Barkley PMHNP Certification Review |
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Exam Study Guide & Practice Materials
1. To begin the process of assessment, what is the first step the
PMHNP should establish?
A) Order laboratory tests
B) Establish the therapeutic relationship
C) Prescribe initial medication
D) Refer to a specialist
Answer: B) Establish the therapeutic relationship
Explanation: The therapeutic relationship is the foundation of the
assessment process. It allows the patient to feel safe and facilitates
the gathering of accurate information for a working diagnosis and
initial plan of care.
2. Prior to the interview, the PMHNP should review which of the
following?
A) Referral information, patient questionnaires, and health assessments
B) The patient's financial records
C) The patient's social media profiles
D) The patient's criminal history
,Answer: A) Referral information, patient questionnaires, and health
assessments
Explanation: Reviewing referral information, questionnaires, and
prior health assessments prepares the clinician for the interview
and helps identify key areas to explore.
3. How would the PMHNP set the stage and make the client
comfortable during the interview?
A) Introducing yourself, considering cultural norms, ensuring no
interruptions, and considering clinician safety
B) Immediately asking about trauma history
C) Telling the patient your personal problems
D) Rushing through the interview to save time
Answer: A) Introducing yourself, considering cultural norms,
ensuring no interruptions, and considering clinician safety
Explanation: Setting the stage involves introducing yourself,
respecting cultural norms, ensuring privacy without interruptions,
and having exit strategies for safety if the patient escalates.
4. When documenting the chief complaint, the PMHNP should include
which of the following?
A) The problem in the patient's words, symptom types (affective,
cognitive, physical), and permission to consult with family
B) Only the patient's diagnosis
C) The clinician's opinion of the patient
D) The patient's insurance information
,Answer: A) The problem in the patient's words, symptom types
(affective, cognitive, physical), and permission to consult with family
Explanation: The chief complaint should be documented in the
patient's own words, noting whether symptoms are affective,
cognitive, or physical, and seeking permission to consult with family
members.
5. What does the history of presenting problems include?
A) Duration of the problem and what was going on in the patient's life
when it started
B) Only the patient's past medical history
C) The patient's family history
D) The patient's financial status
Answer: A) Duration of the problem and what was going on in the
patient's life when it started
Explanation: The history of presenting problems includes the
duration of the issue and the psychosocial context in which the
symptoms began.
6. Which of the following are considered precipitating factors?
A) Exacerbating factors, triggers, connecting events, and causality
B) Only genetic predisposition
C) Only substance use
D) Only environmental stressors
Answer: A) Exacerbating factors, triggers, connecting events, and
causality
, Explanation: Precipitating factors include exacerbating factors,
triggers, connecting events, and causality that contribute to the
onset of the presenting problem.
7. What does the social history include?
A) Changes in role or social function and history of abuse or victimization
B) Only the patient's employment status
C) Only the patient's marital status
D) Only the patient's education level
Answer: A) Changes in role or social function and history of abuse
or victimization
Explanation: Social history includes changes in role or social
function, as well as any history of abuse or victimization.
8. Which of the following is part of the social and developmental
history?
A) Identifying who played roles in the person's life, who is presently
involved, and social support
B) Only the patient's childhood
C) Only the patient's current relationships
D) Only the patient's occupational history
Answer: A) Identifying who played roles in the person's life, who is
presently involved, and social support
Explanation: Social and developmental history includes identifying
past and present role players and assessing social support.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Exam Study Guide & Practice Materials
1. To begin the process of assessment, what is the first step the
PMHNP should establish?
A) Order laboratory tests
B) Establish the therapeutic relationship
C) Prescribe initial medication
D) Refer to a specialist
Answer: B) Establish the therapeutic relationship
Explanation: The therapeutic relationship is the foundation of the
assessment process. It allows the patient to feel safe and facilitates
the gathering of accurate information for a working diagnosis and
initial plan of care.
2. Prior to the interview, the PMHNP should review which of the
following?
A) Referral information, patient questionnaires, and health assessments
B) The patient's financial records
C) The patient's social media profiles
D) The patient's criminal history
,Answer: A) Referral information, patient questionnaires, and health
assessments
Explanation: Reviewing referral information, questionnaires, and
prior health assessments prepares the clinician for the interview
and helps identify key areas to explore.
3. How would the PMHNP set the stage and make the client
comfortable during the interview?
A) Introducing yourself, considering cultural norms, ensuring no
interruptions, and considering clinician safety
B) Immediately asking about trauma history
C) Telling the patient your personal problems
D) Rushing through the interview to save time
Answer: A) Introducing yourself, considering cultural norms,
ensuring no interruptions, and considering clinician safety
Explanation: Setting the stage involves introducing yourself,
respecting cultural norms, ensuring privacy without interruptions,
and having exit strategies for safety if the patient escalates.
4. When documenting the chief complaint, the PMHNP should include
which of the following?
A) The problem in the patient's words, symptom types (affective,
cognitive, physical), and permission to consult with family
B) Only the patient's diagnosis
C) The clinician's opinion of the patient
D) The patient's insurance information
,Answer: A) The problem in the patient's words, symptom types
(affective, cognitive, physical), and permission to consult with family
Explanation: The chief complaint should be documented in the
patient's own words, noting whether symptoms are affective,
cognitive, or physical, and seeking permission to consult with family
members.
5. What does the history of presenting problems include?
A) Duration of the problem and what was going on in the patient's life
when it started
B) Only the patient's past medical history
C) The patient's family history
D) The patient's financial status
Answer: A) Duration of the problem and what was going on in the
patient's life when it started
Explanation: The history of presenting problems includes the
duration of the issue and the psychosocial context in which the
symptoms began.
6. Which of the following are considered precipitating factors?
A) Exacerbating factors, triggers, connecting events, and causality
B) Only genetic predisposition
C) Only substance use
D) Only environmental stressors
Answer: A) Exacerbating factors, triggers, connecting events, and
causality
, Explanation: Precipitating factors include exacerbating factors,
triggers, connecting events, and causality that contribute to the
onset of the presenting problem.
7. What does the social history include?
A) Changes in role or social function and history of abuse or victimization
B) Only the patient's employment status
C) Only the patient's marital status
D) Only the patient's education level
Answer: A) Changes in role or social function and history of abuse
or victimization
Explanation: Social history includes changes in role or social
function, as well as any history of abuse or victimization.
8. Which of the following is part of the social and developmental
history?
A) Identifying who played roles in the person's life, who is presently
involved, and social support
B) Only the patient's childhood
C) Only the patient's current relationships
D) Only the patient's occupational history
Answer: A) Identifying who played roles in the person's life, who is
presently involved, and social support
Explanation: Social and developmental history includes identifying
past and present role players and assessing social support.
