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NR 547 CEA EXAM CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY
PRACTICE QUESTION BANK | 2026-2027
ACADEMIC YEAR
250+ QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
AND DETAILED RATIONALES
# SECTION I: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT
## Mental Status Examination (MSE)
### Question 1
The PMHNP is conducting a mental status examination on a patient who reports feeling "on
edge" and having difficulty sleeping. The patient speaks rapidly, jumps from topic to topic, and is
easily distracted. Which MSE domain is the provider assessing when noting the patient's speech
pattern?
A) Thought content
B) Thought process
C) Affect
D) Cognition
**Correct Answer: B) Thought process**
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**Rationale:** Thought process evaluates how thoughts flow and are connected. Rapid speech
with jumping between topics describes a flight of ideas, which is a thought process abnormality
often seen in mania or hypomania. Thought content assesses *what* the patient is thinking
(themes, delusions). Affect is the observed emotional expression. Cognition includes attention,
memory, and orientation.
---
### Question 2
A patient presents with a flat affect, poverty of speech, and psychomotor retardation. The patient
reports feeling hopeless and worthless. The PMHNP should further assess for:
A) Mania
B) Major Depressive Disorder
C) Schizophrenia
D) Bipolar Disorder
**Correct Answer: B) Major Depressive Disorder**
**Rationale:** Flat affect, poverty of speech, psychomotor retardation, and feelings of
hopelessness and worthlessness are consistent with Major Depressive Disorder. These symptoms
reflect the psychomotor and affective changes characteristic of a major depressive episode.
Mania would present with elevated mood and increased energy. Schizophrenia would typically
include hallucinations or delusions. Bipolar Disorder requires a history of manic episodes.
---
### Question 3
The PMHNP is assessing a patient's short-term memory. Which is the most appropriate method?
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A) Ask the patient to recall the date of their birth
B) Present three words, have the patient repeat them, and ask for recall after 5 minutes
C) Ask the patient to count backward from 100 by 7s
D) Ask the patient to interpret a proverb
**Correct Answer: B) Present three words, have the patient repeat them, and ask for recall after 5
minutes**
**Rationale:** Short-term memory is assessed by presenting information (such as three words),
having the patient repeat them immediately, and then asking for recall after a delay of
approximately 5 minutes. Long-term memory is assessed by asking for remote information like
date of birth. Attention and concentration are assessed by tasks like serial subtraction. Abstract
reasoning is assessed through proverb interpretation.
---
### Question 4
A patient describes seeing "shadow figures" in the corners of the room that no one else can see.
The PMHNP documents this as:
A) Illusion
B) Hallucination
C) Delusion
D) Thought insertion
**Correct Answer: B) Hallucination**
**Rationale:** A hallucination is a sensory perception that occurs in the absence of an external
stimulus. Visual hallucinations involve seeing things that are not present. An illusion is a
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misperception of an actual external stimulus. A delusion is a fixed false belief. Thought insertion
is the belief that thoughts are being placed into one's mind by an external force.
---
### Question 5
The PMHNP notes that a patient maintains poor eye contact, speaks in a monotone voice, and
displays limited facial expression. Which term best describes this presentation?
A) Labile affect
B) Restricted affect
C) Flat affect
D) Inappropriate affect
**Correct Answer: C) Flat affect**
**Rationale:** Flat affect refers to the complete absence or near-absence of emotional
expression, including monotone voice, lack of facial expression, and poor eye contact. Restricted
affect is a less severe reduction in emotional expression. Labile affect involves rapid and intense
shifts in emotion. Inappropriate affect involves emotional expression that does not match the
situation or content of speech.
---
### Question 6
During the MSE, the patient answers questions with minimal detail and appears to have
difficulty finding words. The PMHNP should document this speech pattern as:
A) Pressured speech
NR 547 CEA EXAM CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY
PRACTICE QUESTION BANK | 2026-2027
ACADEMIC YEAR
250+ QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
AND DETAILED RATIONALES
# SECTION I: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT
## Mental Status Examination (MSE)
### Question 1
The PMHNP is conducting a mental status examination on a patient who reports feeling "on
edge" and having difficulty sleeping. The patient speaks rapidly, jumps from topic to topic, and is
easily distracted. Which MSE domain is the provider assessing when noting the patient's speech
pattern?
A) Thought content
B) Thought process
C) Affect
D) Cognition
**Correct Answer: B) Thought process**
,Page 2 of 160
**Rationale:** Thought process evaluates how thoughts flow and are connected. Rapid speech
with jumping between topics describes a flight of ideas, which is a thought process abnormality
often seen in mania or hypomania. Thought content assesses *what* the patient is thinking
(themes, delusions). Affect is the observed emotional expression. Cognition includes attention,
memory, and orientation.
---
### Question 2
A patient presents with a flat affect, poverty of speech, and psychomotor retardation. The patient
reports feeling hopeless and worthless. The PMHNP should further assess for:
A) Mania
B) Major Depressive Disorder
C) Schizophrenia
D) Bipolar Disorder
**Correct Answer: B) Major Depressive Disorder**
**Rationale:** Flat affect, poverty of speech, psychomotor retardation, and feelings of
hopelessness and worthlessness are consistent with Major Depressive Disorder. These symptoms
reflect the psychomotor and affective changes characteristic of a major depressive episode.
Mania would present with elevated mood and increased energy. Schizophrenia would typically
include hallucinations or delusions. Bipolar Disorder requires a history of manic episodes.
---
### Question 3
The PMHNP is assessing a patient's short-term memory. Which is the most appropriate method?
,Page 3 of 160
A) Ask the patient to recall the date of their birth
B) Present three words, have the patient repeat them, and ask for recall after 5 minutes
C) Ask the patient to count backward from 100 by 7s
D) Ask the patient to interpret a proverb
**Correct Answer: B) Present three words, have the patient repeat them, and ask for recall after 5
minutes**
**Rationale:** Short-term memory is assessed by presenting information (such as three words),
having the patient repeat them immediately, and then asking for recall after a delay of
approximately 5 minutes. Long-term memory is assessed by asking for remote information like
date of birth. Attention and concentration are assessed by tasks like serial subtraction. Abstract
reasoning is assessed through proverb interpretation.
---
### Question 4
A patient describes seeing "shadow figures" in the corners of the room that no one else can see.
The PMHNP documents this as:
A) Illusion
B) Hallucination
C) Delusion
D) Thought insertion
**Correct Answer: B) Hallucination**
**Rationale:** A hallucination is a sensory perception that occurs in the absence of an external
stimulus. Visual hallucinations involve seeing things that are not present. An illusion is a
, Page 4 of 160
misperception of an actual external stimulus. A delusion is a fixed false belief. Thought insertion
is the belief that thoughts are being placed into one's mind by an external force.
---
### Question 5
The PMHNP notes that a patient maintains poor eye contact, speaks in a monotone voice, and
displays limited facial expression. Which term best describes this presentation?
A) Labile affect
B) Restricted affect
C) Flat affect
D) Inappropriate affect
**Correct Answer: C) Flat affect**
**Rationale:** Flat affect refers to the complete absence or near-absence of emotional
expression, including monotone voice, lack of facial expression, and poor eye contact. Restricted
affect is a less severe reduction in emotional expression. Labile affect involves rapid and intense
shifts in emotion. Inappropriate affect involves emotional expression that does not match the
situation or content of speech.
---
### Question 6
During the MSE, the patient answers questions with minimal detail and appears to have
difficulty finding words. The PMHNP should document this speech pattern as:
A) Pressured speech
