NSG 526 Exam 3 Therapeutic Approaches Practice Test
2026 | Most Frequently Tested Questions | Graded A+
Question 1
What is Primary Prevention in crisis intervention?
A) Early identification and treatment of a crisis
B) Avoiding complications after a crisis has occurred
C) Actually preventing the crisis before it occurs
D) Providing rehabilitation services after a crisis
Answer: C) Actually preventing the crisis before it occurs
Rationale: Primary prevention focuses on avoiding the development of a crisis by
addressing risk factors and enhancing protective factors before a problem emerges.
Secondary prevention is early identification and treatment; tertiary prevention avoids
complications .
Question 2
What is Secondary Prevention?
A) Actually preventing the thing
B) Early identification and treatment
C) Avoiding complications
D) Rehabilitative services
Answer: B) Early identification and treatment
Rationale: Secondary prevention aims to reduce the duration and impact of a crisis
through early detection and prompt intervention .
Question 3
What is Tertiary Prevention?
,A) Actually preventing the thing
B) Early identification and treatment
C) Avoiding complications
D) Health promotion
Answer: C) Avoiding complications
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on reducing the long-term effects of a crisis,
preventing relapse, and promoting rehabilitation after the crisis has been managed .
Question 4
How long does a crisis typically last?
A) 1-2 weeks
B) 4-6 weeks
C) 2-3 months
D) 6 months to 1 year
Answer: B) 4-6 weeks
Rationale: A crisis is generally regarded as time-limited, lasting no more than 4 to 6
weeks. There is no such thing as a chronic crisis. People who live in constant turmoil are
not in crisis but in chaos .
Question 5
What initiates a crisis?
A) A chronic, ongoing stressor
B) Internal or external demands perceived as threats to a person's physical or emotional
functioning
C) A psychiatric emergency that requires immediate intervention
D) A genetic predisposition
Answer: B) Internal or external demands perceived as threats to a person's physical
or emotional functioning
, Rationale: A crisis is initiated by internal or external demands that are perceived as
threats to a person's physical or emotional functioning. The precipitating event is not
only stressful but unusual or rare .
Question 6
According to Gerald Caplan, what are the four phases of a crisis?
A) Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Acceptance
B) Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action
C) Phase 1: Problem arises with increased anxiety; Phase 2: Usual coping fails; Phase 3:
Trial-and-error attempts fail; Phase 4: Anxiety overwhelms leading to personality
disorganization
D) Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
Answer: C) Phase 1: Problem arises with increased anxiety; Phase 2: Usual coping
fails; Phase 3: Trial-and-error attempts fail; Phase 4: Anxiety overwhelms leading
to personality disorganization
Rationale: Caplan's conceptualization of the four phases of a crisis is still used today.
Phase 1 involves a problem that increases anxiety; Phase 2 occurs when usual problem-
solving techniques fail; Phase 3 is when trial-and-error attempts fail and anxiety
escalates; Phase 4 is when anxiety overwhelms the person, leading to personality
disorganization .
Question 7
What is a Maturational Crisis?
A) A crisis initiated by an unexpected, unusual event affecting many people
B) A crisis that occurs whenever a specific stressful event threatens a person's
biopsychosocial integrity
C) Unfavorable person-environment relationships related to maturational events such as
leaving home, completing school, or accepting adulthood responsibilities
D) A crisis that requires external help to address psychosocial needs
2026 | Most Frequently Tested Questions | Graded A+
Question 1
What is Primary Prevention in crisis intervention?
A) Early identification and treatment of a crisis
B) Avoiding complications after a crisis has occurred
C) Actually preventing the crisis before it occurs
D) Providing rehabilitation services after a crisis
Answer: C) Actually preventing the crisis before it occurs
Rationale: Primary prevention focuses on avoiding the development of a crisis by
addressing risk factors and enhancing protective factors before a problem emerges.
Secondary prevention is early identification and treatment; tertiary prevention avoids
complications .
Question 2
What is Secondary Prevention?
A) Actually preventing the thing
B) Early identification and treatment
C) Avoiding complications
D) Rehabilitative services
Answer: B) Early identification and treatment
Rationale: Secondary prevention aims to reduce the duration and impact of a crisis
through early detection and prompt intervention .
Question 3
What is Tertiary Prevention?
,A) Actually preventing the thing
B) Early identification and treatment
C) Avoiding complications
D) Health promotion
Answer: C) Avoiding complications
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on reducing the long-term effects of a crisis,
preventing relapse, and promoting rehabilitation after the crisis has been managed .
Question 4
How long does a crisis typically last?
A) 1-2 weeks
B) 4-6 weeks
C) 2-3 months
D) 6 months to 1 year
Answer: B) 4-6 weeks
Rationale: A crisis is generally regarded as time-limited, lasting no more than 4 to 6
weeks. There is no such thing as a chronic crisis. People who live in constant turmoil are
not in crisis but in chaos .
Question 5
What initiates a crisis?
A) A chronic, ongoing stressor
B) Internal or external demands perceived as threats to a person's physical or emotional
functioning
C) A psychiatric emergency that requires immediate intervention
D) A genetic predisposition
Answer: B) Internal or external demands perceived as threats to a person's physical
or emotional functioning
, Rationale: A crisis is initiated by internal or external demands that are perceived as
threats to a person's physical or emotional functioning. The precipitating event is not
only stressful but unusual or rare .
Question 6
According to Gerald Caplan, what are the four phases of a crisis?
A) Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Acceptance
B) Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action
C) Phase 1: Problem arises with increased anxiety; Phase 2: Usual coping fails; Phase 3:
Trial-and-error attempts fail; Phase 4: Anxiety overwhelms leading to personality
disorganization
D) Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
Answer: C) Phase 1: Problem arises with increased anxiety; Phase 2: Usual coping
fails; Phase 3: Trial-and-error attempts fail; Phase 4: Anxiety overwhelms leading
to personality disorganization
Rationale: Caplan's conceptualization of the four phases of a crisis is still used today.
Phase 1 involves a problem that increases anxiety; Phase 2 occurs when usual problem-
solving techniques fail; Phase 3 is when trial-and-error attempts fail and anxiety
escalates; Phase 4 is when anxiety overwhelms the person, leading to personality
disorganization .
Question 7
What is a Maturational Crisis?
A) A crisis initiated by an unexpected, unusual event affecting many people
B) A crisis that occurs whenever a specific stressful event threatens a person's
biopsychosocial integrity
C) Unfavorable person-environment relationships related to maturational events such as
leaving home, completing school, or accepting adulthood responsibilities
D) A crisis that requires external help to address psychosocial needs
