Sample Test Questions ANCC - PMHNP
A patient with borderline personality disorder experiences intense anxiety when an adult psychiatric
and mental health nurse practitioner goes on vacation. The best explanation for this reaction is that
the patient:
A. has failed to develop clear ego boundaries.
B. has failed to master object constancy.
C. is employing primitive idealization.
D. is employing projective identification. - ANSWER-B. has failed to master object constancy
2. A patient has been taking escitalopram (Lexapro) 10 mg daily for four weeks. Initially, the patient
reported depression and suicidal thoughts. The patient's sleep, appetite, energy, and appearance
have now begun to improve. Which statement applies to this patient?
A. The medication should be discontinued.
B. The medication should be increased.
C. The patient's risk for suicide is not a concern.
D. The patient's suicide potential is increased. - ANSWER-D. The patient's suicide potential is
increased.
3. Which behavior reflects existentially oriented therapy?
A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
B. Challenging a patient's irrational beliefs
C. Developing specific plans for change
D. Establishing general group goals - ANSWER-A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective
world
4. Serving as a member on a crisis team, an adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner
provides crisis intervention to the survivors of a plane crash. Forty-eight hours after the accident, the
survivors describe vivid flashbacks, startle reactions, and disrupted sleep patterns. The nurse
practitioner responds by:
A. advising the survivors to consider using a hypnotic medication for a brief period.
B. educating the survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
C. encouraging the survivors to rest during the day.
D. suggesting that the survivors join a posttrauma support group. - ANSWER-B. educating the
survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
5. An adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner uses the interpersonal therapy model
with a patient to establish a therapeutic alliance based upon empathy and trust. The nurse
practitioner recognizes the patient's readiness to terminate therapy when the patient demonstrates:
A. an understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also presents an opportunity
for growth.
B. breathing and muscle relaxation exercises that decrease muscle tension and anxiety.
C. free association, and considers the nurse practitioner's interpretation of the patient's dreams.
D. new adaptive skills and responses after completing "homework assignments." - ANSWER-A. an
understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also presents an opportunity for
growth.
6. An Hispanic patient informs an adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner during a
wellness visit that he or she occasionally uses hot chili juice to relieve a "nervous condition." The
patient denies any complaints related to this practice. The nurse practitioner's response is to:
A. actively discourage the patient from continuing this treatment.
B. offer a medication to treat the nervous condition.
A patient with borderline personality disorder experiences intense anxiety when an adult psychiatric
and mental health nurse practitioner goes on vacation. The best explanation for this reaction is that
the patient:
A. has failed to develop clear ego boundaries.
B. has failed to master object constancy.
C. is employing primitive idealization.
D. is employing projective identification. - ANSWER-B. has failed to master object constancy
2. A patient has been taking escitalopram (Lexapro) 10 mg daily for four weeks. Initially, the patient
reported depression and suicidal thoughts. The patient's sleep, appetite, energy, and appearance
have now begun to improve. Which statement applies to this patient?
A. The medication should be discontinued.
B. The medication should be increased.
C. The patient's risk for suicide is not a concern.
D. The patient's suicide potential is increased. - ANSWER-D. The patient's suicide potential is
increased.
3. Which behavior reflects existentially oriented therapy?
A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
B. Challenging a patient's irrational beliefs
C. Developing specific plans for change
D. Establishing general group goals - ANSWER-A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective
world
4. Serving as a member on a crisis team, an adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner
provides crisis intervention to the survivors of a plane crash. Forty-eight hours after the accident, the
survivors describe vivid flashbacks, startle reactions, and disrupted sleep patterns. The nurse
practitioner responds by:
A. advising the survivors to consider using a hypnotic medication for a brief period.
B. educating the survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
C. encouraging the survivors to rest during the day.
D. suggesting that the survivors join a posttrauma support group. - ANSWER-B. educating the
survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
5. An adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner uses the interpersonal therapy model
with a patient to establish a therapeutic alliance based upon empathy and trust. The nurse
practitioner recognizes the patient's readiness to terminate therapy when the patient demonstrates:
A. an understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also presents an opportunity
for growth.
B. breathing and muscle relaxation exercises that decrease muscle tension and anxiety.
C. free association, and considers the nurse practitioner's interpretation of the patient's dreams.
D. new adaptive skills and responses after completing "homework assignments." - ANSWER-A. an
understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also presents an opportunity for
growth.
6. An Hispanic patient informs an adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner during a
wellness visit that he or she occasionally uses hot chili juice to relieve a "nervous condition." The
patient denies any complaints related to this practice. The nurse practitioner's response is to:
A. actively discourage the patient from continuing this treatment.
B. offer a medication to treat the nervous condition.
