PMHNP Mock Board Review (Fitzgerald): Test
Questions and Correct Answers – Updated
2025/2026 Edition
PMHNP MOCK BOARD REVIEW (FITZGERALD) — PRACTICE EXAM
(QUESTIONS 1–90)
SECTION 1: PREVENTION, SCREENING, & PUBLIC HEALTH
1. The goal of primary prevention is the ___ of disease. Which of the following is
an example of a primary prevention intervention?
• A) Early detection of disease through blood pressure screening
• B) Immunization and counseling about safety
• C) Adjusting therapy to avoid end-organ damage
• D) Colonoscopy screening for colorectal cancer
Answer: B) Immunization and counseling about safety
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease from occurring. Examples
include immunizations, counseling about safety, and health education . Secondary
prevention involves early detection (e.g., blood pressure screening, colonoscopy).
Tertiary prevention minimizes negative outcomes from existing disease (e.g.,
adjusting therapy).
,2. The goal of secondary prevention is ___ of disease. Which of the following is
an example of secondary prevention?
• A) Immunization
• B) Colonoscopy
• C) Adjusting antihypertensive therapy to avoid end-organ damage
• D) Counseling about smoking cessation
Answer: B) Colonoscopy
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection of disease. Examples
include blood pressure screening, colonoscopy, and mammography . Tertiary
prevention involves minimizing negative outcomes (e.g., adjusting therapy to
avoid complications).
3. At what age should men be screened for colorectal cancer, and at what age
should women begin cervical cancer screening, according to standard
guidelines?
• A) Men: 45 years; Women: 21 years
• B) Men: 50 years; Women: 21 years
• C) Men: 50 years; Women: 25 years
• D) Men: 55 years; Women: 30 years
Answer: B) Men: 50 years; Women: 21 years
Rationale: Standard screening guidelines recommend colorectal cancer screening
for men starting at age 50 (or 45 per updated guidelines), and cervical cancer
screening for women starting at age 21 .
4. The Health Belief Model, developed by Becker, explains how beliefs influence
behaviors. Which component of the model addresses the perception that one is
susceptible to a condition?
• A) Perceived severity
• B) Perceived susceptibility
, • C) Perceived benefits
• D) Cues to action
Answer: B) Perceived susceptibility
Rationale: The Health Belief Model includes perceived susceptibility (belief about
getting a condition), perceived severity (belief about seriousness), perceived
benefits, and perceived barriers. Cues to action are triggers that motivate change .
5. Which of the following is an example of tertiary prevention in psychiatric-
mental health practice?
• A) Teaching stress management techniques to a healthy population
• B) Screening for depression in primary care
• C) Adjusting antipsychotic therapy to avoid metabolic syndrome
• D) Administering the PHQ-9 to all new patients
Answer: C) Adjusting antipsychotic therapy to avoid metabolic syndrome
Rationale: Tertiary prevention minimizes negative outcomes from existing disease.
In PMHNP practice, this includes monitoring and adjusting medications to prevent
complications such as metabolic syndrome in patients on antipsychotics .
6. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take
up to how many weeks of unpaid leave for family or medical reasons during any
12-month period?
• A) 6 weeks
• B) 8 weeks
• C) 12 weeks
• D) 16 weeks
Answer: C) 12 weeks
Rationale: The FMLA requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide
up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for reasons including
, birth of a child, placement of an adopted/foster child, or care for a family member
with a serious health condition .
7. The Belmont Report ensures that all investigators or participants in research
must pass a test on the protection of human subjects. Which of the following is a
core principle of the Belmont Report?
• A) Beneficence
• B) Justice
• C) Respect for persons
• D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: The Belmont Report outlines three core principles for research
involving human subjects: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice .
8. The goal of tertiary prevention in psychiatric care is best described as:
• A) Preventing the initial onset of mental illness
• B) Early detection of psychiatric symptoms
• C) Minimizing the negative outcomes and disability associated with mental
illness
• D) Eliminating all symptoms of mental illness
Answer: C) Minimizing the negative outcomes and disability associated with
mental illness
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on minimizing negative outcomes from
established disease. In psychiatric practice, this includes relapse prevention,
rehabilitation, and interventions to reduce disability .
9. A credential is used to provide ___ to the public by ensuring a minimum level
of competence. Title protection for psychiatric nurse practitioners is provided by
which organization?
• A) Protection; American Medical Association
Questions and Correct Answers – Updated
2025/2026 Edition
PMHNP MOCK BOARD REVIEW (FITZGERALD) — PRACTICE EXAM
(QUESTIONS 1–90)
SECTION 1: PREVENTION, SCREENING, & PUBLIC HEALTH
1. The goal of primary prevention is the ___ of disease. Which of the following is
an example of a primary prevention intervention?
• A) Early detection of disease through blood pressure screening
• B) Immunization and counseling about safety
• C) Adjusting therapy to avoid end-organ damage
• D) Colonoscopy screening for colorectal cancer
Answer: B) Immunization and counseling about safety
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease from occurring. Examples
include immunizations, counseling about safety, and health education . Secondary
prevention involves early detection (e.g., blood pressure screening, colonoscopy).
Tertiary prevention minimizes negative outcomes from existing disease (e.g.,
adjusting therapy).
,2. The goal of secondary prevention is ___ of disease. Which of the following is
an example of secondary prevention?
• A) Immunization
• B) Colonoscopy
• C) Adjusting antihypertensive therapy to avoid end-organ damage
• D) Counseling about smoking cessation
Answer: B) Colonoscopy
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection of disease. Examples
include blood pressure screening, colonoscopy, and mammography . Tertiary
prevention involves minimizing negative outcomes (e.g., adjusting therapy to
avoid complications).
3. At what age should men be screened for colorectal cancer, and at what age
should women begin cervical cancer screening, according to standard
guidelines?
• A) Men: 45 years; Women: 21 years
• B) Men: 50 years; Women: 21 years
• C) Men: 50 years; Women: 25 years
• D) Men: 55 years; Women: 30 years
Answer: B) Men: 50 years; Women: 21 years
Rationale: Standard screening guidelines recommend colorectal cancer screening
for men starting at age 50 (or 45 per updated guidelines), and cervical cancer
screening for women starting at age 21 .
4. The Health Belief Model, developed by Becker, explains how beliefs influence
behaviors. Which component of the model addresses the perception that one is
susceptible to a condition?
• A) Perceived severity
• B) Perceived susceptibility
, • C) Perceived benefits
• D) Cues to action
Answer: B) Perceived susceptibility
Rationale: The Health Belief Model includes perceived susceptibility (belief about
getting a condition), perceived severity (belief about seriousness), perceived
benefits, and perceived barriers. Cues to action are triggers that motivate change .
5. Which of the following is an example of tertiary prevention in psychiatric-
mental health practice?
• A) Teaching stress management techniques to a healthy population
• B) Screening for depression in primary care
• C) Adjusting antipsychotic therapy to avoid metabolic syndrome
• D) Administering the PHQ-9 to all new patients
Answer: C) Adjusting antipsychotic therapy to avoid metabolic syndrome
Rationale: Tertiary prevention minimizes negative outcomes from existing disease.
In PMHNP practice, this includes monitoring and adjusting medications to prevent
complications such as metabolic syndrome in patients on antipsychotics .
6. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take
up to how many weeks of unpaid leave for family or medical reasons during any
12-month period?
• A) 6 weeks
• B) 8 weeks
• C) 12 weeks
• D) 16 weeks
Answer: C) 12 weeks
Rationale: The FMLA requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide
up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for reasons including
, birth of a child, placement of an adopted/foster child, or care for a family member
with a serious health condition .
7. The Belmont Report ensures that all investigators or participants in research
must pass a test on the protection of human subjects. Which of the following is a
core principle of the Belmont Report?
• A) Beneficence
• B) Justice
• C) Respect for persons
• D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: The Belmont Report outlines three core principles for research
involving human subjects: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice .
8. The goal of tertiary prevention in psychiatric care is best described as:
• A) Preventing the initial onset of mental illness
• B) Early detection of psychiatric symptoms
• C) Minimizing the negative outcomes and disability associated with mental
illness
• D) Eliminating all symptoms of mental illness
Answer: C) Minimizing the negative outcomes and disability associated with
mental illness
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on minimizing negative outcomes from
established disease. In psychiatric practice, this includes relapse prevention,
rehabilitation, and interventions to reduce disability .
9. A credential is used to provide ___ to the public by ensuring a minimum level
of competence. Title protection for psychiatric nurse practitioners is provided by
which organization?
• A) Protection; American Medical Association
