PMHNP POST TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
When considering the use of a cholinesterase inhibitor for a 73-year-old with early-
stage Alzheimer's dementia, the PMHNP counsels the patient's caretaker about all
of the following potential adverse effects except:
Sedation.
Diarrhea.
Hand tremors.
Lacrimation.
Hand tremors.
Parasympathetic activation results in slowing of heart rate and activation of the
gastrointestinal tract, which can result in diarrhea (B). Other common adverse
effects include salivation, lacrimation (D), and sedation (A).
Mary is a 64-year-old woman who is accompanied by her son who insists that she
gets help for chronic alcohol abuse. Mary states, "I don't have a problem. I can stop
whenever I want." According to Prochaska's stages of preparation for change, she
is most likely in which stage?
Precontemplation
Contemplation
Preparation
Action
,Precontemplation
Prochaska identified 5 stages of change and it is important for healthcare providers
to encourage change when needed and provide support to transition the patient
through the stages. Precontemplation describes the patient who is not interested in
change or does not even realize a change is needed (A).
During patient history-taking, Mary states that she drinks about half a bottle of
alcohol during the day followed by a few beers at night. Which of the following
laboratory results would most likely be found?
Elevated LDL-C
Elevated MCV
Proteinuria
Diminished TSH
Elevated MCV
Chronic alcohol abuse is not associated with elevated LDL-C or the presence of
proteinuria (A, C). Diminished TSH levels is an indication of a thyroid disorder
and not derived from alcohol abuse (D).
Mary returns 3 weeks later after participating in several therapy sessions. She
admits that she would like to cut down on her alcohol use but is fearful of
withdrawal effects. The PMHNP offers to prescribe which of the following to help
manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms?
Naltrexone
,Clonidine
Disulfiram
Naloxone
Clonidine
Disulfiram is used to assist in maintaining abstinence from alcohol use by causing
noxious physical effects, such as nausea, vomiting, sweating and headache, when
alcohol is consumed (C). Naloxone is used to rapidly reverse the effects of opioids
during an overdose but would not be used for alcohol withdrawal symptoms (D).
Naltrexone is used to block the euphoric feeling when alcohol or opioids are
consumed but would not be helpful for alcohol withdrawal symptoms (A).
At the request of his partner, a 51-year-old man is being evaluated for obsessive-
compulsive disorder. He admits that he finds it difficult to leave his apartment
without checking that the lights and water are turned off. It can take him up to 30
minutes to exit the apartment and this is putting a strain on his relationship. In
addition to recommending psychotherapy, the PMHNP suggests initiating
pharmacologic therapy with:
Duloxetine.
Bupropion.
Lurasidone.
Selegiline.
Duloxetine.
SSRIs and SNRIs such as duloxetine are the first-line treatments for obsessive-
compulsive disorder, with a response rate ranging from 50-70% (A). High doses
are often needed to achieve the desired effect. Second-line treatment can include
, clomipramine, while treatment can be augmented with the use of valproate,
lithium, or carbamazepine.
A 28-year-old man will initiate pharmacotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder.
His records show that he has chronic hepatitis B. Which of the following agents
should be avoided?
Sertraline
Duloxetine
Venlafaxine
Escitalopram
Duloxetine
Liver toxicity is not associated with the use of sertraline (A), venlafaxine (C), or
escitalopram (D) and these would be appropriate first-line agents for this patient.
Which of the following antidepressants should be avoided in a patient with
moderate depression and who has expressed some thoughts about suicide?
Fluoxetine
Desvenlafaxine
Nortriptyline
Escitalopram
Nortriptyline
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
When considering the use of a cholinesterase inhibitor for a 73-year-old with early-
stage Alzheimer's dementia, the PMHNP counsels the patient's caretaker about all
of the following potential adverse effects except:
Sedation.
Diarrhea.
Hand tremors.
Lacrimation.
Hand tremors.
Parasympathetic activation results in slowing of heart rate and activation of the
gastrointestinal tract, which can result in diarrhea (B). Other common adverse
effects include salivation, lacrimation (D), and sedation (A).
Mary is a 64-year-old woman who is accompanied by her son who insists that she
gets help for chronic alcohol abuse. Mary states, "I don't have a problem. I can stop
whenever I want." According to Prochaska's stages of preparation for change, she
is most likely in which stage?
Precontemplation
Contemplation
Preparation
Action
,Precontemplation
Prochaska identified 5 stages of change and it is important for healthcare providers
to encourage change when needed and provide support to transition the patient
through the stages. Precontemplation describes the patient who is not interested in
change or does not even realize a change is needed (A).
During patient history-taking, Mary states that she drinks about half a bottle of
alcohol during the day followed by a few beers at night. Which of the following
laboratory results would most likely be found?
Elevated LDL-C
Elevated MCV
Proteinuria
Diminished TSH
Elevated MCV
Chronic alcohol abuse is not associated with elevated LDL-C or the presence of
proteinuria (A, C). Diminished TSH levels is an indication of a thyroid disorder
and not derived from alcohol abuse (D).
Mary returns 3 weeks later after participating in several therapy sessions. She
admits that she would like to cut down on her alcohol use but is fearful of
withdrawal effects. The PMHNP offers to prescribe which of the following to help
manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms?
Naltrexone
,Clonidine
Disulfiram
Naloxone
Clonidine
Disulfiram is used to assist in maintaining abstinence from alcohol use by causing
noxious physical effects, such as nausea, vomiting, sweating and headache, when
alcohol is consumed (C). Naloxone is used to rapidly reverse the effects of opioids
during an overdose but would not be used for alcohol withdrawal symptoms (D).
Naltrexone is used to block the euphoric feeling when alcohol or opioids are
consumed but would not be helpful for alcohol withdrawal symptoms (A).
At the request of his partner, a 51-year-old man is being evaluated for obsessive-
compulsive disorder. He admits that he finds it difficult to leave his apartment
without checking that the lights and water are turned off. It can take him up to 30
minutes to exit the apartment and this is putting a strain on his relationship. In
addition to recommending psychotherapy, the PMHNP suggests initiating
pharmacologic therapy with:
Duloxetine.
Bupropion.
Lurasidone.
Selegiline.
Duloxetine.
SSRIs and SNRIs such as duloxetine are the first-line treatments for obsessive-
compulsive disorder, with a response rate ranging from 50-70% (A). High doses
are often needed to achieve the desired effect. Second-line treatment can include
, clomipramine, while treatment can be augmented with the use of valproate,
lithium, or carbamazepine.
A 28-year-old man will initiate pharmacotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder.
His records show that he has chronic hepatitis B. Which of the following agents
should be avoided?
Sertraline
Duloxetine
Venlafaxine
Escitalopram
Duloxetine
Liver toxicity is not associated with the use of sertraline (A), venlafaxine (C), or
escitalopram (D) and these would be appropriate first-line agents for this patient.
Which of the following antidepressants should be avoided in a patient with
moderate depression and who has expressed some thoughts about suicide?
Fluoxetine
Desvenlafaxine
Nortriptyline
Escitalopram
Nortriptyline
