… maybe.” This is MOST consistent with:
A. Change talk (ability/commitment emerging)
B. Sustain talk
C. Discord
D. Catharsis
13. The “phases of change” (TTM) are ordered:
A. Precontemplation → Contemplation → Preparation → Action → Maintenance (± relapse)
B. Contemplation → Precontemplation → Action → Preparation → Maintenance
DOCUMENT LATEST 2026/2027
1. In CBT, “secondary thinking” is BEST described as:
A. Fast, automatic, global appraisals that feel unquestionably true
B. Deliberate, reflective thinking that evaluates automatic thoughts against evidence
C. A defense mechanism that blocks distressing cognitions
D. A behavioral chain analysis focused on antecedents and consequences
2. A client says, “If my partner would change, I’d finally be happy.” This is MOST consistent with which cognitive distortion
category?
A. Emotional reasoning
B. Fallacy of change (others)
C. Catastrophizing
D. Personalization
3. “Decatastrophizing” in CBT MOST directly involves:
A. Generating multiple alternative explanations and choosing the best one
B. Estimating realistic probability and impact, then planning coping responses
C. Identifying core schemas and linking them to early childhood events
D. Reframing distress as value-consistent action
4. A therapist asks, “What is the evidence for and against that thought?” This is BEST described as:
A. Interpretation
B. Socratic dialogue
C. Paradoxical intervention
D. Empty-chair technique
5. Which diagnosis is MOST classically treated with CBT as a first-line psychotherapy?
A. Schizophrenia (primary treatment)
B. Panic disorder
C. Antisocial personality disorder
D. Acute mania
6. CBT’s relationship to nursing theory is BEST captured by:
A. CBT rejects therapeutic relationship as clinically meaningful
B. CBT aligns with nursing’s emphasis on education, collaboration, and self-management
C. CBT is incompatible with holistic nursing frameworks
7. The MOST defensible reason CBT includes homework is:
A. To test therapist authority and compliance
B. To generalize learning and create behavioral experiments outside session
C. To reduce the need for alliance building
, D. To uncover unconscious conflict
8. Motivational Interviewing (MI) founder(s) are:
A. Beck and Ellis
B. Linehan
C. Miller and Rollnick
D. Minuchin and Haley
9. In MI, OARS stands for:
A. Observe, Assess, Reframe, Summarize
B. Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries
C. Options, Advice, Reinforcement, Strategy
D. Outcome measures, Agenda setting, Role play, Scaling
10. In MI, RULE refers to:
A. Resist, Understand, Lead, Evaluate
B. Review, Use, Listen, Educate
C. Resist the righting reflex; Understand motivations; Listen; Empower
D. Respect, Unify, Leverage, Engage
11. Sustain talk is BEST handled by:
A. Immediate confrontation to reduce avoidance
B. Complex reflection and double-sided reflection to keep autonomy intact
C. Education about consequences until the client agrees
D. Switching immediately to problem-solving
12. “I guess I could cut down… maybe.” This is MOST consistent with:
A. Change talk (ability/commitment emerging)
B. Sustain talk
C. Discord
D. Catharsis
13. The “phases of change” (TTM) are ordered:
A. Precontemplation → Contemplation → Preparation → Action → Maintenance (± relapse)
B. Contemplation → Precontemplation → Action → Preparation → Maintenance
