, CHAPTER LIST
Chapter 1: Taking the Certification Examination — General
Suggestions & Certification Overview
Chapter 2: Foundational Aspects of the Brain — Neurology,
Neuroanatomy, and Pathophysiology Across the Life Span
Chapter 3: Assessments Across the Life Span — Physical,
Developmental, Emotional, Moral, and Psychosocial
Chapter 4: Problem Identification, Nursing Diagnoses, and Planning
Across the Life Span
Chapter 5: Implementation and Evaluation of the Comprehensive
Care Plan Across the Life Span
Chapter 6: Nursing Theorists, Therapeutic Communication, Diverse
Populations, and Documentation Formats
Chapter 7: Elements of Professionalism in Nursing Practice
Chapter 8: Patient Education, Population, and Environmental
Health
, Chapter 1: Taking the Certification Examination
1. Question: A psychiatric-mental health nurse is beginning their study plan for
the PMH-BC™ exam. According to the recommended strategic approach, which
action should the nurse take first to ensure the most efficient use of study
time?
A. Memorize the DSM-5-TR criteria for all major psychotic disorders.
B. Complete a full-length practice exam to identify personal knowledge gaps.
C. Review the ANCC Test Content Outline to understand domain weighting.
D. Purchase multiple review manuals to ensure a variety of perspectives.
Answer: C
Rationale: The most effective first step is to review the official Test Content
Outline. This provides the roadmap for the exam, showing which domains (e.g.,
Assessment, Diagnosis, Implementation) carry the most weight, allowing the
nurse to prioritize high-yield topics rather than studying blindly.
Key words: Prioritization, Test Content Outline, Efficiency.
2. Question: During the examination, a nurse encounters a complex clinical
scenario regarding a patient’s refusal of medication. The nurse is unsure of the
answer and feels increasing anxiety. Which test-taking strategy is most
appropriate in this moment?
A. Spend at least 5 minutes deconstructing the question to find hidden
meanings.
B. Choose the longest answer option, as it is usually the most comprehensive.
C. Select an answer, flag the question for review, and move to the next item.
D. Leave the question blank to avoid losing points for an incorrect guess.
Answer: C
Rationale: Effective time management involves maintaining momentum.
Selecting an initial "best guess" and flagging it ensures the nurse doesn't run
, out of time for easier questions later. Since the ANCC exam does not penalize
for guessing, leaving a question blank is never recommended.
Key words: Time Management, Momentum, Guessing Strategy.
3. Question: A nurse candidate is reviewing the eligibility requirements for the
PMH-BC™ credential. Which of the following is a mandatory requirement for an
RN to sit for this specific board certification exam?
A. A minimum of 5,000 hours of practice in a psychiatric setting.
B. Completion of a Master’s degree in Psychiatric Nursing.
C. 30 hours of continuing education in psychiatric-mental health nursing
within the last 3 years.
D. A recommendation letter from a current board-certified psychiatrist.
Answer: C
Rationale: ANCC eligibility for the PMH-BC™ (Registered Nurse) requires an
active RN license, 2 years of full-time practice, 2,000 hours of clinical practice
in the specialty within 3 years, and 30 hours of specialized continuing
education within 3 years.
Key words: Eligibility, Continuing Education, Certification Standards.
4. Question: A scenario-based question on the exam describes a patient in a crisis
state. The nurse is asked to identify the "initial" nursing action. How should
the nurse interpret the word "initial" when selecting an answer?
A. The action that provides the most long-term benefit to the patient.
B. The first step in the nursing process (Assessment).
C. The most complex intervention requiring advanced skill.
D. The intervention that involves the physician or provider.
Answer: B
Rationale: In nursing board exams, keywords like "initial," "first," or "priority"
usually point toward the Nursing Process. Assessment is the foundational first
step; the nurse must gather data before implementing interventions.
Key words: Nursing Process, Assessment, Priority.
,5. Question: A nurse is practicing "active reading" of the manual. When studying
Chapter 1, which method best exemplifies the application-oriented approach
needed for university-level certification?
A. Highlighting every mention of a specific medication name.
B. Re-writing the chapter word-for-word in a notebook.
C. Explaining the rationale for a specific test-taking tip to a colleague.
D. Reading the chapter silently three times in one sitting.
Answer: C
Rationale: Teaching or explaining concepts (the Feynman Technique) is a high-
level cognitive activity. It moves information from short-term memory to long-
term application, which is essential for the "Analysis" level questions found on
the PMH-BC™ exam.
Key words: Active Learning, Synthesis, Long-term Retention.
6. Question: When analyzing a multiple-choice question, the nurse identifies two
options that are "opposites" of each other. According to general test-taking
suggestions, what does this pattern often indicate?
A. Both options are likely incorrect and should be ignored.
B. One of the two opposite options is likely the correct answer.
C. The question is poorly written and will likely be thrown out.
D. The nurse should select the option that sounds more "medical."
Answer: B
Rationale: Test construction logic often includes "distractors" that are
opposites. While not a universal rule, one of the two opposing statements is
frequently the correct answer, as the examiner is testing the nurse's ability to
distinguish between two closely related but distinct concepts.
Key words: Distractors, Logical Analysis, Test Construction.
7. Question: A nurse is preparing a study schedule and decides to focus
exclusively on "Implementation" because they enjoy clinical interventions. Why
is this approach strategically flawed for the PMH-BC™ exam?
, A. Implementation is not tested on the RN version of the exam.
B. The exam is balanced across multiple domains including Assessment and
Evaluation.
C. The exam focuses entirely on Pharmacology and Biology.
D. Implementation is the easiest domain and requires the least study.
Answer: B
Rationale: Certification exams are based on a "Blueprint." Focusing only on
one area leaves the nurse vulnerable in other heavily weighted domains. A
balanced review ensures competency across the entire scope of practice.
Key words: Blueprint, Domain Weighting, Balanced Study.
8. Question: During the exam, a nurse encounters a question with the word
"EXCEPT" in the stem. What is the best cognitive approach to this "negative"
question?
A. Look for the answer that is most true in clinical practice.
B. Rephrase the question to "Which of the following is false?"
C. Choose the answer that represents the highest safety risk.
D. Skip the question as negative stems are no longer used in nursing exams.
Answer: B
Rationale: Negative stems (Except, Not, Least) require the nurse to identify the
outlier or the incorrect statement. Mentally rephrasing the question to look for
the "false" statement helps prevent the common error of selecting a "true"
option out of habit.
Key words: Negative Stem, Outlier, Cognitive Reframing.
9. Question: A nurse is reviewing a scenario where a psychiatric patient becomes
aggressive. The question asks for the "most important" nursing intervention.
How should the nurse distinguish "most important" from "initial"?
A. "Most important" refers to the action that ensures immediate safety.
B. "Most important" refers to the step that comes after assessment.
Chapter 1: Taking the Certification Examination — General
Suggestions & Certification Overview
Chapter 2: Foundational Aspects of the Brain — Neurology,
Neuroanatomy, and Pathophysiology Across the Life Span
Chapter 3: Assessments Across the Life Span — Physical,
Developmental, Emotional, Moral, and Psychosocial
Chapter 4: Problem Identification, Nursing Diagnoses, and Planning
Across the Life Span
Chapter 5: Implementation and Evaluation of the Comprehensive
Care Plan Across the Life Span
Chapter 6: Nursing Theorists, Therapeutic Communication, Diverse
Populations, and Documentation Formats
Chapter 7: Elements of Professionalism in Nursing Practice
Chapter 8: Patient Education, Population, and Environmental
Health
, Chapter 1: Taking the Certification Examination
1. Question: A psychiatric-mental health nurse is beginning their study plan for
the PMH-BC™ exam. According to the recommended strategic approach, which
action should the nurse take first to ensure the most efficient use of study
time?
A. Memorize the DSM-5-TR criteria for all major psychotic disorders.
B. Complete a full-length practice exam to identify personal knowledge gaps.
C. Review the ANCC Test Content Outline to understand domain weighting.
D. Purchase multiple review manuals to ensure a variety of perspectives.
Answer: C
Rationale: The most effective first step is to review the official Test Content
Outline. This provides the roadmap for the exam, showing which domains (e.g.,
Assessment, Diagnosis, Implementation) carry the most weight, allowing the
nurse to prioritize high-yield topics rather than studying blindly.
Key words: Prioritization, Test Content Outline, Efficiency.
2. Question: During the examination, a nurse encounters a complex clinical
scenario regarding a patient’s refusal of medication. The nurse is unsure of the
answer and feels increasing anxiety. Which test-taking strategy is most
appropriate in this moment?
A. Spend at least 5 minutes deconstructing the question to find hidden
meanings.
B. Choose the longest answer option, as it is usually the most comprehensive.
C. Select an answer, flag the question for review, and move to the next item.
D. Leave the question blank to avoid losing points for an incorrect guess.
Answer: C
Rationale: Effective time management involves maintaining momentum.
Selecting an initial "best guess" and flagging it ensures the nurse doesn't run
, out of time for easier questions later. Since the ANCC exam does not penalize
for guessing, leaving a question blank is never recommended.
Key words: Time Management, Momentum, Guessing Strategy.
3. Question: A nurse candidate is reviewing the eligibility requirements for the
PMH-BC™ credential. Which of the following is a mandatory requirement for an
RN to sit for this specific board certification exam?
A. A minimum of 5,000 hours of practice in a psychiatric setting.
B. Completion of a Master’s degree in Psychiatric Nursing.
C. 30 hours of continuing education in psychiatric-mental health nursing
within the last 3 years.
D. A recommendation letter from a current board-certified psychiatrist.
Answer: C
Rationale: ANCC eligibility for the PMH-BC™ (Registered Nurse) requires an
active RN license, 2 years of full-time practice, 2,000 hours of clinical practice
in the specialty within 3 years, and 30 hours of specialized continuing
education within 3 years.
Key words: Eligibility, Continuing Education, Certification Standards.
4. Question: A scenario-based question on the exam describes a patient in a crisis
state. The nurse is asked to identify the "initial" nursing action. How should
the nurse interpret the word "initial" when selecting an answer?
A. The action that provides the most long-term benefit to the patient.
B. The first step in the nursing process (Assessment).
C. The most complex intervention requiring advanced skill.
D. The intervention that involves the physician or provider.
Answer: B
Rationale: In nursing board exams, keywords like "initial," "first," or "priority"
usually point toward the Nursing Process. Assessment is the foundational first
step; the nurse must gather data before implementing interventions.
Key words: Nursing Process, Assessment, Priority.
,5. Question: A nurse is practicing "active reading" of the manual. When studying
Chapter 1, which method best exemplifies the application-oriented approach
needed for university-level certification?
A. Highlighting every mention of a specific medication name.
B. Re-writing the chapter word-for-word in a notebook.
C. Explaining the rationale for a specific test-taking tip to a colleague.
D. Reading the chapter silently three times in one sitting.
Answer: C
Rationale: Teaching or explaining concepts (the Feynman Technique) is a high-
level cognitive activity. It moves information from short-term memory to long-
term application, which is essential for the "Analysis" level questions found on
the PMH-BC™ exam.
Key words: Active Learning, Synthesis, Long-term Retention.
6. Question: When analyzing a multiple-choice question, the nurse identifies two
options that are "opposites" of each other. According to general test-taking
suggestions, what does this pattern often indicate?
A. Both options are likely incorrect and should be ignored.
B. One of the two opposite options is likely the correct answer.
C. The question is poorly written and will likely be thrown out.
D. The nurse should select the option that sounds more "medical."
Answer: B
Rationale: Test construction logic often includes "distractors" that are
opposites. While not a universal rule, one of the two opposing statements is
frequently the correct answer, as the examiner is testing the nurse's ability to
distinguish between two closely related but distinct concepts.
Key words: Distractors, Logical Analysis, Test Construction.
7. Question: A nurse is preparing a study schedule and decides to focus
exclusively on "Implementation" because they enjoy clinical interventions. Why
is this approach strategically flawed for the PMH-BC™ exam?
, A. Implementation is not tested on the RN version of the exam.
B. The exam is balanced across multiple domains including Assessment and
Evaluation.
C. The exam focuses entirely on Pharmacology and Biology.
D. Implementation is the easiest domain and requires the least study.
Answer: B
Rationale: Certification exams are based on a "Blueprint." Focusing only on
one area leaves the nurse vulnerable in other heavily weighted domains. A
balanced review ensures competency across the entire scope of practice.
Key words: Blueprint, Domain Weighting, Balanced Study.
8. Question: During the exam, a nurse encounters a question with the word
"EXCEPT" in the stem. What is the best cognitive approach to this "negative"
question?
A. Look for the answer that is most true in clinical practice.
B. Rephrase the question to "Which of the following is false?"
C. Choose the answer that represents the highest safety risk.
D. Skip the question as negative stems are no longer used in nursing exams.
Answer: B
Rationale: Negative stems (Except, Not, Least) require the nurse to identify the
outlier or the incorrect statement. Mentally rephrasing the question to look for
the "false" statement helps prevent the common error of selecting a "true"
option out of habit.
Key words: Negative Stem, Outlier, Cognitive Reframing.
9. Question: A nurse is reviewing a scenario where a psychiatric patient becomes
aggressive. The question asks for the "most important" nursing intervention.
How should the nurse distinguish "most important" from "initial"?
A. "Most important" refers to the action that ensures immediate safety.
B. "Most important" refers to the step that comes after assessment.
