for PMHNP – Chamberlain Latest Update | 200
Practice Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales | A+ Graded
Section 1: Telepsychiatry & Telehealth Best Practices
1. In 2018, the American Psychiatric Association (APA), in conjunction with the
American Telemedicine Association (ATA), developed:
A. Standards for in-person psychiatric evaluations
B. Best practices for providing videoconferencing-based telepsychiatric care
C. Guidelines for psychiatric medication prescribing only
D. Protocols for emergency room psychiatric assessments
Answer: B
Rationale: In 2018, the APA and ATA jointly developed best practices for
videoconferencing-based telepsychiatric care. These guidelines inform the
technical, clinical, and administrative requirements needed to provide
telepsychiatry services safely and effectively. The guidelines address technology
platforms, HIPAA compliance, emergency management, and documentation
standards, ensuring quality care comparable to in-person visits.
2. During telepsychiatry sessions, both the provider and client locations should be
treated as a:
A. Public meeting space
B. Confidential space
C. Semi-private area
D. Unregulated environment
Answer: B
Rationale: Both the provider's and client's physical locations during a
telepsychiatry encounter must be treated as confidential spaces. The PMHNP
must ensure the discussion cannot be overheard by others, that adequate lighting
and ambiance are provided, and that the camera is positioned so the eyes and
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,face of all participants are visible. This protects patient privacy and upholds HIPAA
standards even in a remote setting.
3. Telepsychiatry Legal and Regulatory Considerations: The PMHNP should verify
that malpractice insurance:
A. Covers only in-person practice
B. Is not required for telehealth services
C. Covers telepsychiatry services across state lines if applicable
D. Is automatically provided by the state
Answer: C
Rationale: The PMHNP must verify that malpractice insurance explicitly covers
telepsychiatry services, including across state lines if practicing via interstate
compacts. Not all policies automatically cover telehealth, and coverage may differ
by jurisdiction. The provider assumes full liability for telepsychiatry encounters
just as for in-person care, so insurance verification is an essential pre-practice
step.
4. Regarding telepsychiatry licensure requirements:
A. The provider must hold a license in the state where the provider is physically
located only
B. Licensure requirements are the same as for in-person practice
C. The provider must hold a license in the state where the client resides
D. No license is required for telepsychiatry
Answer: C
Rationale: Licensure requirements differ from in-person practice. For
telepsychiatry, providers must hold an active license to practice in the state
where the client resides, regardless of the provider's physical location. The
PMHNP is responsible for following the standards and regulations of the state in
which the client is located at the time of the session. This is a fundamental legal
requirement for telehealth across state lines.
5. The most common modality for providing telepsychiatric services is:
A. Telephone only
B. Email communication
C. Videoconferencing technology
D. Text messaging
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,Answer: C
Rationale: Videoconferencing technology is the most common and preferred
modality for telepsychiatry because it allows for visual observation of the
patient's appearance, affect, and behavior, which are essential components of the
mental status examination. It also facilitates nonverbal communication and
provides a more therapeutic environment than telephone or text-based
modalities.
6. Best practices for telepsychiatry videoconferencing include all of the following
EXCEPT:
A. Use of a designated HIPAA-compliant technology platform
B. Conducting sessions on public or non-HIPAA-compliant platforms when
convenient
C. Sufficient bandwidth to provide clear video and audio quality
D. Device compliance with HIPAA and state requirements
Answer: B
Rationale: Telepsychiatry sessions should never be conducted on public or non-
HIPAA-compliant platforms such as Skype, FaceTime, or unencrypted consumer-
grade applications. Providers must use a designated HIPAA-compliant technology
platform, ensure sufficient bandwidth for clear audiovisual quality, and maintain
device compliance with HIPAA and state requirements to protect patient
confidentiality and meet legal standards.
7. The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 governs:
A. Prescribing of non-controlled substances only
B. Prescribing of controlled substances via teleconferencing
C. Reimbursement for telepsychiatry
D. Patient privacy in telehealth
Answer: B
Rationale: The Ryan Haight Act governs the prescribing of controlled substances
via teleconferencing. To safely prescribe controlled substances through
telepsychiatry, the provider must conduct an in-person medical evaluation at
least once every 24 months and comply with all federal and state prescribing
guidelines. This law was designed to prevent online prescribing without a valid
patient-provider relationship.
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, 8. A patient’s caregiver insists on being present during the telepsychiatry session
against the patient’s wishes. The PMHNP should:
A. Allow the caregiver to stay to avoid conflict
B. End the session immediately
C. Ask the caregiver to leave the room to maintain patient confidentiality
D. Continue the session without addressing the issue
Answer: C
Rationale: The PMHNP must ask the caregiver to leave the room to maintain
patient confidentiality and respect the patient's autonomy. The patient has the
right to a private encounter with the provider, and the presence of a third party
against the patient's wishes violates confidentiality and therapeutic boundaries. If
the caregiver refuses, the session may need to be rescheduled.
9. When documenting informed consent for telepsychiatry, the provider should:
A. Obtain verbal consent only
B. Obtain written informed consent specific to telepsychiatry and document it in
the medical record
C. Assume consent is implied by scheduling the appointment
D. Use a generic consent form without telehealth specifics
Answer: B
Rationale: Written informed consent specific to telepsychiatry must be obtained
prior to providing services. The consent form should explain the nature of
telepsychiatry, potential risks (e.g., technology failures, privacy breaches),
benefits, alternatives, and policies regarding emergencies, technology failures,
and confidentiality. This signed consent must be documented in the medical
record.
10. If a telepsychiatry connection fails during a session with a patient at imminent
risk of self-harm, the PMHNP should:
A. Wait for the patient to reconnect
B. End the session and document the failure
C. Follow the established emergency contingency plan (e.g., call the patient's
emergency contact or local emergency services)
D. Reschedule the session for the next day
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