PMHNP ANCC REVIEW EXAM|PSYCHIATRIC
MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER
EXAM PREP WITH ACTUAL CORRECT
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED DETAILED
ANSWERS| FREQUENTLY TESTING VERSION |
ALREADY GRADED A+|NEWEST|EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS 2026
You are the PMHNP treating Tim, a 10-year-old child, for ADHD and social anxiety
disorder. His mother presents with Tim for his scheduled individual therapy session. At
the end of the session his mother says, "I need to take Tim to see his pediatrician and at
the last visit I was told he needed some HPV shot. I don't know, he's a boy, why would he
need that? What do you think?" What is the PMHNP's best response to her question?
a. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the human
papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for all boys and girls at age 10. HPV can cause cancer in
both men and women, and the vaccine is effective in protecting against the virus. Can
you tell me your concerns about Tim getting this vaccine?"
b. "While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the
vaccine, every parent has the right to choose and if you do not think Tim needs this
vaccine, as his parent you have the right to refuse."
c. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the human
papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for older teenagers, starting at age 18, so you have time to
research and think about your decision."
d. "My daughters received the vaccine, and I'm like you, I did not let my sons receive the
vaccine. They don't need it. I agree, vaccines can be scary, can you tell me your
concerns?"
A. When family members or clients ask questions about illnesses and treatment, it is
the PMHNP's responsibility to provide data and then assess understanding and
meaning.
1|Page
,As a PMHNP working in a crisis evaluation center, you are aware that the initial focus of
a crisis assessment is on which of the following?
a. Client's past diagnosis and medication trials
b. Psychosocial history and supports
c. Safety of the client and others
d. Current living situation and coping skil
C. In a crisis, the first assessment should be safety of the client and those near the
client.
When conducting a neurological examination on a client, the PMHNP asks the client to
hold out her arms and stick out her tongue while assessing for tremors. Which cranial
nerve is being assessed?
a. Glossopharyngeal
b. Vagus
c. Trigeminal
d. Hypoglossal
D. The tongue is controlled by the hypoglossal cranial nerve.
A 20-year-old Asian man who was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia comes to your
office for a follow-up appointment. During the assessment, he talks about his
experience in the group home, thinking that the television is sending him messages
through news anchors during the 10 p.m. evening news. What symptom is the client
describing?
a. Paranoia
b. Illusions
c. Ideas of reference
d. Neologisms
C. Ideas of reference are misinterpretations of incidents and events that one believes
have a direct personal reference to oneself.
You are working with a family: mother, father, and two biological children. Sam, the
father, is very rigid and controlling, which seems to be out of fear that something might
2|Page
,happen to his family. He worries daily and it affects his family relationships. You give
Sam a paradoxical directive and instruct him to intensely worry about everything he can
think of for 1 hour a day. Using a paradoxical directive is part of which therapy?
a. Experimental
b. Structural
c. Strategic
d. Cognitive
C. Paradoxical directives may be used in strategic family therapy.
As a PMHNP working in an outpatient addiction clinic, you often refer your clients to
community AA and NA meetings. Using Yalom's therapeutic factors, you are aware that
peer-led groups can inspire and encourage other group participants. Which therapeutic
factor is instilled in AA and NA group members?
a. Hope
b. Altruism
c. Catharsis
d. Existential factors
A. Working in support groups such as AA and NA, hearing stories of others who had
similar struggles, instills hope.
Which of the following client statements best describes imitative behavior as a
therapeutic factor in group therapy?
a. Group members talk over one another so the loudest person is heard
b. Group members begin to model aspects of other members of the group and group
leaders
c. Group members discuss past situations when they were bullied and felt ashamed
d. Group leaders take charge of the group and redirect members when they monopolize
the group
B. As group progresses the leader is less active and the members of the group take over
and begin to model other members and the leaders.
3|Page
, Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) draws on cognitive theory and behavioral theory,
along with other theories. Elements of behavioral theory in DBT include which of the
following?
a. Skills training and exposure
b. Examination of feelings and relating feelings to visceral sensations
c. Working through the transference with the therapist
d. Cognitive interpretation of past traumatic experiences
A. DBT focuses on cognitive and behavioral techniques, mindfulness including
meditation, and emotional regulation.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) affirms dialectical thinking, which involves
examining and discussing opposing ideas to find the truth. This philosophy is a
supportive principle of DBT training. The central dialectical pattern emphasized in DBT
involves the tension between:
a. Radical acceptance and change
b. Cue exposure and block avoidance
c. Problem avoidance and problem-solving
d. Crisis survival and acceptance
A. DBT emphasis acceptance of the current reality of what is and the ability to engage in
personal change.
Samantha is a 26-year-old partnered woman who works full time as a teacher. She is in
a long-term relationship with Mary and they are getting along well, and doing well
financially. They have two children, ages 2 and 6. Samantha is seeing the PMHNP to
address her concerns that she is feeling down and sad for no reason and states, "I know
my life is going well but I just don't feel happy. I have always worried a lot and have been
sad most of my life." As a PMHNP trained in transactional analysis (TA), you understand
that personality is multifaceted and wonder if which of the following is affecting her
ability to experience happiness:
a. She had long periods of separation from her primary caregiver as a child and now has
a difficult time accepting and receiving love and experiencing happiness
b. She likely had a traumatic event in her childhood and her thoughts and feelings
4|Page
MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER
EXAM PREP WITH ACTUAL CORRECT
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED DETAILED
ANSWERS| FREQUENTLY TESTING VERSION |
ALREADY GRADED A+|NEWEST|EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS 2026
You are the PMHNP treating Tim, a 10-year-old child, for ADHD and social anxiety
disorder. His mother presents with Tim for his scheduled individual therapy session. At
the end of the session his mother says, "I need to take Tim to see his pediatrician and at
the last visit I was told he needed some HPV shot. I don't know, he's a boy, why would he
need that? What do you think?" What is the PMHNP's best response to her question?
a. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the human
papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for all boys and girls at age 10. HPV can cause cancer in
both men and women, and the vaccine is effective in protecting against the virus. Can
you tell me your concerns about Tim getting this vaccine?"
b. "While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the
vaccine, every parent has the right to choose and if you do not think Tim needs this
vaccine, as his parent you have the right to refuse."
c. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the human
papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for older teenagers, starting at age 18, so you have time to
research and think about your decision."
d. "My daughters received the vaccine, and I'm like you, I did not let my sons receive the
vaccine. They don't need it. I agree, vaccines can be scary, can you tell me your
concerns?"
A. When family members or clients ask questions about illnesses and treatment, it is
the PMHNP's responsibility to provide data and then assess understanding and
meaning.
1|Page
,As a PMHNP working in a crisis evaluation center, you are aware that the initial focus of
a crisis assessment is on which of the following?
a. Client's past diagnosis and medication trials
b. Psychosocial history and supports
c. Safety of the client and others
d. Current living situation and coping skil
C. In a crisis, the first assessment should be safety of the client and those near the
client.
When conducting a neurological examination on a client, the PMHNP asks the client to
hold out her arms and stick out her tongue while assessing for tremors. Which cranial
nerve is being assessed?
a. Glossopharyngeal
b. Vagus
c. Trigeminal
d. Hypoglossal
D. The tongue is controlled by the hypoglossal cranial nerve.
A 20-year-old Asian man who was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia comes to your
office for a follow-up appointment. During the assessment, he talks about his
experience in the group home, thinking that the television is sending him messages
through news anchors during the 10 p.m. evening news. What symptom is the client
describing?
a. Paranoia
b. Illusions
c. Ideas of reference
d. Neologisms
C. Ideas of reference are misinterpretations of incidents and events that one believes
have a direct personal reference to oneself.
You are working with a family: mother, father, and two biological children. Sam, the
father, is very rigid and controlling, which seems to be out of fear that something might
2|Page
,happen to his family. He worries daily and it affects his family relationships. You give
Sam a paradoxical directive and instruct him to intensely worry about everything he can
think of for 1 hour a day. Using a paradoxical directive is part of which therapy?
a. Experimental
b. Structural
c. Strategic
d. Cognitive
C. Paradoxical directives may be used in strategic family therapy.
As a PMHNP working in an outpatient addiction clinic, you often refer your clients to
community AA and NA meetings. Using Yalom's therapeutic factors, you are aware that
peer-led groups can inspire and encourage other group participants. Which therapeutic
factor is instilled in AA and NA group members?
a. Hope
b. Altruism
c. Catharsis
d. Existential factors
A. Working in support groups such as AA and NA, hearing stories of others who had
similar struggles, instills hope.
Which of the following client statements best describes imitative behavior as a
therapeutic factor in group therapy?
a. Group members talk over one another so the loudest person is heard
b. Group members begin to model aspects of other members of the group and group
leaders
c. Group members discuss past situations when they were bullied and felt ashamed
d. Group leaders take charge of the group and redirect members when they monopolize
the group
B. As group progresses the leader is less active and the members of the group take over
and begin to model other members and the leaders.
3|Page
, Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) draws on cognitive theory and behavioral theory,
along with other theories. Elements of behavioral theory in DBT include which of the
following?
a. Skills training and exposure
b. Examination of feelings and relating feelings to visceral sensations
c. Working through the transference with the therapist
d. Cognitive interpretation of past traumatic experiences
A. DBT focuses on cognitive and behavioral techniques, mindfulness including
meditation, and emotional regulation.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) affirms dialectical thinking, which involves
examining and discussing opposing ideas to find the truth. This philosophy is a
supportive principle of DBT training. The central dialectical pattern emphasized in DBT
involves the tension between:
a. Radical acceptance and change
b. Cue exposure and block avoidance
c. Problem avoidance and problem-solving
d. Crisis survival and acceptance
A. DBT emphasis acceptance of the current reality of what is and the ability to engage in
personal change.
Samantha is a 26-year-old partnered woman who works full time as a teacher. She is in
a long-term relationship with Mary and they are getting along well, and doing well
financially. They have two children, ages 2 and 6. Samantha is seeing the PMHNP to
address her concerns that she is feeling down and sad for no reason and states, "I know
my life is going well but I just don't feel happy. I have always worried a lot and have been
sad most of my life." As a PMHNP trained in transactional analysis (TA), you understand
that personality is multifaceted and wonder if which of the following is affecting her
ability to experience happiness:
a. She had long periods of separation from her primary caregiver as a child and now has
a difficult time accepting and receiving love and experiencing happiness
b. She likely had a traumatic event in her childhood and her thoughts and feelings
4|Page
