NSG 526 Exam 3
Clinical Modalities in Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing
2027/2028| Brand New
50 Q & A, With Expert Rationales
Guaranteed Pass | Graded A+ | Wilkes University
Q1. A 6-year-old in play therapy repeatedly wraps a doll in blankets and places it in a box. The
therapist's most appropriate response is to:
A. Interpret the behavior as maternal neglect
B. Ask the child to stop the behavior
C. Observe the theme and invite the child to describe the play [CORRECT]
D. End the session
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because play therapy is child-led; the therapist observes symbolic themes and
invites description rather than imposing interpretation.
Q2. A patient in DBT reports urges to overdose after a breakup. Which DBT target is prioritized?
A. Reducing life-threatening behaviors [CORRECT]
B. Improving self-respect
C. Processing trauma
D. Building meaning
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because DBT Stage 1 prioritizes reducing life-threatening behaviors before
other targets.
,Q3. A patient in existential therapy says, "No matter how close I get to people, I'm ultimately
alone." This reflects which ultimate concern?
A. Death
B. Freedom
C. Meaninglessness
D. Existential isolation [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Correct because existential isolation is the sense of being fundamentally alone
regardless of relationships.
Q4. A patient threatens to seriously harm a specific, identifiable former partner. The therapist's
first action is to:
A. Maintain confidentiality
B. Assess intent, plan, means, and access, and initiate duty-to-warn procedures [CORRECT]
C. Document only
D. Encourage the patient to calm down
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because Tarasoff requires risk assessment and protective action when a
serious threat targets an identifiable victim.
Q5. A therapist asks, "On a scale of 1 to 10, how motivated are you to attend one meeting this
week?" This is a:
A. Miracle question
B. Exception question
C. Scaling question [CORRECT]
D. Coping question
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because scaling questions rate motivation or progress on a numerical scale.
, Q6. A patient in person-centered therapy says, "I'm a burden to everyone." The therapist
responds, "You feel that your presence weighs on the people around you." This is:
A. Congruence
B. Accurate empathetic understanding [CORRECT]
C. Unconditional positive regard
D. Interpretation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because accurate empathetic understanding reflects the patient's experience
back accurately.
Q7. A therapist receives a subpoena for a patient's records without patient authorization. The
therapist should:
A. Release the full record immediately
B. Refuse all contact with the court
C. Release only a summary
D. Consult legal counsel and seek patient authorization or a court order before releasing
[CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Correct because a subpoena does not automatically override confidentiality; legal
consultation and authorization or court order are required.
Q8. A patient in ACT says, "I can't stop thinking I'm going to fail." The therapist responds,
"Notice that your mind is offering the thought that you'll fail." This is:
A. Cognitive defusion [CORRECT]
B. Cognitive restructuring
C. Behavioral activation
D. Exposure
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because cognitive defusion changes the patient's relationship to thoughts
rather than disputing content.
Clinical Modalities in Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing
2027/2028| Brand New
50 Q & A, With Expert Rationales
Guaranteed Pass | Graded A+ | Wilkes University
Q1. A 6-year-old in play therapy repeatedly wraps a doll in blankets and places it in a box. The
therapist's most appropriate response is to:
A. Interpret the behavior as maternal neglect
B. Ask the child to stop the behavior
C. Observe the theme and invite the child to describe the play [CORRECT]
D. End the session
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because play therapy is child-led; the therapist observes symbolic themes and
invites description rather than imposing interpretation.
Q2. A patient in DBT reports urges to overdose after a breakup. Which DBT target is prioritized?
A. Reducing life-threatening behaviors [CORRECT]
B. Improving self-respect
C. Processing trauma
D. Building meaning
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because DBT Stage 1 prioritizes reducing life-threatening behaviors before
other targets.
,Q3. A patient in existential therapy says, "No matter how close I get to people, I'm ultimately
alone." This reflects which ultimate concern?
A. Death
B. Freedom
C. Meaninglessness
D. Existential isolation [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Correct because existential isolation is the sense of being fundamentally alone
regardless of relationships.
Q4. A patient threatens to seriously harm a specific, identifiable former partner. The therapist's
first action is to:
A. Maintain confidentiality
B. Assess intent, plan, means, and access, and initiate duty-to-warn procedures [CORRECT]
C. Document only
D. Encourage the patient to calm down
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because Tarasoff requires risk assessment and protective action when a
serious threat targets an identifiable victim.
Q5. A therapist asks, "On a scale of 1 to 10, how motivated are you to attend one meeting this
week?" This is a:
A. Miracle question
B. Exception question
C. Scaling question [CORRECT]
D. Coping question
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because scaling questions rate motivation or progress on a numerical scale.
, Q6. A patient in person-centered therapy says, "I'm a burden to everyone." The therapist
responds, "You feel that your presence weighs on the people around you." This is:
A. Congruence
B. Accurate empathetic understanding [CORRECT]
C. Unconditional positive regard
D. Interpretation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because accurate empathetic understanding reflects the patient's experience
back accurately.
Q7. A therapist receives a subpoena for a patient's records without patient authorization. The
therapist should:
A. Release the full record immediately
B. Refuse all contact with the court
C. Release only a summary
D. Consult legal counsel and seek patient authorization or a court order before releasing
[CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Correct because a subpoena does not automatically override confidentiality; legal
consultation and authorization or court order are required.
Q8. A patient in ACT says, "I can't stop thinking I'm going to fail." The therapist responds,
"Notice that your mind is offering the thought that you'll fail." This is:
A. Cognitive defusion [CORRECT]
B. Cognitive restructuring
C. Behavioral activation
D. Exposure
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because cognitive defusion changes the patient's relationship to thoughts
rather than disputing content.
