NU 671 Final Exam Questions and Answers
Purdue University Global | Updated| Pass
Guaranteed
1.
A PMHNP begins an initial psychiatric evaluation with a patient who reports depressed mood.
Which action is most appropriate first?
A. Immediately assign a DSM diagnosis
B. Establish rapport and obtain a comprehensive history
C. Begin psychotherapy
D. Prescribe medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A comprehensive assessment should precede diagnostic formulation and treatment
planning. Establishing rapport also improves the reliability and completeness of the information
obtained.
2.
Which component of the mental status examination assesses the patient's ability to correctly
identify the current date, location, and situation?
A. Affect
B. Insight
C. Orientation
D. Judgment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Orientation evaluates awareness of person, place, time, and situation.
3.
A patient states, "The government installed cameras in my apartment to monitor my thoughts."
This statement is most consistent with:
A. Obsession
B. Delusion
,C. Illusion
D. Confabulation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A fixed false belief that persists despite evidence to the contrary is a delusion.
4.
A patient reports hearing a voice when no external stimulus is present. The PMHNP should
document this as:
A. Illusion
B. Hallucination
C. Delusion
D. Derealization
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A hallucination is a perception occurring without an external sensory stimulus.
5.
Which finding primarily reflects thought process rather than thought content?
A. Persecutory beliefs
B. Grandiose beliefs
C. Loose associations
D. Suicidal thoughts
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Thought process describes how thoughts are connected and organized. Loose
associations reflect impaired organization.
6.
A patient answers questions with excessive but eventually relevant detail. Which thought-
process abnormality is most likely?
,A. Circumstantiality
B. Neologism
C. Clang association
D. Thought blocking
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Circumstantial speech includes unnecessary detail but eventually returns to the
question.
7.
A patient abruptly stops speaking and appears unable to continue a sentence. Which finding is
this?
A. Flight of ideas
B. Thought blocking
C. Echolalia
D. Perseveration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Thought blocking is a sudden interruption in the train of thought or speech.
8.
Which question is most appropriate when assessing suicide risk?
A. "You wouldn't actually hurt yourself, would you?"
B. "Why would you want to die?"
C. "Have you had thoughts of killing yourself?"
D. "Are you feeling stressed?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Direct, nonjudgmental questioning is recommended when assessing suicidal
ideation.
9.
, A patient acknowledges suicidal thoughts and reports having a specific method available at
home. What should the PMHNP prioritize?
A. Exploring childhood experiences
B. Immediate safety assessment and intervention
C. Scheduling psychotherapy next month
D. Completing personality testing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Suicidal ideation accompanied by access to a method requires immediate
assessment of intent, imminence, protective factors, and safety.
10.
Which finding is a significant protective factor against suicide?
A. Social isolation
B. Previous suicide attempt
C. Strong supportive relationships
D. Access to lethal means
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Supportive relationships and meaningful connections can reduce suicide risk.
11.
Which affect is characterized by very limited emotional expression?
A. Labile
B. Blunted
C. Euphoric
D. Expansive
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Blunted affect represents substantially reduced emotional expression.
12.
Purdue University Global | Updated| Pass
Guaranteed
1.
A PMHNP begins an initial psychiatric evaluation with a patient who reports depressed mood.
Which action is most appropriate first?
A. Immediately assign a DSM diagnosis
B. Establish rapport and obtain a comprehensive history
C. Begin psychotherapy
D. Prescribe medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A comprehensive assessment should precede diagnostic formulation and treatment
planning. Establishing rapport also improves the reliability and completeness of the information
obtained.
2.
Which component of the mental status examination assesses the patient's ability to correctly
identify the current date, location, and situation?
A. Affect
B. Insight
C. Orientation
D. Judgment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Orientation evaluates awareness of person, place, time, and situation.
3.
A patient states, "The government installed cameras in my apartment to monitor my thoughts."
This statement is most consistent with:
A. Obsession
B. Delusion
,C. Illusion
D. Confabulation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A fixed false belief that persists despite evidence to the contrary is a delusion.
4.
A patient reports hearing a voice when no external stimulus is present. The PMHNP should
document this as:
A. Illusion
B. Hallucination
C. Delusion
D. Derealization
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A hallucination is a perception occurring without an external sensory stimulus.
5.
Which finding primarily reflects thought process rather than thought content?
A. Persecutory beliefs
B. Grandiose beliefs
C. Loose associations
D. Suicidal thoughts
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Thought process describes how thoughts are connected and organized. Loose
associations reflect impaired organization.
6.
A patient answers questions with excessive but eventually relevant detail. Which thought-
process abnormality is most likely?
,A. Circumstantiality
B. Neologism
C. Clang association
D. Thought blocking
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Circumstantial speech includes unnecessary detail but eventually returns to the
question.
7.
A patient abruptly stops speaking and appears unable to continue a sentence. Which finding is
this?
A. Flight of ideas
B. Thought blocking
C. Echolalia
D. Perseveration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Thought blocking is a sudden interruption in the train of thought or speech.
8.
Which question is most appropriate when assessing suicide risk?
A. "You wouldn't actually hurt yourself, would you?"
B. "Why would you want to die?"
C. "Have you had thoughts of killing yourself?"
D. "Are you feeling stressed?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Direct, nonjudgmental questioning is recommended when assessing suicidal
ideation.
9.
, A patient acknowledges suicidal thoughts and reports having a specific method available at
home. What should the PMHNP prioritize?
A. Exploring childhood experiences
B. Immediate safety assessment and intervention
C. Scheduling psychotherapy next month
D. Completing personality testing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Suicidal ideation accompanied by access to a method requires immediate
assessment of intent, imminence, protective factors, and safety.
10.
Which finding is a significant protective factor against suicide?
A. Social isolation
B. Previous suicide attempt
C. Strong supportive relationships
D. Access to lethal means
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Supportive relationships and meaningful connections can reduce suicide risk.
11.
Which affect is characterized by very limited emotional expression?
A. Labile
B. Blunted
C. Euphoric
D. Expansive
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Blunted affect represents substantially reduced emotional expression.
12.
