NR 548 FINAL -PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT FOR
PMHNP |ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
During an initial assessment, the PMHNP asks the patient to perform the serial 7's. What
aspect of the mental status exam would the nurse practitioner be assessing?
a) Concentration
b) Affect
c) Speech
d) Memory
CORRECT ANSWER
a) Concentration
Subtracting serial 7's from 100 is a simple task that requires intact concentration and
cogntiive capabilities.
Question 2
What opening question or statement by a PMHNP facilitates communication at an initial
visit?
a) What seems to be the problem today?
b) What problem does your primary care physician want us to evaluate?
c) Tell me what you think the problem is.
d) Tell me your concerns and how I may be of help.
CORRECT ANSWER
1
, d) Tell me your concerns and how I may be of help.
Note: a is also a fairly good option since it's open ended, but lacks empathy
Question 3
The PMHNP understands which factor to be the most important in therapeutic
communication:
a) clarification
b) feedback
c) nonverbal communication
d) verbal communication
CORRECT ANSWER
c) nonverbal communication
Gestures, facial expressions, and body language actually communicate more than verbal
messages
Question 4
Appraisal of the patient's suicidal ideation, plan, method, intent, and access to implement
plan would be documented in which part of the standard psychiatric evaluation?
a) history of presenting illness
b) mental status exam
c) diagnosis
d) review of systems
CORRECT ANSWER
2
, b) mental status exam
Thought Content section
Question 5
During an initial psychiatric evaluation, the patient reports use of alcohol and illicit drugs.
This information would be most appropriate in which part of the evaluation?
a) review of systems
b) mental status exam
c) chief complaint
d) personal and social history
CORRECT ANSWER
d) personal and social history
Other habits go here as well
Question 6
A 53 year old male with a history of schizophrenia is being discharged from an inpatient
admission to a psychiatric hospital and was referred to you for follow up in your private
practice. During your initial assessment with the patient, you ask him about his education
level and he talks about where he went to high school, high high school friends, activities
he was involved in and his high school graduation. He then states, "that was the end of my
education". Which of the following does the patient's answer demonstrate?
a) Perseveration
b) Tangentiality
c) Loosening of associations
3
PMHNP |ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
During an initial assessment, the PMHNP asks the patient to perform the serial 7's. What
aspect of the mental status exam would the nurse practitioner be assessing?
a) Concentration
b) Affect
c) Speech
d) Memory
CORRECT ANSWER
a) Concentration
Subtracting serial 7's from 100 is a simple task that requires intact concentration and
cogntiive capabilities.
Question 2
What opening question or statement by a PMHNP facilitates communication at an initial
visit?
a) What seems to be the problem today?
b) What problem does your primary care physician want us to evaluate?
c) Tell me what you think the problem is.
d) Tell me your concerns and how I may be of help.
CORRECT ANSWER
1
, d) Tell me your concerns and how I may be of help.
Note: a is also a fairly good option since it's open ended, but lacks empathy
Question 3
The PMHNP understands which factor to be the most important in therapeutic
communication:
a) clarification
b) feedback
c) nonverbal communication
d) verbal communication
CORRECT ANSWER
c) nonverbal communication
Gestures, facial expressions, and body language actually communicate more than verbal
messages
Question 4
Appraisal of the patient's suicidal ideation, plan, method, intent, and access to implement
plan would be documented in which part of the standard psychiatric evaluation?
a) history of presenting illness
b) mental status exam
c) diagnosis
d) review of systems
CORRECT ANSWER
2
, b) mental status exam
Thought Content section
Question 5
During an initial psychiatric evaluation, the patient reports use of alcohol and illicit drugs.
This information would be most appropriate in which part of the evaluation?
a) review of systems
b) mental status exam
c) chief complaint
d) personal and social history
CORRECT ANSWER
d) personal and social history
Other habits go here as well
Question 6
A 53 year old male with a history of schizophrenia is being discharged from an inpatient
admission to a psychiatric hospital and was referred to you for follow up in your private
practice. During your initial assessment with the patient, you ask him about his education
level and he talks about where he went to high school, high high school friends, activities
he was involved in and his high school graduation. He then states, "that was the end of my
education". Which of the following does the patient's answer demonstrate?
a) Perseveration
b) Tangentiality
c) Loosening of associations
3
