NR548 Final Exam Actual Exam Style V1 |
NR 548 Psychiatric Assessment for
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner Chamberlain
1. During a mental status examination, a patient reports feeling ‘sad and hopeless.’ Which
component of the MSE does this address?
A. Mood
B. Affect
C. Thought Content
D. Perception
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Mood is the patient’s internal emotional state as reported by the
patient themselves. Affect is the objective observation of the patient’s emotion made by the
clinician. It is important to document mood using the patient’s own words whenever
possible.
2. A clinician observes a patient shifting from one topic to another without returning to the
original point. This is known as:
A. Circumstantiality
B. Flight of ideas
C. Word salad
,D. Tangentiality
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Tangentiality occurs when the patient moves off-topic and does not
return to the initial question. This is a common finding in thought process disturbances
often seen in schizophrenia or mania. Unlike circumstantiality, the speaker never reaches
the goal of the conversation.
3. The CAGE questionnaire is a screening tool primarily used to assess for:
A. Anxiety disorders
B. Alcohol use disorder
C. Bipolar disorder
D. Cognitive impairment
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: The CAGE questionnaire is a brief screening tool for alcohol
dependence. It consists of four questions regarding cutting down, being annoyed by
criticism, feeling guilty, and eye-opener drinks. A score of 2 or higher is typically
considered clinically significant.
4. Which of the following describes ‘affect’ that is inconsistent with the patient’s reported
mood?
A. Blunted
, B. Incongruent
C. Labile
D. Constricted
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Incongruent affect occurs when the observable emotional expression
does not match the patient’s stated mood. For example, a patient laughing while discussing
a recent death is displaying incongruent affect. Identifying these discrepancies is vital for
an accurate psychiatric diagnosis.
5. A patient states they can hear the voice of God telling them they are special. This is
categorized under:
A. Thought process
B. Insight
C. Judgment
D. Perception
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Perception includes sensory experiences like hallucinations, which
are perceptions without external stimuli. Auditory hallucinations are the most common
type found in psychiatric disorders. Clinicians must distinguish these from illusions, which
are misinterpretations of actual stimuli.
NR 548 Psychiatric Assessment for
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner Chamberlain
1. During a mental status examination, a patient reports feeling ‘sad and hopeless.’ Which
component of the MSE does this address?
A. Mood
B. Affect
C. Thought Content
D. Perception
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Mood is the patient’s internal emotional state as reported by the
patient themselves. Affect is the objective observation of the patient’s emotion made by the
clinician. It is important to document mood using the patient’s own words whenever
possible.
2. A clinician observes a patient shifting from one topic to another without returning to the
original point. This is known as:
A. Circumstantiality
B. Flight of ideas
C. Word salad
,D. Tangentiality
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Tangentiality occurs when the patient moves off-topic and does not
return to the initial question. This is a common finding in thought process disturbances
often seen in schizophrenia or mania. Unlike circumstantiality, the speaker never reaches
the goal of the conversation.
3. The CAGE questionnaire is a screening tool primarily used to assess for:
A. Anxiety disorders
B. Alcohol use disorder
C. Bipolar disorder
D. Cognitive impairment
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: The CAGE questionnaire is a brief screening tool for alcohol
dependence. It consists of four questions regarding cutting down, being annoyed by
criticism, feeling guilty, and eye-opener drinks. A score of 2 or higher is typically
considered clinically significant.
4. Which of the following describes ‘affect’ that is inconsistent with the patient’s reported
mood?
A. Blunted
, B. Incongruent
C. Labile
D. Constricted
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Incongruent affect occurs when the observable emotional expression
does not match the patient’s stated mood. For example, a patient laughing while discussing
a recent death is displaying incongruent affect. Identifying these discrepancies is vital for
an accurate psychiatric diagnosis.
5. A patient states they can hear the voice of God telling them they are special. This is
categorized under:
A. Thought process
B. Insight
C. Judgment
D. Perception
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Perception includes sensory experiences like hallucinations, which
are perceptions without external stimuli. Auditory hallucinations are the most common
type found in psychiatric disorders. Clinicians must distinguish these from illusions, which
are misinterpretations of actual stimuli.
