PMHNP Exam Questions and Answers new Updates
@2026!!!!
Psychodynamic theory - ANSWERS💫✔️-The concepts of defense mechanisms, transference, and
countertransference that are used in psychiatric mental health nursing practice are derived from which
of the following theories?
Acceptance - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following stages is not a component of the transtheoretical
model of behavior change?
Maintenance - ANSWERS💫✔️-A PMHNP is seeing a client who is working to change a problematic
behavior. At his last visit, the client states that on a daily basis, he is working to prevent the problematic
behavior as he has seen positive changes that have occurred in his life as a result of changing the
behavior. Based on the transtheoretical model of behavior change. which of the following stages is this
client in?
Hildegard Peplau - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following nursing theorists is considered to be the
founder of psychiatric nursing?
Comparison - ANSWERS💫✔️-The unit manager of an inpatient psychiatric unit asks the mental health
nurse practitioner to conduct an in-service with the new registered nurses on the unit to teach them
about evidence-based practice. The NP decides to utilize the commonly used PICO model as a guide to
assist the new staff What does the "C" in the PICO model stand for?
Ask clinical questions using patient scenarios. - ANSWERS💫✔️-A psychiatric nurse practitioner in a large
academic medication center has noticed recently that there has been an increase in violent behaviors of
patients with psychiatric illnesses hospitalized outside of the psychiatric unit. The NP would like to
review the literature on behavioral response teams and their effectiveness in assisting non-behavioral
health staff in managing this type of behavior. Now that the NP has begun the inquiry process, what is
the next step in the evidence-based practice process?
Personal experience - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following is not a key component of evidence-based
practice?
,Resilience - ANSWERS💫✔️-The ability to transform a disastrous situation into a growth experience in an
effort to move forward is defined as which of the following?
Concordance - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following concepts is defined as the process of developing a
mutually agreed upon treatment plan?
The clinical skills/professional behaviors of a clinician that focus on the cultural beliefs, values, and
perceptions of the patient during the therapeutic relationship established between the patient and
clinician. - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following best describes "culturally competent" care?
Acetylcholine - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following is not an example of a monoamine
neurotransmitter?
Serotonin - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following neurotransmitters is implicated in the regulation of
sleep, mood, pain, and appetite?
Agonist - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following is a molecule with the same effect on the postsynaptic
neuron as the neurotransmitter itself?
a. Dopamine and norepinephrine - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which two neurotransmitters can be grouped
together into the catecholamine category due to sharing a commonality in having the same core
biochemical structure (the catechol group)?
Loxapine - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following antipsychotics is classified as moderate potency?
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome - ANSWERS💫✔️-A mental health nurse practitioner is working in an
inpatient psychiatric unit and is called to see a newly admitted patient. The patient is a 32-year-old
schizophrenic who is currently being treated with haloperidol. The patient was brought to the
Emergency department by her mother, who states that earlier in the day the patient became very
confused and agitated. The registered nurse caring for the patient states that the patient is diaphoretic
with a heart rate running in the 140's and a temperature of 39.0 C. The patient's lab work shows an
elevated white blood count and an elevation in creatine phosphokinase. Which of the following
conditions might the patient be experiencing?
, Dantrolene - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following pharmacologic options may be considered in the
treatment of neuroleptic malignant syndrome in patients that do not respond to the discontinuation of
the neuroleptic agent and supportive care within the first day or two?
Malignant catatonia - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following conditions shares many of the common
features of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) and may be difficult to clinically distinguish from
NMS?
Decreased bowel sounds - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following is not a common physical finding in
patients with suspected selective serotonin syndrome?
Cyproheptadine - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following medications may be administered as an
antidote in patients with selective serotonin syndrome?
Akathisia - ANSWERS💫✔️-According to the DSM-S-TR, catatonia is a behavioral syndrome that occurs in
ill individuals with an underlying psychiatric or general medical disorder. It is characterized by the
predominant presence of at least three of the clinical criteria defined in the DSM-5-TR. Which of the
following is not part of the clinical criteria used to define catatonia?
Serum bicarbonate level of 18 mmol/L - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following laboratory findings does
not correlate with a diagnosis of malignant catatonia?
Retarded catatonia - ANSWERS💫✔️-18. A mental health nurse practitioner is rounding on a patient on
the inpatient psychiatry unit who was admitted with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. In speaking with the
patient's registered nurse, she shares with the NP that on admission, the patient is verbally
unresponsive and has been staring at the wall across from his bed, lying in the same position, since he
arrived. In addition, the patient is resistant to any type of movement and is not following any type of
instructions. Which of the following sub-types of catatonia is consistent with the patient's clinical
presentation?
Risperidone or olanzapine monotherapy - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following pharmacologic
therapies is recommended for patients with bipolar disorder who present with acute hypomania or mild
to moderate manic symptoms?
@2026!!!!
Psychodynamic theory - ANSWERS💫✔️-The concepts of defense mechanisms, transference, and
countertransference that are used in psychiatric mental health nursing practice are derived from which
of the following theories?
Acceptance - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following stages is not a component of the transtheoretical
model of behavior change?
Maintenance - ANSWERS💫✔️-A PMHNP is seeing a client who is working to change a problematic
behavior. At his last visit, the client states that on a daily basis, he is working to prevent the problematic
behavior as he has seen positive changes that have occurred in his life as a result of changing the
behavior. Based on the transtheoretical model of behavior change. which of the following stages is this
client in?
Hildegard Peplau - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following nursing theorists is considered to be the
founder of psychiatric nursing?
Comparison - ANSWERS💫✔️-The unit manager of an inpatient psychiatric unit asks the mental health
nurse practitioner to conduct an in-service with the new registered nurses on the unit to teach them
about evidence-based practice. The NP decides to utilize the commonly used PICO model as a guide to
assist the new staff What does the "C" in the PICO model stand for?
Ask clinical questions using patient scenarios. - ANSWERS💫✔️-A psychiatric nurse practitioner in a large
academic medication center has noticed recently that there has been an increase in violent behaviors of
patients with psychiatric illnesses hospitalized outside of the psychiatric unit. The NP would like to
review the literature on behavioral response teams and their effectiveness in assisting non-behavioral
health staff in managing this type of behavior. Now that the NP has begun the inquiry process, what is
the next step in the evidence-based practice process?
Personal experience - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following is not a key component of evidence-based
practice?
,Resilience - ANSWERS💫✔️-The ability to transform a disastrous situation into a growth experience in an
effort to move forward is defined as which of the following?
Concordance - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following concepts is defined as the process of developing a
mutually agreed upon treatment plan?
The clinical skills/professional behaviors of a clinician that focus on the cultural beliefs, values, and
perceptions of the patient during the therapeutic relationship established between the patient and
clinician. - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following best describes "culturally competent" care?
Acetylcholine - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following is not an example of a monoamine
neurotransmitter?
Serotonin - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following neurotransmitters is implicated in the regulation of
sleep, mood, pain, and appetite?
Agonist - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following is a molecule with the same effect on the postsynaptic
neuron as the neurotransmitter itself?
a. Dopamine and norepinephrine - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which two neurotransmitters can be grouped
together into the catecholamine category due to sharing a commonality in having the same core
biochemical structure (the catechol group)?
Loxapine - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following antipsychotics is classified as moderate potency?
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome - ANSWERS💫✔️-A mental health nurse practitioner is working in an
inpatient psychiatric unit and is called to see a newly admitted patient. The patient is a 32-year-old
schizophrenic who is currently being treated with haloperidol. The patient was brought to the
Emergency department by her mother, who states that earlier in the day the patient became very
confused and agitated. The registered nurse caring for the patient states that the patient is diaphoretic
with a heart rate running in the 140's and a temperature of 39.0 C. The patient's lab work shows an
elevated white blood count and an elevation in creatine phosphokinase. Which of the following
conditions might the patient be experiencing?
, Dantrolene - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following pharmacologic options may be considered in the
treatment of neuroleptic malignant syndrome in patients that do not respond to the discontinuation of
the neuroleptic agent and supportive care within the first day or two?
Malignant catatonia - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following conditions shares many of the common
features of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) and may be difficult to clinically distinguish from
NMS?
Decreased bowel sounds - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following is not a common physical finding in
patients with suspected selective serotonin syndrome?
Cyproheptadine - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following medications may be administered as an
antidote in patients with selective serotonin syndrome?
Akathisia - ANSWERS💫✔️-According to the DSM-S-TR, catatonia is a behavioral syndrome that occurs in
ill individuals with an underlying psychiatric or general medical disorder. It is characterized by the
predominant presence of at least three of the clinical criteria defined in the DSM-5-TR. Which of the
following is not part of the clinical criteria used to define catatonia?
Serum bicarbonate level of 18 mmol/L - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following laboratory findings does
not correlate with a diagnosis of malignant catatonia?
Retarded catatonia - ANSWERS💫✔️-18. A mental health nurse practitioner is rounding on a patient on
the inpatient psychiatry unit who was admitted with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. In speaking with the
patient's registered nurse, she shares with the NP that on admission, the patient is verbally
unresponsive and has been staring at the wall across from his bed, lying in the same position, since he
arrived. In addition, the patient is resistant to any type of movement and is not following any type of
instructions. Which of the following sub-types of catatonia is consistent with the patient's clinical
presentation?
Risperidone or olanzapine monotherapy - ANSWERS💫✔️-Which of the following pharmacologic
therapies is recommended for patients with bipolar disorder who present with acute hypomania or mild
to moderate manic symptoms?
