NR 548 EXAM 2 (CHAMBERLAIN) NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM TEST
BANK| NR548 PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT FOR PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL
HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER EXAM 2 REVIEW WITH COMPLETE REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY
GRADED A+
1. A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner is conducting an initial
psychiatric evaluation of an adult patient who reports several weeks of
depressed mood, loss of interest, insomnia, fatigue, and difficulty
concentrating. Before establishing a diagnosis, which approach best
demonstrates a comprehensive psychiatric assessment?
A. Focus only on the symptoms the patient identifies as most distressing
B. Determine whether the patient has previously received psychiatric
medication
C. Assess presenting symptoms, psychiatric and medical history, substance
use, medications, psychosocial factors, mental status, safety, and relevant
differential diagnoses
D. Establish a diagnosis based primarily on the patient's chief complaint
Answer: C
2. During a psychiatric interview, a patient gives brief answers and appears
uncomfortable discussing personal experiences. The PMHNP wants to
establish rapport while obtaining clinically useful information. Which
interviewing approach is most appropriate?
A. Begin with open-ended questions, use active listening, demonstrate
empathy, and gradually move toward focused questions
B. Immediately ask a series of closed-ended questions to obtain every
symptom
C. Confront the patient about appearing guarded before continuing
D. Avoid discussing sensitive topics until the final portion of the interview
Answer: A
pg. 1
, 3. A PMHNP begins an assessment by asking, “What brings you in today, and
how have things been going for you recently?” Why is this type of question
particularly useful early in the psychiatric interview?
A. It establishes a definitive psychiatric diagnosis immediately
B. It allows the clinician to obtain the patient's perspective and begin the
interview with an open-ended exploration
C. It eliminates the need for a review of systems
D. It prevents the patient from discussing psychosocial concerns
Answer: B
4. During an interview, the patient repeatedly changes topics and provides
excessive unnecessary detail before eventually returning to the original
question. Which mental-status descriptor most accurately characterizes this
communication pattern?
A. Thought blocking
B. Loose associations
C. Clang associations
D. Circumstantiality
Answer: D
5. A patient is asked about current suicidal thoughts and responds,
“Sometimes I think everyone would be better off without me, but I have no
intention of doing anything.” Which follow-up assessment is most
important?
A. Ask only about previous psychiatric diagnoses
B. Explore suicidal thoughts, intent, plan, access to means, past attempts,
protective factors, and immediate safety
C. Change the subject to avoid increasing suicidal thoughts
D. Assume the patient is not at risk because there is no stated plan
Answer: B
6. A patient with severe anxiety states, “My thoughts are racing and I cannot
stop worrying.” The PMHNP wants to differentiate generalized anxiety from
other psychiatric conditions. Which assessment is most important?
pg. 2
, A. Determine whether the patient has ever experienced hallucinations only
B. Determine whether the patient has a family history of depression only
C. Assess the duration, breadth, controllability, associated physical
symptoms, functional impairment, and relationship of the anxiety to other
mood or psychiatric symptoms
D. Ask only whether the patient feels nervous
Answer: C
7. A patient reports hearing a voice when alone that repeatedly tells the
patient to harm another person. Which component of the psychiatric
assessment requires immediate attention?
A. The patient's childhood developmental history
B. The patient's educational history
C. The patient's preferred coping strategy
D. The content, frequency, command nature, intent, access to potential
means, and risk associated with the hallucination
Answer: D
8. During a psychiatric evaluation, the PMHNP observes that the patient is
dressed appropriately, maintains intermittent eye contact, speaks slowly,
and appears tearful. Which section of the mental status examination
primarily includes these observations?
A. Appearance and behavior
B. Thought content
C. Cognition
D. Insight
Answer: A
9. A patient states, “I know my family thinks I am depressed, but I do not
believe anything is wrong with me.” The PMHNP wants to assess the
patient's understanding of the illness and need for treatment. Which
mental-status domain is most directly being evaluated?
A. Judgment
B. Insight
pg. 3
, C. Memory
D. Attention
Answer: B
10. During an assessment, a patient correctly explains that taking medication as
prescribed is important but states, “I will stop it whenever I feel better
because I don't think I need it anymore.” Which area should the PMHNP
explore further?
A. Orientation
B. Abstract reasoning
C. Insight and understanding of treatment needs
D. Immediate recall
Answer: C
11. A patient who is experiencing a manic episode speaks rapidly, frequently
interrupts the clinician, and moves quickly from one topic to another while
maintaining understandable connections between topics. Which thought-
process characteristic is most consistent with these findings?
A. Flight of ideas
B. Thought blocking
C. Neologism
D. Poverty of thought
Answer: A
12. A patient abruptly stops speaking in the middle of a sentence, stares ahead
briefly, and then states, “I forgot what I was saying.” Which finding should
the PMHNP consider when assessing thought process?
A. Echolalia
B. Tangentiality
C. Thought blocking
D. Perseveration
Answer: C
13. A patient responds to the question “How have you been sleeping?” by
discussing work problems, then finances, then a neighbor, without ever
pg. 4
BANK| NR548 PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT FOR PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL
HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER EXAM 2 REVIEW WITH COMPLETE REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY
GRADED A+
1. A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner is conducting an initial
psychiatric evaluation of an adult patient who reports several weeks of
depressed mood, loss of interest, insomnia, fatigue, and difficulty
concentrating. Before establishing a diagnosis, which approach best
demonstrates a comprehensive psychiatric assessment?
A. Focus only on the symptoms the patient identifies as most distressing
B. Determine whether the patient has previously received psychiatric
medication
C. Assess presenting symptoms, psychiatric and medical history, substance
use, medications, psychosocial factors, mental status, safety, and relevant
differential diagnoses
D. Establish a diagnosis based primarily on the patient's chief complaint
Answer: C
2. During a psychiatric interview, a patient gives brief answers and appears
uncomfortable discussing personal experiences. The PMHNP wants to
establish rapport while obtaining clinically useful information. Which
interviewing approach is most appropriate?
A. Begin with open-ended questions, use active listening, demonstrate
empathy, and gradually move toward focused questions
B. Immediately ask a series of closed-ended questions to obtain every
symptom
C. Confront the patient about appearing guarded before continuing
D. Avoid discussing sensitive topics until the final portion of the interview
Answer: A
pg. 1
, 3. A PMHNP begins an assessment by asking, “What brings you in today, and
how have things been going for you recently?” Why is this type of question
particularly useful early in the psychiatric interview?
A. It establishes a definitive psychiatric diagnosis immediately
B. It allows the clinician to obtain the patient's perspective and begin the
interview with an open-ended exploration
C. It eliminates the need for a review of systems
D. It prevents the patient from discussing psychosocial concerns
Answer: B
4. During an interview, the patient repeatedly changes topics and provides
excessive unnecessary detail before eventually returning to the original
question. Which mental-status descriptor most accurately characterizes this
communication pattern?
A. Thought blocking
B. Loose associations
C. Clang associations
D. Circumstantiality
Answer: D
5. A patient is asked about current suicidal thoughts and responds,
“Sometimes I think everyone would be better off without me, but I have no
intention of doing anything.” Which follow-up assessment is most
important?
A. Ask only about previous psychiatric diagnoses
B. Explore suicidal thoughts, intent, plan, access to means, past attempts,
protective factors, and immediate safety
C. Change the subject to avoid increasing suicidal thoughts
D. Assume the patient is not at risk because there is no stated plan
Answer: B
6. A patient with severe anxiety states, “My thoughts are racing and I cannot
stop worrying.” The PMHNP wants to differentiate generalized anxiety from
other psychiatric conditions. Which assessment is most important?
pg. 2
, A. Determine whether the patient has ever experienced hallucinations only
B. Determine whether the patient has a family history of depression only
C. Assess the duration, breadth, controllability, associated physical
symptoms, functional impairment, and relationship of the anxiety to other
mood or psychiatric symptoms
D. Ask only whether the patient feels nervous
Answer: C
7. A patient reports hearing a voice when alone that repeatedly tells the
patient to harm another person. Which component of the psychiatric
assessment requires immediate attention?
A. The patient's childhood developmental history
B. The patient's educational history
C. The patient's preferred coping strategy
D. The content, frequency, command nature, intent, access to potential
means, and risk associated with the hallucination
Answer: D
8. During a psychiatric evaluation, the PMHNP observes that the patient is
dressed appropriately, maintains intermittent eye contact, speaks slowly,
and appears tearful. Which section of the mental status examination
primarily includes these observations?
A. Appearance and behavior
B. Thought content
C. Cognition
D. Insight
Answer: A
9. A patient states, “I know my family thinks I am depressed, but I do not
believe anything is wrong with me.” The PMHNP wants to assess the
patient's understanding of the illness and need for treatment. Which
mental-status domain is most directly being evaluated?
A. Judgment
B. Insight
pg. 3
, C. Memory
D. Attention
Answer: B
10. During an assessment, a patient correctly explains that taking medication as
prescribed is important but states, “I will stop it whenever I feel better
because I don't think I need it anymore.” Which area should the PMHNP
explore further?
A. Orientation
B. Abstract reasoning
C. Insight and understanding of treatment needs
D. Immediate recall
Answer: C
11. A patient who is experiencing a manic episode speaks rapidly, frequently
interrupts the clinician, and moves quickly from one topic to another while
maintaining understandable connections between topics. Which thought-
process characteristic is most consistent with these findings?
A. Flight of ideas
B. Thought blocking
C. Neologism
D. Poverty of thought
Answer: A
12. A patient abruptly stops speaking in the middle of a sentence, stares ahead
briefly, and then states, “I forgot what I was saying.” Which finding should
the PMHNP consider when assessing thought process?
A. Echolalia
B. Tangentiality
C. Thought blocking
D. Perseveration
Answer: C
13. A patient responds to the question “How have you been sleeping?” by
discussing work problems, then finances, then a neighbor, without ever
pg. 4
