PMHNP ANCC EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026 /2027
GRADED A+ / 100% ACCURACY
The purpose of the American Nurses Association's Psychiatric-Mental
Health Nursing:
Scope and Standards of Practice is to
a. Define the role and actions for the NP
b. Establish the legal authority for the prescription of psychotropic
medications
c. Define the legal statutes of the role of the PMHNP
d. Define the differences between the physician role and the NP role -
CORRECT ANSWER - A. The ANAs Psych-Mental Health Nursing Scope
and Standards of Practice defines the role and actions of the nurse
practitioner.
The trend in legal rulings on cases involving mental illness over the
past 25 years has been to
a. Encourage juries to find defendants not guilty by reason of insanity
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,b. Protect the person's freedoms or rights when he or she is
committed to a mental hospital
c. Place increasing trust in mental health professionals to make good
and ethical decisions
d. Decrease the "red tape" associated with commitments so that
commitments are faster and easier - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Identifies
the trend of ensuring the protection of individual civil liberties for
psychiatric clients.
Mr. Smithers, an involuntarily hospitalized patient experiencing
psychotic symptoms, refuses to take any of his ordered medication
because he believes "Jesus Christ told me I am the prophet and must
fast for a year." Your actions should be based on your knowledge of
which of the following?
a. Psychiatric clients cannot refuse treatment
b. Psychiatric clients do not always know what is good for them
c. Psychiatric clients can refuse treatment
d. Psychiatric clients cannot be trusted to make good healthcare
decisions and, therefore, the nurse's best clinical judgment should
guide actions - CORRECT ANSWER - C. As with any client, psychiatric
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,clients can refuse treatment unless a legal process resulting in
involuntary commitment or mandatory court order for treatment has
been obtained.
Which of the following statements best reflects the difference
between the nurse-client (N-C) relationship and a social relationship?
a. In the N-C relationship, the primary focus is on the client and the
client's needs.
b. Goals in the N-C relationship are deliberately left vague and
unspoken so that the client can work on any issue.
c. In the N-C relationship, the nurse is solely responsible for making
the relationship work.
d. In the N-C relationship, there is no place for social interaction. -
CORRECT ANSWER - A. Social relationships are mutual interpersonal
relationships in which the needs of both parties are addressed. The N-
C relationship is most concerned with meeting the needs of the client.
A community has an unusually high incidence of depression and drug
use among the teenage population. The public health nurses decide to
address this problem, in part, by modifying the environment and
3|Page
, strengthening the capacities of families to prevent the development of
new cases of depression and drug use. What is this is an example of?
a. Primary prevention
b. Secondary prevention
c. Tertiary prevention
d. Protective factorial prevention - CORRECT ANSWER - A. This action
focuses on interventions designed to reduce the incidence of new
cases of disease.
Mrs. Kemp is voluntarily admitted to the hospital. After 24 hours, she
states she wishes to leave because "this place can't help me." The best
nursing action that reflects the legal right of this client is
a. Discharge the client
b. Explain that the client cannot leave until you can complete further
assessment
c. Allow the client to leave but have her sign forms stating she is
leaving against medical advice
d. Immediately start the paperwork to commit the client and to allow
you to treat her against her wishes - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Almost
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ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026 /2027
GRADED A+ / 100% ACCURACY
The purpose of the American Nurses Association's Psychiatric-Mental
Health Nursing:
Scope and Standards of Practice is to
a. Define the role and actions for the NP
b. Establish the legal authority for the prescription of psychotropic
medications
c. Define the legal statutes of the role of the PMHNP
d. Define the differences between the physician role and the NP role -
CORRECT ANSWER - A. The ANAs Psych-Mental Health Nursing Scope
and Standards of Practice defines the role and actions of the nurse
practitioner.
The trend in legal rulings on cases involving mental illness over the
past 25 years has been to
a. Encourage juries to find defendants not guilty by reason of insanity
1|Page
,b. Protect the person's freedoms or rights when he or she is
committed to a mental hospital
c. Place increasing trust in mental health professionals to make good
and ethical decisions
d. Decrease the "red tape" associated with commitments so that
commitments are faster and easier - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Identifies
the trend of ensuring the protection of individual civil liberties for
psychiatric clients.
Mr. Smithers, an involuntarily hospitalized patient experiencing
psychotic symptoms, refuses to take any of his ordered medication
because he believes "Jesus Christ told me I am the prophet and must
fast for a year." Your actions should be based on your knowledge of
which of the following?
a. Psychiatric clients cannot refuse treatment
b. Psychiatric clients do not always know what is good for them
c. Psychiatric clients can refuse treatment
d. Psychiatric clients cannot be trusted to make good healthcare
decisions and, therefore, the nurse's best clinical judgment should
guide actions - CORRECT ANSWER - C. As with any client, psychiatric
2|Page
,clients can refuse treatment unless a legal process resulting in
involuntary commitment or mandatory court order for treatment has
been obtained.
Which of the following statements best reflects the difference
between the nurse-client (N-C) relationship and a social relationship?
a. In the N-C relationship, the primary focus is on the client and the
client's needs.
b. Goals in the N-C relationship are deliberately left vague and
unspoken so that the client can work on any issue.
c. In the N-C relationship, the nurse is solely responsible for making
the relationship work.
d. In the N-C relationship, there is no place for social interaction. -
CORRECT ANSWER - A. Social relationships are mutual interpersonal
relationships in which the needs of both parties are addressed. The N-
C relationship is most concerned with meeting the needs of the client.
A community has an unusually high incidence of depression and drug
use among the teenage population. The public health nurses decide to
address this problem, in part, by modifying the environment and
3|Page
, strengthening the capacities of families to prevent the development of
new cases of depression and drug use. What is this is an example of?
a. Primary prevention
b. Secondary prevention
c. Tertiary prevention
d. Protective factorial prevention - CORRECT ANSWER - A. This action
focuses on interventions designed to reduce the incidence of new
cases of disease.
Mrs. Kemp is voluntarily admitted to the hospital. After 24 hours, she
states she wishes to leave because "this place can't help me." The best
nursing action that reflects the legal right of this client is
a. Discharge the client
b. Explain that the client cannot leave until you can complete further
assessment
c. Allow the client to leave but have her sign forms stating she is
leaving against medical advice
d. Immediately start the paperwork to commit the client and to allow
you to treat her against her wishes - CORRECT ANSWER - B. Almost
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