PMHNP Exam Review questions and answers 2026\2027
A+ Grade
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 assignments."
- correct answer A. an understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also presents an
opportunity for growth.
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
- correct answer B. educating the survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
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
- correct answer A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
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.
- correct answer B. has failed to master object constancy.
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.
D. rational and irrational beliefs about the stressor.
- correct answer D. rational and irrational beliefs about the stressor.
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
A+ Grade
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 assignments."
- correct answer A. an understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also presents an
opportunity for growth.
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
- correct answer B. educating the survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
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
- correct answer A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
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.
- correct answer B. has failed to master object constancy.
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.
D. rational and irrational beliefs about the stressor.
- correct answer D. rational and irrational beliefs about the stressor.
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
