NR 548 Psychiatric Assessment for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner Exam 2 -Week 3-4: 80 Questions & Answers
NR 548 Exam 2: Psychiatric Assessment Questions
Foundations of the Psychiatric Interview
1. What is the most important goal of the psychiatric interview process?
• Answer: Building a therapeutic alliance.
• Rationale: The cooperative working relationship between the therapist and
client is a fundamental component of successful therapy; without it,
information gathering and treatment adherence are compromised.
2. Which term describes the process by which a psychiatric assessment is
conducted?
• Answer: The psychiatric interview.
• Rationale: The interview is the primary tool used to establish a diagnosis,
build an alliance, and negotiate a treatment plan.
3. What are the four primary tasks of the diagnostic interview?
• Answer: 1. Build a therapeutic alliance; 2. Obtain the psychiatric database;
3. Interview for diagnosis; 4. Negotiate a treatment plan.
• Rationale: These steps ensure a comprehensive evaluation while
maintaining the patient-provider relationship.
4. How does the psychiatric interview differ significantly from a medical
interview?
• Answer: It is the primary diagnostic tool used to identify psychiatric
conditions.
• Rationale: Unlike physical medicine, psychiatric diagnoses are generally not
validated by physical exams or laboratory tests, though these may be used
to rule out physical causes.
, 5. According to Peplau’s Theory, establishing rapport allows the nurse to evolve
from a "stranger" to which roles?
• Answer: Resource person, teacher, leader, surrogate, technical expert, and
counselor.
• Rationale: Building rapport early in the relationship is essential for this
professional evolution.
Interview Phases and Timing
6. What are the three phases of the psychiatric interview?
• Answer: Opening phase, Body of the Interview, and Closing the Interview.
• Rationale: Each phase has specific timeframes and tasks to ensure a
structured assessment.
7. How long should the Opening phase typically last?
• Answer: 5–10 minutes.
• Rationale: This phase is used to establish rapport and the foundation of the
therapeutic alliance.
8. What is the typical duration of the Body of the Interview?
• Answer: 30–40 minutes.
• Rationale: This is when the chief complaint, HPI, and various histories are
elicited to form a diagnosis.
9. What query should the PMHNP use to start the Opening phase?
• Answer: "What brought you in to see me today?".
• Rationale: This open-ended question allows the patient to voice their
immediate concerns first.
10. What are the two essential components of the Closing phase?
• Answer: 1. Assessment discussion using patient education; 2. Negotiated
agreement on treatment/follow-up.
Practitioner Exam 2 -Week 3-4: 80 Questions & Answers
NR 548 Exam 2: Psychiatric Assessment Questions
Foundations of the Psychiatric Interview
1. What is the most important goal of the psychiatric interview process?
• Answer: Building a therapeutic alliance.
• Rationale: The cooperative working relationship between the therapist and
client is a fundamental component of successful therapy; without it,
information gathering and treatment adherence are compromised.
2. Which term describes the process by which a psychiatric assessment is
conducted?
• Answer: The psychiatric interview.
• Rationale: The interview is the primary tool used to establish a diagnosis,
build an alliance, and negotiate a treatment plan.
3. What are the four primary tasks of the diagnostic interview?
• Answer: 1. Build a therapeutic alliance; 2. Obtain the psychiatric database;
3. Interview for diagnosis; 4. Negotiate a treatment plan.
• Rationale: These steps ensure a comprehensive evaluation while
maintaining the patient-provider relationship.
4. How does the psychiatric interview differ significantly from a medical
interview?
• Answer: It is the primary diagnostic tool used to identify psychiatric
conditions.
• Rationale: Unlike physical medicine, psychiatric diagnoses are generally not
validated by physical exams or laboratory tests, though these may be used
to rule out physical causes.
, 5. According to Peplau’s Theory, establishing rapport allows the nurse to evolve
from a "stranger" to which roles?
• Answer: Resource person, teacher, leader, surrogate, technical expert, and
counselor.
• Rationale: Building rapport early in the relationship is essential for this
professional evolution.
Interview Phases and Timing
6. What are the three phases of the psychiatric interview?
• Answer: Opening phase, Body of the Interview, and Closing the Interview.
• Rationale: Each phase has specific timeframes and tasks to ensure a
structured assessment.
7. How long should the Opening phase typically last?
• Answer: 5–10 minutes.
• Rationale: This phase is used to establish rapport and the foundation of the
therapeutic alliance.
8. What is the typical duration of the Body of the Interview?
• Answer: 30–40 minutes.
• Rationale: This is when the chief complaint, HPI, and various histories are
elicited to form a diagnosis.
9. What query should the PMHNP use to start the Opening phase?
• Answer: "What brought you in to see me today?".
• Rationale: This open-ended question allows the patient to voice their
immediate concerns first.
10. What are the two essential components of the Closing phase?
• Answer: 1. Assessment discussion using patient education; 2. Negotiated
agreement on treatment/follow-up.
