EXAM 2 NR548 PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT
EXAM PREP 2026 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
GRADED A+
◉ MSE: Mood and Affect Answer: Mood
-client's state of mind or prevalent emotional state
-subjective
-typically self-reported
-Stable: mood is appropriate to their current situation
-other: bright, happy, angry, agitated, irritable, labile, anxious,
depressed, or euphoric
Affect
-physical manifestation of the client's emotional state as observed by
the provider
-normal, blunted, flat, bizarre, dysphoric, or euphoric
-Qualities of affect
• stability (stable or labile)
• appropriateness
• range (does it change with diff. situations)
• intensity
,◉ MSE: Thought Process Answer: -rate of thoughts and how they
flow and are connected
-coherent vs. incoherent
-Normal: linear & goal-directed
-Other: loose, circumstantial, or tangential
-Clients may experience flight of ideas with little connection
between thoughts or words
-Assessment: questioning client, listening to responses
◉ MSE: Suicidal and Homicidal Ideation Answer: -Direct terms
should be used to assess suicide preoccupation and planning
-assess for homicidal ideation, intent, attempts, and plans
-critical to determine whether a plan exists
• access to the resources needed to execute the plan
• more detailed and thorough the plan, the higher the risk
• assess if plan is composed of fleeting thoughts rather than action
steps
• assess whether the client is angry and lashing out or intending to
bring actual harm
-SCREENING FOR SUICIDAL AND HOMICIDAL IDEATIONS IS AN
ETHICAL OBLIGATION OF THE PMHNP & IS ESSENTIAL FOR
PROTECTING ONESELF, THE CLIENT, & THE PUBLIC
, ◉ MSE: Cognitive Assessment Answer: -evaluation of a client's level
of awareness, attention, concentration, and memory
-Awareness: observation with emphasis on the client's eyes and
speech
-alertness or wakefulness provides information about cognitive
function
• help rule out potential substance use or intoxication
-levels of awareness: alert and oriented, somnolent, drowsy, or even
comatose
-Attention and concentration: observation of responses during the
interview
• can they stay on topic?
• able to focus and respond to Q's?
• can use standardized tools such as the Mini-Mental State Exam
(MMSE), digit span test and the SSST
-Memory assessment: immediate recall, short-term, and long-term
memory
• particularly important when ruling out dementia or Alzheimer's
disease
• Stress, anxiety, and depression can also impact memory
• orientation, three-object recall
-Mini-Cog exam is commonly used to help rule out significant
cognitive issues
EXAM PREP 2026 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
GRADED A+
◉ MSE: Mood and Affect Answer: Mood
-client's state of mind or prevalent emotional state
-subjective
-typically self-reported
-Stable: mood is appropriate to their current situation
-other: bright, happy, angry, agitated, irritable, labile, anxious,
depressed, or euphoric
Affect
-physical manifestation of the client's emotional state as observed by
the provider
-normal, blunted, flat, bizarre, dysphoric, or euphoric
-Qualities of affect
• stability (stable or labile)
• appropriateness
• range (does it change with diff. situations)
• intensity
,◉ MSE: Thought Process Answer: -rate of thoughts and how they
flow and are connected
-coherent vs. incoherent
-Normal: linear & goal-directed
-Other: loose, circumstantial, or tangential
-Clients may experience flight of ideas with little connection
between thoughts or words
-Assessment: questioning client, listening to responses
◉ MSE: Suicidal and Homicidal Ideation Answer: -Direct terms
should be used to assess suicide preoccupation and planning
-assess for homicidal ideation, intent, attempts, and plans
-critical to determine whether a plan exists
• access to the resources needed to execute the plan
• more detailed and thorough the plan, the higher the risk
• assess if plan is composed of fleeting thoughts rather than action
steps
• assess whether the client is angry and lashing out or intending to
bring actual harm
-SCREENING FOR SUICIDAL AND HOMICIDAL IDEATIONS IS AN
ETHICAL OBLIGATION OF THE PMHNP & IS ESSENTIAL FOR
PROTECTING ONESELF, THE CLIENT, & THE PUBLIC
, ◉ MSE: Cognitive Assessment Answer: -evaluation of a client's level
of awareness, attention, concentration, and memory
-Awareness: observation with emphasis on the client's eyes and
speech
-alertness or wakefulness provides information about cognitive
function
• help rule out potential substance use or intoxication
-levels of awareness: alert and oriented, somnolent, drowsy, or even
comatose
-Attention and concentration: observation of responses during the
interview
• can they stay on topic?
• able to focus and respond to Q's?
• can use standardized tools such as the Mini-Mental State Exam
(MMSE), digit span test and the SSST
-Memory assessment: immediate recall, short-term, and long-term
memory
• particularly important when ruling out dementia or Alzheimer's
disease
• Stress, anxiety, and depression can also impact memory
• orientation, three-object recall
-Mini-Cog exam is commonly used to help rule out significant
cognitive issues
