ANCC Exam
Questions with
Complete Answers
User [Date] [Course title]
, The purpose of the American Nurses Association's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing:
Scope and Standards of Practice is to
a. Define the role and actions for the NP
b. Establish the legal authority for the prescription of psychotropic medications
c. Define the legal statutes of the role of the PMHNP
d. Define the differences between the physician role and the NP role - Correct Answer: Correct Answer:
A. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice defines the role and
actions of the nurse practitioner.
Primary prevention care practices are an essential aspect of the PMHNP role. Which of the following is
the best example of a primary prevention care strategy for community behavioral health?
a. Aftercare program for chronically mentally ill clients recently discharged from the hospital
b. Court-ordered counseling for abusive parents
c. 24-hour crisis hotlines
d. Parenting skills classes for pregnant adolescents - Correct Answer: Correct Answer: D. Information
reduces incidence of disease.
The trend in legal rulings on cases involving mental illness over the past 25 years has been to
a. Encourage juries to find defendants not guilty by reason of insanity
b. Protect the person's freedoms or rights when he or she is committed to a mental hospital
c. Place increasing trust in mental health professionals to make good and ethical decisions
d. Decrease the "red tape" associated with commitments so that commitments are faster and easier -
Correct Answer: Correct Answer: B. Identifies the trend of ensuring the protection of individual civil
liberties for psychiatric clients.
Mr. Smithers, an involuntarily hospitalized patient experiencing psychotic symptoms, refuses to take any
of his ordered medication because he believes "Jesus Christ told me I am the prophet and must fast for a
year." Your actions should be based on your knowledge of which of the following?
, a. Psychiatric clients cannot refuse treatment
b. Psychiatric clients do not always know what is good for them
c. Psychiatric clients can refuse treatment
d. Psychiatric clients cannot be trusted to make good healthcare decisions and, therefore, the nurse's
best clinical judgment should guide actions - Correct Answer: Correct Answer: C. As with any client,
psychiatric clients can refuse treatment unless a legal process resulting in involuntary commitment or
mandatory court order for treatment has been obtained
Which of the following statements best reflects the difference between the nurse-client (N-C)
relationship and a social relationship?
a. In the N-C relationship, the primary focus is on the client and the client's needs.
b. Goals in the N-C relationship are deliberately left vague and unspoken so that the client can work on
any issue.
c. In the N-C relationship, the nurse is solely responsible for making the relationship work.
d. In the N-C relationship, there is no place for social interaction. - Correct Answer: Correct Answer: A.
Social relationships are mutual interpersonal relationships in which the needs of both parties are
addressed. The N-C relationship is most concerned
with meeting the needs of the client.
A community has an unusually high incidence of depression and drug use among the teenage
population. The public health nurses decide to address this problem, in part, by modifying the
environment and strengthening the capacities of families to prevent the development of new cases of
depression and drug use. What is this is an example of?
a. Primary prevention
b. Secondary prevention
c. Tertiary prevention
d. Protective factorial prevention - Correct Answer: Correct Answer: A. This action focuses on
interventions designed to reduce the incidence of new cases of disease.
Mrs. Kemp is voluntarily admitted to the hospital. After 24 hours, she states she wishes to leave because
"this place can't help me." The best nursing action that reflects the legal right of this client is
a. Discharge the client
b. Explain that the client cannot leave until you can complete further assessment
, c. Allow the client to leave but have her sign forms stating she is leaving against medical advice
d. Immediately start the paperwork to commit the client and to allow you to treat her against her wishes
- Correct Answer: Correct Answer: B. Almost every state allows for a brief period of detainment to assess
a client for dangerousness to self or others before allowing the client to leave a hospital setting, even if
the admission was voluntary.
In forming a therapeutic relationship with clients, the PMHNP must consider developing many
characteristics that are known to be helpful in relationship-building. Which of the following is an
essential part of building a therapeutic relationship?
a. Collecting a family history
b. Like-mindedness
c. Authenticity
d. Accuracy in assessment - Correct Answer: Correct Answer: C. Authenticity. Being genuine, honest, and
respectful are essential elements in establishing a working relationship with any client. Like-mindedness
is not a part of the therapeutic relationship. Although an important aspect of the
PMHNP role, collecting a family history and accuracy in assessment does not in and of itself facilitate
relationship-building.
According to the DSM-5, which of the following is true? (Ch. 3)
a. A mental disorder is equivalent to the need for treatment.
b. Diagnostic criteria are used to inform clinical judgment.
c. Socially deviant behavior is considered a mental disorder.
d. A culturally expected response to a stressor is not a mental disorder. - Correct Answer: Correct
Answer: D. All DSM-5 disorders need to be made taking a person's culture into account. A cultural
expression of a response to grief, loss, or stress is not considered a DSM-5 diagnosis.
Mrs. French has been in individual therapy for 3 months. She has shown much growth and improvement
in her functioning and insight and is to discontinue services within the next few weeks. In the next
session, after you discuss service termination, she suddenly begins to demonstrate the original
symptoms that had brought her to treatment initially. She is now
hesitant to discharge, wants to continue services, and is displaying an increase in regressive defense
mechanisms. What is the best explanation for Ms. French's behavior?
a. An exacerbation of her symptoms related to stress
b. The normal cyclic nature of chronic mental health symptoms
Questions with
Complete Answers
User [Date] [Course title]
, The purpose of the American Nurses Association's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing:
Scope and Standards of Practice is to
a. Define the role and actions for the NP
b. Establish the legal authority for the prescription of psychotropic medications
c. Define the legal statutes of the role of the PMHNP
d. Define the differences between the physician role and the NP role - Correct Answer: Correct Answer:
A. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice defines the role and
actions of the nurse practitioner.
Primary prevention care practices are an essential aspect of the PMHNP role. Which of the following is
the best example of a primary prevention care strategy for community behavioral health?
a. Aftercare program for chronically mentally ill clients recently discharged from the hospital
b. Court-ordered counseling for abusive parents
c. 24-hour crisis hotlines
d. Parenting skills classes for pregnant adolescents - Correct Answer: Correct Answer: D. Information
reduces incidence of disease.
The trend in legal rulings on cases involving mental illness over the past 25 years has been to
a. Encourage juries to find defendants not guilty by reason of insanity
b. Protect the person's freedoms or rights when he or she is committed to a mental hospital
c. Place increasing trust in mental health professionals to make good and ethical decisions
d. Decrease the "red tape" associated with commitments so that commitments are faster and easier -
Correct Answer: Correct Answer: B. Identifies the trend of ensuring the protection of individual civil
liberties for psychiatric clients.
Mr. Smithers, an involuntarily hospitalized patient experiencing psychotic symptoms, refuses to take any
of his ordered medication because he believes "Jesus Christ told me I am the prophet and must fast for a
year." Your actions should be based on your knowledge of which of the following?
, a. Psychiatric clients cannot refuse treatment
b. Psychiatric clients do not always know what is good for them
c. Psychiatric clients can refuse treatment
d. Psychiatric clients cannot be trusted to make good healthcare decisions and, therefore, the nurse's
best clinical judgment should guide actions - Correct Answer: Correct Answer: C. As with any client,
psychiatric clients can refuse treatment unless a legal process resulting in involuntary commitment or
mandatory court order for treatment has been obtained
Which of the following statements best reflects the difference between the nurse-client (N-C)
relationship and a social relationship?
a. In the N-C relationship, the primary focus is on the client and the client's needs.
b. Goals in the N-C relationship are deliberately left vague and unspoken so that the client can work on
any issue.
c. In the N-C relationship, the nurse is solely responsible for making the relationship work.
d. In the N-C relationship, there is no place for social interaction. - Correct Answer: Correct Answer: A.
Social relationships are mutual interpersonal relationships in which the needs of both parties are
addressed. The N-C relationship is most concerned
with meeting the needs of the client.
A community has an unusually high incidence of depression and drug use among the teenage
population. The public health nurses decide to address this problem, in part, by modifying the
environment and strengthening the capacities of families to prevent the development of new cases of
depression and drug use. What is this is an example of?
a. Primary prevention
b. Secondary prevention
c. Tertiary prevention
d. Protective factorial prevention - Correct Answer: Correct Answer: A. This action focuses on
interventions designed to reduce the incidence of new cases of disease.
Mrs. Kemp is voluntarily admitted to the hospital. After 24 hours, she states she wishes to leave because
"this place can't help me." The best nursing action that reflects the legal right of this client is
a. Discharge the client
b. Explain that the client cannot leave until you can complete further assessment
, c. Allow the client to leave but have her sign forms stating she is leaving against medical advice
d. Immediately start the paperwork to commit the client and to allow you to treat her against her wishes
- Correct Answer: Correct Answer: B. Almost every state allows for a brief period of detainment to assess
a client for dangerousness to self or others before allowing the client to leave a hospital setting, even if
the admission was voluntary.
In forming a therapeutic relationship with clients, the PMHNP must consider developing many
characteristics that are known to be helpful in relationship-building. Which of the following is an
essential part of building a therapeutic relationship?
a. Collecting a family history
b. Like-mindedness
c. Authenticity
d. Accuracy in assessment - Correct Answer: Correct Answer: C. Authenticity. Being genuine, honest, and
respectful are essential elements in establishing a working relationship with any client. Like-mindedness
is not a part of the therapeutic relationship. Although an important aspect of the
PMHNP role, collecting a family history and accuracy in assessment does not in and of itself facilitate
relationship-building.
According to the DSM-5, which of the following is true? (Ch. 3)
a. A mental disorder is equivalent to the need for treatment.
b. Diagnostic criteria are used to inform clinical judgment.
c. Socially deviant behavior is considered a mental disorder.
d. A culturally expected response to a stressor is not a mental disorder. - Correct Answer: Correct
Answer: D. All DSM-5 disorders need to be made taking a person's culture into account. A cultural
expression of a response to grief, loss, or stress is not considered a DSM-5 diagnosis.
Mrs. French has been in individual therapy for 3 months. She has shown much growth and improvement
in her functioning and insight and is to discontinue services within the next few weeks. In the next
session, after you discuss service termination, she suddenly begins to demonstrate the original
symptoms that had brought her to treatment initially. She is now
hesitant to discharge, wants to continue services, and is displaying an increase in regressive defense
mechanisms. What is the best explanation for Ms. French's behavior?
a. An exacerbation of her symptoms related to stress
b. The normal cyclic nature of chronic mental health symptoms
