NR 548 Exam 2: (Latest 2026/2027 Update) Psychiatric Interview &
Therapeutic Communication | Q&A | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified
Answers) – Chamberlain University
Subject: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – Psychiatric Interview, Therapeutic
Alliance, Communication Techniques, History Taking, Diagnostic Process
Source: NR 548 Exam 2 / Chamberlain University / Peplau's Theory / Clinical Interviewing Guidelines
(2026/2027 Update)
Format: Q&A Guide with Clinical Rationales | Grade A Guaranteed
1. What is the psychiatric interview and what are its primary tasks?
Correct Answer: The process by which psychiatric assessment is conducted. Primary tasks: building a
therapeutic alliance between the PMHNP and client, obtaining a database of psychiatric information
about the client, establishing a diagnosis, and negotiating a treatment plan.
1. The therapeutic alliance is the most important goal of the interview process.
2. Without rapport and trust, adherence to treatment recommendations may be compromised.
2. What is the therapeutic alliance?
Correct Answer: A feeling of rapport, trust, and warmth that should be created over the course of the
diagnostic interview. It is the most important goal of the interview process and the cooperative working
relationship between therapist and client.
1. The therapeutic alliance begins during the initial or opening phase of the interview.
2. It is a fundamental component of successful therapy and treatment adherence.
3. What are tips for creating rapport with a patient?
Correct Answer: Be yourself; be warm, courteous, and emotionally sensitive; actively defuse the
strangeness of the clinical situation; give your patient the opening word; gain your patient's trust by
projecting competence.
1. First impressions are critical for establishing trust.
2. Giving the patient the opening word empowers them and reduces anxiety.
4. What are the approaches to discussing threatening or sensitive topics?
Correct Answer: Normalization, symptom expectation, symptom exaggeration, reduction of guilt, and
use of familiar language when asking about behaviors.
1. Normalization implies the behavior is a normal response to mood or situation.
2. Reduction of guilt is useful in obtaining history of domestic violence.
, 5. What is the normalization technique in psychiatric interviewing?
Correct Answer: Introducing a question with a normalizing statement, either by implying the behavior
is normal/understandable or by describing another patient who engaged in the behavior. Example:
"Sometimes when people are very depressed, they think of hurting themselves. Has this been true for
you?"
1. Normalization reduces shame and increases disclosure of sensitive information.
2. Shows the patient they are not alone in their experience.
6. What is the symptom expectation technique?
Correct Answer: Communicating that a behavior is in some way normal or expected. Phrase questions
to imply you already assume the patient has engaged in the behavior. Example: "What kinds of ways to
hurt yourself have you thought about?" rather than "Have you had thoughts of self-harm?"
1. Reserve this technique for situations where it seems appropriate.
2. Useful when patient may be too ashamed to admit a behavior.
7. What is the symptom exaggeration technique?
Correct Answer: Suggesting a frequency of problematic behavior higher than your expectation, so the
patient feels their actual lower frequency will not be perceived as bad. Helpful in clarifying severity of
symptoms.
1. Reduces patient's anxiety about admitting uncomfortable behaviors.
2. Reserve for situations where it seems clinically appropriate.
8. What is the reduction of guilt technique?
Correct Answer: Directly reducing a patient's guilt about a specific behavior to discover what they
have been doing. Useful in obtaining history of domestic violence and other antisocial behavior.
Example: "Have you ever been in situations where fights occurred and you were affected?"
1. Allows exploration of sensitive topics without direct accusation.
2. Helps flesh out witness vs. victim vs. perpetrator roles.
9. According to Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations, establishing early rapport allows the
role of the nurse to evolve from stranger to what?
Correct Answer: Resource person, teacher, leader, surrogate, technical expert, and counselor.
1. Peplau identified six nursing roles in the therapeutic relationship.
2. The relationship evolves through orientation, working, and termination phases.
10. What are the three phases of the psychiatric interview?
Correct Answer: Opening phase (first 5-10 minutes): establish rapport and therapeutic alliance. Body
of the Interview (30-40 minutes): chief complaint, HPI, family hx, social hx, medical hx, psychiatric
ROS. Closing the Interview (5-10 minutes): discussion of assessment, patient education, negotiated
agreement about treatment or follow-up plans.
1. The opening phase is often most important as it establishes the foundation.
2. Closing should include a wrap-up statement and inquiry about missing information.
Therapeutic Communication | Q&A | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified
Answers) – Chamberlain University
Subject: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – Psychiatric Interview, Therapeutic
Alliance, Communication Techniques, History Taking, Diagnostic Process
Source: NR 548 Exam 2 / Chamberlain University / Peplau's Theory / Clinical Interviewing Guidelines
(2026/2027 Update)
Format: Q&A Guide with Clinical Rationales | Grade A Guaranteed
1. What is the psychiatric interview and what are its primary tasks?
Correct Answer: The process by which psychiatric assessment is conducted. Primary tasks: building a
therapeutic alliance between the PMHNP and client, obtaining a database of psychiatric information
about the client, establishing a diagnosis, and negotiating a treatment plan.
1. The therapeutic alliance is the most important goal of the interview process.
2. Without rapport and trust, adherence to treatment recommendations may be compromised.
2. What is the therapeutic alliance?
Correct Answer: A feeling of rapport, trust, and warmth that should be created over the course of the
diagnostic interview. It is the most important goal of the interview process and the cooperative working
relationship between therapist and client.
1. The therapeutic alliance begins during the initial or opening phase of the interview.
2. It is a fundamental component of successful therapy and treatment adherence.
3. What are tips for creating rapport with a patient?
Correct Answer: Be yourself; be warm, courteous, and emotionally sensitive; actively defuse the
strangeness of the clinical situation; give your patient the opening word; gain your patient's trust by
projecting competence.
1. First impressions are critical for establishing trust.
2. Giving the patient the opening word empowers them and reduces anxiety.
4. What are the approaches to discussing threatening or sensitive topics?
Correct Answer: Normalization, symptom expectation, symptom exaggeration, reduction of guilt, and
use of familiar language when asking about behaviors.
1. Normalization implies the behavior is a normal response to mood or situation.
2. Reduction of guilt is useful in obtaining history of domestic violence.
, 5. What is the normalization technique in psychiatric interviewing?
Correct Answer: Introducing a question with a normalizing statement, either by implying the behavior
is normal/understandable or by describing another patient who engaged in the behavior. Example:
"Sometimes when people are very depressed, they think of hurting themselves. Has this been true for
you?"
1. Normalization reduces shame and increases disclosure of sensitive information.
2. Shows the patient they are not alone in their experience.
6. What is the symptom expectation technique?
Correct Answer: Communicating that a behavior is in some way normal or expected. Phrase questions
to imply you already assume the patient has engaged in the behavior. Example: "What kinds of ways to
hurt yourself have you thought about?" rather than "Have you had thoughts of self-harm?"
1. Reserve this technique for situations where it seems appropriate.
2. Useful when patient may be too ashamed to admit a behavior.
7. What is the symptom exaggeration technique?
Correct Answer: Suggesting a frequency of problematic behavior higher than your expectation, so the
patient feels their actual lower frequency will not be perceived as bad. Helpful in clarifying severity of
symptoms.
1. Reduces patient's anxiety about admitting uncomfortable behaviors.
2. Reserve for situations where it seems clinically appropriate.
8. What is the reduction of guilt technique?
Correct Answer: Directly reducing a patient's guilt about a specific behavior to discover what they
have been doing. Useful in obtaining history of domestic violence and other antisocial behavior.
Example: "Have you ever been in situations where fights occurred and you were affected?"
1. Allows exploration of sensitive topics without direct accusation.
2. Helps flesh out witness vs. victim vs. perpetrator roles.
9. According to Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations, establishing early rapport allows the
role of the nurse to evolve from stranger to what?
Correct Answer: Resource person, teacher, leader, surrogate, technical expert, and counselor.
1. Peplau identified six nursing roles in the therapeutic relationship.
2. The relationship evolves through orientation, working, and termination phases.
10. What are the three phases of the psychiatric interview?
Correct Answer: Opening phase (first 5-10 minutes): establish rapport and therapeutic alliance. Body
of the Interview (30-40 minutes): chief complaint, HPI, family hx, social hx, medical hx, psychiatric
ROS. Closing the Interview (5-10 minutes): discussion of assessment, patient education, negotiated
agreement about treatment or follow-up plans.
1. The opening phase is often most important as it establishes the foundation.
2. Closing should include a wrap-up statement and inquiry about missing information.
