PMHNP ANCC REVIEW QUESTIONS 2026
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE | BOARD EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
| GRADED A+ |GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,The trend in legal rulings on cases involving mental B. Identifies the trend of ensuring the protection of individual civil liberties for
illness over the past 25 years has been to psychiatric clients.
a. Encourage juries to find defendants not guilty by
reason of insanity
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
Mr. Smithers, an involuntarily hospitalized patient C. As with any client, psychiatric clients can refuse treatment unless a legal
experiencing psychotic symptoms, refuses to take any of process resulting in involuntary commitment or mandatory court order for
his ordered medication because he believes "Jesus Christ treatment has been obtained.
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
Which of the following statements best reflects the A. Social relationships are mutual interpersonal relationships in which the needs of
difference between the nurse-client (N-C) relationship both parties are addressed. The N-C relationship is most concerned with meeting
and a social relationship? the needs of the client.
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.
, A community has an unusually high incidence of A. This action focuses on interventions designed to reduce the incidence of new
depression and drug use among the teenage population. cases of disease.
The public health nurses decide to address this problem,
in part, by modifying the environment and 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
Mrs. Kemp is voluntarily admitted to the hospital. After 24 B. Almost every state allows for a brief for a period detainment to assess a client
hours, she states she wishes to leave because "this place for dangerousness to self or others before allowing the client to leave a hospital
can't help me." The best nursing action that reflects the setting, even if the admission was voluntary.
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
In forming a therapeutic relationship with clients, the C. Authenticity. Being genuine, honest, and respectful are essential elements in
PMHNP must consider developing many characteristics establishing a working relationship with any client. Like-mindedness is not a part of
that are known to be helpful in relationship-building. the therapeutic relationship. Although an important aspect of the PMHNP role,
Which of the following is an essential part of building a collecting a family history and accuracy in assessment does not in and of itself
therapeutic relationship? facilitate relationship building.
a. Collecting a family history
b. Like-mindedness
c. Authenticity
d. Accuracy in assessment
According to the DSM-5, which of the following is true? D. All DSM-5 disorders need to be made taking a person's culture into account. A
(Ch. 3) cultural expression of a response to grief, loss, or stress is not considered a DSM-
a. A mental disorder is equivalent to the need for 5 diagnosis.
treatment.
b. Diagnostic criteria are used to inform clinical judgment.
c. Socially deviant behavior is considered a mental
disorder.
d. A culturally expected response to a stressor is not a
mental disorder.
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE | BOARD EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
| GRADED A+ |GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,The trend in legal rulings on cases involving mental B. Identifies the trend of ensuring the protection of individual civil liberties for
illness over the past 25 years has been to psychiatric clients.
a. Encourage juries to find defendants not guilty by
reason of insanity
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
Mr. Smithers, an involuntarily hospitalized patient C. As with any client, psychiatric clients can refuse treatment unless a legal
experiencing psychotic symptoms, refuses to take any of process resulting in involuntary commitment or mandatory court order for
his ordered medication because he believes "Jesus Christ treatment has been obtained.
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
Which of the following statements best reflects the A. Social relationships are mutual interpersonal relationships in which the needs of
difference between the nurse-client (N-C) relationship both parties are addressed. The N-C relationship is most concerned with meeting
and a social relationship? the needs of the client.
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.
, A community has an unusually high incidence of A. This action focuses on interventions designed to reduce the incidence of new
depression and drug use among the teenage population. cases of disease.
The public health nurses decide to address this problem,
in part, by modifying the environment and 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
Mrs. Kemp is voluntarily admitted to the hospital. After 24 B. Almost every state allows for a brief for a period detainment to assess a client
hours, she states she wishes to leave because "this place for dangerousness to self or others before allowing the client to leave a hospital
can't help me." The best nursing action that reflects the setting, even if the admission was voluntary.
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
In forming a therapeutic relationship with clients, the C. Authenticity. Being genuine, honest, and respectful are essential elements in
PMHNP must consider developing many characteristics establishing a working relationship with any client. Like-mindedness is not a part of
that are known to be helpful in relationship-building. the therapeutic relationship. Although an important aspect of the PMHNP role,
Which of the following is an essential part of building a collecting a family history and accuracy in assessment does not in and of itself
therapeutic relationship? facilitate relationship building.
a. Collecting a family history
b. Like-mindedness
c. Authenticity
d. Accuracy in assessment
According to the DSM-5, which of the following is true? D. All DSM-5 disorders need to be made taking a person's culture into account. A
(Ch. 3) cultural expression of a response to grief, loss, or stress is not considered a DSM-
a. A mental disorder is equivalent to the need for 5 diagnosis.
treatment.
b. Diagnostic criteria are used to inform clinical judgment.
c. Socially deviant behavior is considered a mental
disorder.
d. A culturally expected response to a stressor is not a
mental disorder.
