PMHNP BOARDS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
A 14-year-old patient has nonspecific complaints about pain in his or her legs. The
physical examination is unremarkable. Laboratory results are within normal limits except
for a markedly elevated alkaline phosphatase level. The psychiatric-mental health nurse
practitioner - Correct Answer interprets the findings as normally occurring during a
rapid adolescent growth spurt
Laboratory findings for a patient with an alcohol use disorder indicate increased liver
function values and: - Correct Answer increased MCV and elevated triglyceride levels.
A new patient arrives at the office for treatment for depression. The patient reports
taking simvastatin (Zocor) and lisinopril (Zestril). When selecting an antidepressant, the
psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner eliminates fluoxetine (Prozac), based on the
knowledge that the combination can lead to increased plasma levels of the statin,
resulting in an increased risk of muscle damage and rhabdomyolysis. The nurse
practitioner's reason is that: - Correct Answer one medication is a CYP450 3A4
substrate and one is a CYP450 3A4 inhibitor.
A 28-year-old patient who is psychotic arrives at the clinic with family members but
refuses to meet if the family members are present. The psychiatric-mental health nurse
practitioner - Correct Answer asks the family members to leave for the appointment.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner is responsible for initiating quality
improvement at a community mental health clinic. The effective strategy for evaluating
the clinic's services is to: - Correct Answer use a survey to elicit patient satisfaction
responses.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner evaluates a new adult patient via
telemedicine. The patient has questions about a new medication that he or she recently
started. The nurse practitioner decides to provide psychoeducation and to: - Correct
Answer e-mail drug information and resources
Any court of law that evaluates the standards of care provided by a psychiatric-mental
health nurse practitioner - Correct Answer considers what a reasonably prudent health
care provider would do.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and a team of local mental health
professionals are asked to provide crisis counseling service, after a gunman recently
took a class hostage at a local elementary school, wounded several students, and then
shot himself. In preparing for this assignment, the nurse practitioner recognizes that: -
Correct Answer a child's developmental stage will influence his or her response to
catastrophic stress
, Which community-based program is a tertiary level intervention? - Correct Answer
Partial hospitalization program that provides intensive group therapy for rehabilitation.
A 32-year-old female patient informs the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner
that she is three months pregnant. She has been stable on fluoxetine (Prozac) for the
last two years. The patient asks whether she may safely continue this medication during
her pregnancy. The nurse practitioner responds: - Correct Answer "Let's review the
risks and benefits of continuing or discontinuing Prozac for you and your baby."
Established clinical guidelines suggest that suicidality is decreased by treating patients
who have borderline personality disorder with: - Correct Answer dialectical behavioral
therapy.
A six-year-old patient with autistic spectrum disorder has not responded to six months of
psychosocial interventions and continues to demonstrate aggressive tendencies toward
a younger sibling. The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner prescribes: - Correct
Answer risperidone (Risperdal) 0.25 mg once a day.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner working in a crisis stabilization unit
evaluates a patient verbalizing suicidal thoughts after being sexually assaulted. Before
processing through the traumatic event, the nurse practitioner first attempts to - Correct
Answer provide an environment of safety.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner uses a cognitive-behavioral approach
to help a patient address self-defeating behaviors. After identifying the stressor that
causes the inappropriate behavior, the initial strategy is to explore: - Correct Answer
rational and irrational beliefs about the stressor.
A patient who has borderline personality disorder experiences intense anxiety when the
psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner goes on vacation. The most appropriate
explanation for this reaction is that the patient: - Correct Answer has not developed
object constancy.
An initial psychiatric evaluation of a patient reveals a normal mental status and
appropriate behavior, despite a parent's reports of "disobedience, poor grades, and
laziness." To further assess the patient's functioning, the psychiatric-mental health
nurse practitioner: - Correct Answer meets with the parent and patient together to
explore the discrepant report.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner is employed in a newly created
attending role on a psychiatric inpatient unit. To promote an interprofessional
environment, the nurse practitioner: - Correct Answer assigns a role for all staff
members in improving patient outcomes.
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
A 14-year-old patient has nonspecific complaints about pain in his or her legs. The
physical examination is unremarkable. Laboratory results are within normal limits except
for a markedly elevated alkaline phosphatase level. The psychiatric-mental health nurse
practitioner - Correct Answer interprets the findings as normally occurring during a
rapid adolescent growth spurt
Laboratory findings for a patient with an alcohol use disorder indicate increased liver
function values and: - Correct Answer increased MCV and elevated triglyceride levels.
A new patient arrives at the office for treatment for depression. The patient reports
taking simvastatin (Zocor) and lisinopril (Zestril). When selecting an antidepressant, the
psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner eliminates fluoxetine (Prozac), based on the
knowledge that the combination can lead to increased plasma levels of the statin,
resulting in an increased risk of muscle damage and rhabdomyolysis. The nurse
practitioner's reason is that: - Correct Answer one medication is a CYP450 3A4
substrate and one is a CYP450 3A4 inhibitor.
A 28-year-old patient who is psychotic arrives at the clinic with family members but
refuses to meet if the family members are present. The psychiatric-mental health nurse
practitioner - Correct Answer asks the family members to leave for the appointment.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner is responsible for initiating quality
improvement at a community mental health clinic. The effective strategy for evaluating
the clinic's services is to: - Correct Answer use a survey to elicit patient satisfaction
responses.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner evaluates a new adult patient via
telemedicine. The patient has questions about a new medication that he or she recently
started. The nurse practitioner decides to provide psychoeducation and to: - Correct
Answer e-mail drug information and resources
Any court of law that evaluates the standards of care provided by a psychiatric-mental
health nurse practitioner - Correct Answer considers what a reasonably prudent health
care provider would do.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and a team of local mental health
professionals are asked to provide crisis counseling service, after a gunman recently
took a class hostage at a local elementary school, wounded several students, and then
shot himself. In preparing for this assignment, the nurse practitioner recognizes that: -
Correct Answer a child's developmental stage will influence his or her response to
catastrophic stress
, Which community-based program is a tertiary level intervention? - Correct Answer
Partial hospitalization program that provides intensive group therapy for rehabilitation.
A 32-year-old female patient informs the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner
that she is three months pregnant. She has been stable on fluoxetine (Prozac) for the
last two years. The patient asks whether she may safely continue this medication during
her pregnancy. The nurse practitioner responds: - Correct Answer "Let's review the
risks and benefits of continuing or discontinuing Prozac for you and your baby."
Established clinical guidelines suggest that suicidality is decreased by treating patients
who have borderline personality disorder with: - Correct Answer dialectical behavioral
therapy.
A six-year-old patient with autistic spectrum disorder has not responded to six months of
psychosocial interventions and continues to demonstrate aggressive tendencies toward
a younger sibling. The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner prescribes: - Correct
Answer risperidone (Risperdal) 0.25 mg once a day.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner working in a crisis stabilization unit
evaluates a patient verbalizing suicidal thoughts after being sexually assaulted. Before
processing through the traumatic event, the nurse practitioner first attempts to - Correct
Answer provide an environment of safety.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner uses a cognitive-behavioral approach
to help a patient address self-defeating behaviors. After identifying the stressor that
causes the inappropriate behavior, the initial strategy is to explore: - Correct Answer
rational and irrational beliefs about the stressor.
A patient who has borderline personality disorder experiences intense anxiety when the
psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner goes on vacation. The most appropriate
explanation for this reaction is that the patient: - Correct Answer has not developed
object constancy.
An initial psychiatric evaluation of a patient reveals a normal mental status and
appropriate behavior, despite a parent's reports of "disobedience, poor grades, and
laziness." To further assess the patient's functioning, the psychiatric-mental health
nurse practitioner: - Correct Answer meets with the parent and patient together to
explore the discrepant report.
The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner is employed in a newly created
attending role on a psychiatric inpatient unit. To promote an interprofessional
environment, the nurse practitioner: - Correct Answer assigns a role for all staff
members in improving patient outcomes.
