PMHNP Certification Exam 2026–2027
Exam Questions and Verified Correct
Answers
According to the DSM-5, which of the following is true?
A. A mental disorder is equivalent to the need for treatment
B. Dx criteria are used to inform clinical judgement
C. Socially deviant behavior is considered a mental dx
D. A culturally response to a stressor is not a mental health disorder -
CORRECT ANSWER D. A culturally response to a stressor is not a mental
illness
Provide brief supportive therapy
Which of the following interventions by the PMHNP for a person
experiencing statue de nervous demonstrates culturally informed care?
A. Offering brief supportive psychotherapy
B. Offer a brief hospitalization
C. Requesting a family member act as an interpreter
D. Offering a low-dose, short term anxiolytic medication - CORRECT ANSWER
A. Offer the brief supportive psychotherapy.
Angiotensin covering enzyme (ACE) is used for what? - CORRECT
ANSWER - cardiac disease - CHF
- HTN
End in "pril"
,What medications are used for neuropathic pain? -
CORRECT ANSWER - TCA - SNRI
- Lyrica
- Elavil
- Pamelor
- Cymbalta
What medications specifically should not be stopped abruptly? - CORRECT
ANSWER snris/ssris
They will cause discontinuation syndome
When should you stop Tegretol (carbamazepine) or Clozaril immediately -
CORRECT ANSWER less than a 1,000 and repeat labs
A nurse attacked 3 weeks ago in the parking lot and not into an argument
with her boss that same day and is now scared to go to work? What is
happening to the nurse?
A. A panic dx
B. Acute stress disorder
C. PTSD
D. GAD - CORRECT ANSWER B. Acute stress disorder
If PT tells you at an appointment and tells you she was raped, what is priority
- CORRECT ANSWER assure her of being safe in the environment before
proceeding with care
Priority for a PT that comes into the ER after cutting risk - CORRECT ANSWER
first ABC's - check vitals and then safety first
,Should you interview a 15 y/o PT that reports abuse with their parents
present? - CORRECT ANSWER Yes
Less than 18 then interview with parents
A 16 y/o PT comes in with the parent and her BMI is <16, HR 40,
amenorrhea. As the provider you try to admit PT but the parent refuses...
What do you do - CORRECT ANSWER Call CPS
PT must be admitted and if need to be transferred then use squad
If a PT comes in with psychosis, what is priority? - CORRECT ANSWER check
urine/toxicology first before anything
What would it be called if a PT was not allowed to participate in med trial
due to not having insurance? - CORRECT ANSWER Justice - you are violating
justice (fairness in all aspect)
Which PT's score is most severe for an MMSE score? 17, 20, 30 - CORRECT
ANSWER 17 - lowest number is most severe
What should you do if your PT scores a 27 on the MMSE, and their PCP dx
the PT with alzhiemers - CORRECT ANSWER rethink the PCP's dx
Can you give erythromycin and tegretol together? - CORRECT ANSWER Yes,
but you need to decrease the tegretol level because erythromycin is an
inhibitor and will cause a toxic level
A PT is treated for schizo with zyprexa, which of the following is most
common side effect of zyprexa?
A. Increased waist circumference
, B. EPS
C. Metabolic syndrome
D. Increased lipids - CORRECT ANSWER C. Metabolic syndrome
* If a question has more than one correct answer, use the umbrella answer,
meaning there may be more than one correct answer option - look for the
answer that covers all the choice options
What differentiates atypical from typical?
A. 5HT2a receptors antagonist properties
B. 5HT2a receptor agonist properties
C. Specific dopamine receptor 3 and 5HT2a blockade
D. Dopamine receptor 2 antagonist properties - CORRECT ANSWER A. 5HT2a
receptors antagonist properties
Serotonin antagonism differentiates atypical from typical
*There is most of the time a trick for answering questions... If you have 2
answers that are the exact opposite of each other, then one is likely correct -
CORRECT ANSWER
If a patient presents with the first psychotic episode, you want to place them
on what kind of antipsychotic? - CORRECT ANSWER Atypical first such as
geode, Invega, IM olanzapine
If they are acting out with active psychosis, give IM geodon
DO NOT GIVE ORAL, MUST GIVE IM with active psychosis
Exam Questions and Verified Correct
Answers
According to the DSM-5, which of the following is true?
A. A mental disorder is equivalent to the need for treatment
B. Dx criteria are used to inform clinical judgement
C. Socially deviant behavior is considered a mental dx
D. A culturally response to a stressor is not a mental health disorder -
CORRECT ANSWER D. A culturally response to a stressor is not a mental
illness
Provide brief supportive therapy
Which of the following interventions by the PMHNP for a person
experiencing statue de nervous demonstrates culturally informed care?
A. Offering brief supportive psychotherapy
B. Offer a brief hospitalization
C. Requesting a family member act as an interpreter
D. Offering a low-dose, short term anxiolytic medication - CORRECT ANSWER
A. Offer the brief supportive psychotherapy.
Angiotensin covering enzyme (ACE) is used for what? - CORRECT
ANSWER - cardiac disease - CHF
- HTN
End in "pril"
,What medications are used for neuropathic pain? -
CORRECT ANSWER - TCA - SNRI
- Lyrica
- Elavil
- Pamelor
- Cymbalta
What medications specifically should not be stopped abruptly? - CORRECT
ANSWER snris/ssris
They will cause discontinuation syndome
When should you stop Tegretol (carbamazepine) or Clozaril immediately -
CORRECT ANSWER less than a 1,000 and repeat labs
A nurse attacked 3 weeks ago in the parking lot and not into an argument
with her boss that same day and is now scared to go to work? What is
happening to the nurse?
A. A panic dx
B. Acute stress disorder
C. PTSD
D. GAD - CORRECT ANSWER B. Acute stress disorder
If PT tells you at an appointment and tells you she was raped, what is priority
- CORRECT ANSWER assure her of being safe in the environment before
proceeding with care
Priority for a PT that comes into the ER after cutting risk - CORRECT ANSWER
first ABC's - check vitals and then safety first
,Should you interview a 15 y/o PT that reports abuse with their parents
present? - CORRECT ANSWER Yes
Less than 18 then interview with parents
A 16 y/o PT comes in with the parent and her BMI is <16, HR 40,
amenorrhea. As the provider you try to admit PT but the parent refuses...
What do you do - CORRECT ANSWER Call CPS
PT must be admitted and if need to be transferred then use squad
If a PT comes in with psychosis, what is priority? - CORRECT ANSWER check
urine/toxicology first before anything
What would it be called if a PT was not allowed to participate in med trial
due to not having insurance? - CORRECT ANSWER Justice - you are violating
justice (fairness in all aspect)
Which PT's score is most severe for an MMSE score? 17, 20, 30 - CORRECT
ANSWER 17 - lowest number is most severe
What should you do if your PT scores a 27 on the MMSE, and their PCP dx
the PT with alzhiemers - CORRECT ANSWER rethink the PCP's dx
Can you give erythromycin and tegretol together? - CORRECT ANSWER Yes,
but you need to decrease the tegretol level because erythromycin is an
inhibitor and will cause a toxic level
A PT is treated for schizo with zyprexa, which of the following is most
common side effect of zyprexa?
A. Increased waist circumference
, B. EPS
C. Metabolic syndrome
D. Increased lipids - CORRECT ANSWER C. Metabolic syndrome
* If a question has more than one correct answer, use the umbrella answer,
meaning there may be more than one correct answer option - look for the
answer that covers all the choice options
What differentiates atypical from typical?
A. 5HT2a receptors antagonist properties
B. 5HT2a receptor agonist properties
C. Specific dopamine receptor 3 and 5HT2a blockade
D. Dopamine receptor 2 antagonist properties - CORRECT ANSWER A. 5HT2a
receptors antagonist properties
Serotonin antagonism differentiates atypical from typical
*There is most of the time a trick for answering questions... If you have 2
answers that are the exact opposite of each other, then one is likely correct -
CORRECT ANSWER
If a patient presents with the first psychotic episode, you want to place them
on what kind of antipsychotic? - CORRECT ANSWER Atypical first such as
geode, Invega, IM olanzapine
If they are acting out with active psychosis, give IM geodon
DO NOT GIVE ORAL, MUST GIVE IM with active psychosis
