NR 668 CEA FINAL EXAM – PSYCH-MENTAL HEALTH
CAPSTONE PRACTICUM LATEST QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS STUDY GUIDE (2026) CHAMBERLAIN
1. Which APRN competency involves influencing health policy and
participating in community programs to reduce mental health stigma?
A) Leadership
B) Independent practice
C) Quality
D) Technology and information literacy
Correct Answer: A) Leadership
Rationale: Leadership competency includes influencing health policy,
advocating for patients, and participating in community-level interventions
to reduce stigma and improve mental health services. Direct patient care
activities such as modifying treatment plans fall under independent practice
or clinical competencies. Leadership focuses on system and community
impact.
2. Which credential legally authorizes a PMHNP to practice in a specific state?
A) Certification
B) Licensure
C) Credentialing
D) Graduation
Correct Answer: B) Licensure
,Rationale: Licensure is the legal authority granted by a state Board of
Nursing that allows an individual to practice as a nurse practitioner in that
state.
Certification demonstrates competence but does not legally authorize
practice. Credentialing verifies qualifications within an organization.
Graduation alone does not grant legal authority.
3. Which process integrates the best research evidence with clinical
expertise and client values?
A) Research utilization
B) Quality improvement
C) Evidence-based practice
D) Research
Correct Answer: C) Evidence-based practice
Rationale: Evidence-based practice integrates the best available
research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences and
values. Research utilization is narrower and limited to applying research
findings. Quality improvement focuses on process improvement. EBP
guides clinical decision-making and improves outcomes.
4. Which of the following is NOT a core APRN competency?
A) Ethics
B) Health delivery system
C) Technology and information literacy
D) Delegated practice
,Correct Answer: D) Delegated practice
Rationale: The APRN core competencies include scientific foundations,
leadership, quality, practice inquiry, technology and information literacy,
policy, health delivery system, ethics, and independent practice. Delegation
is a nursing function but is not a distinct APRN core competency. Core
competencies define the full APRN scope.
5. Which activity is characteristic of independent practice competency?
A) Conducting individual and group psychotherapy
B) Influencing health policy
C) Participating in community mental health programs
D) Reducing mental health stigma
Correct Answer: A) Conducting individual and group psychotherapy
Rationale: Independent practice competency focuses on direct patient care
activities, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning,
implementation, and evaluation. Conducting psychotherapy is part of
independent practice.
Influencing policy, community programs, and stigma reduction are leadership
competencies. Direct care remains central to independent practice.
6. A client with generalized anxiety disorder is asked to create coping
cards as part of CBT homework. What is the primary purpose?
A) Record automatic thoughts
B) Provide immediate cognitive restructuring strategies
C) Identify anxiety-provoking situations
, D) Document mood fluctuations
Correct Answer: B) Provide immediate cognitive restructuring strategies
Rationale: Coping cards contain helpful thoughts and strategies that clients
can refer to when experiencing distress. They provide immediate cognitive
restructuring support outside therapy sessions. Recording thoughts,
identifying triggers, and documenting moods are separate CBT tasks.
Coping cards reinforce adaptive coping in real time.
7. In Gestalt therapy, what is the primary purpose of the empty chair
technique?
A) Develop a behavioral plan
B) Identify cognitive distortions
C) Explore and resolve unfinished business
D) Analyze unconscious conflicts
Correct Answer: C) Explore and resolve unfinished business
Rationale: The empty chair technique helps clients address unresolved
emotions and conflicts with significant people in their lives. It allows
expression of unspoken feelings and promotes resolution of unfinished
business. Behavioral planning, cognitive restructuring, and unconscious
analysis are not the primary focus of this Gestalt intervention.
8. Which federal law protects the confidentiality of patient health
information in psychiatric practice?
A) Affordable Care Act
CAPSTONE PRACTICUM LATEST QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS STUDY GUIDE (2026) CHAMBERLAIN
1. Which APRN competency involves influencing health policy and
participating in community programs to reduce mental health stigma?
A) Leadership
B) Independent practice
C) Quality
D) Technology and information literacy
Correct Answer: A) Leadership
Rationale: Leadership competency includes influencing health policy,
advocating for patients, and participating in community-level interventions
to reduce stigma and improve mental health services. Direct patient care
activities such as modifying treatment plans fall under independent practice
or clinical competencies. Leadership focuses on system and community
impact.
2. Which credential legally authorizes a PMHNP to practice in a specific state?
A) Certification
B) Licensure
C) Credentialing
D) Graduation
Correct Answer: B) Licensure
,Rationale: Licensure is the legal authority granted by a state Board of
Nursing that allows an individual to practice as a nurse practitioner in that
state.
Certification demonstrates competence but does not legally authorize
practice. Credentialing verifies qualifications within an organization.
Graduation alone does not grant legal authority.
3. Which process integrates the best research evidence with clinical
expertise and client values?
A) Research utilization
B) Quality improvement
C) Evidence-based practice
D) Research
Correct Answer: C) Evidence-based practice
Rationale: Evidence-based practice integrates the best available
research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences and
values. Research utilization is narrower and limited to applying research
findings. Quality improvement focuses on process improvement. EBP
guides clinical decision-making and improves outcomes.
4. Which of the following is NOT a core APRN competency?
A) Ethics
B) Health delivery system
C) Technology and information literacy
D) Delegated practice
,Correct Answer: D) Delegated practice
Rationale: The APRN core competencies include scientific foundations,
leadership, quality, practice inquiry, technology and information literacy,
policy, health delivery system, ethics, and independent practice. Delegation
is a nursing function but is not a distinct APRN core competency. Core
competencies define the full APRN scope.
5. Which activity is characteristic of independent practice competency?
A) Conducting individual and group psychotherapy
B) Influencing health policy
C) Participating in community mental health programs
D) Reducing mental health stigma
Correct Answer: A) Conducting individual and group psychotherapy
Rationale: Independent practice competency focuses on direct patient care
activities, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning,
implementation, and evaluation. Conducting psychotherapy is part of
independent practice.
Influencing policy, community programs, and stigma reduction are leadership
competencies. Direct care remains central to independent practice.
6. A client with generalized anxiety disorder is asked to create coping
cards as part of CBT homework. What is the primary purpose?
A) Record automatic thoughts
B) Provide immediate cognitive restructuring strategies
C) Identify anxiety-provoking situations
, D) Document mood fluctuations
Correct Answer: B) Provide immediate cognitive restructuring strategies
Rationale: Coping cards contain helpful thoughts and strategies that clients
can refer to when experiencing distress. They provide immediate cognitive
restructuring support outside therapy sessions. Recording thoughts,
identifying triggers, and documenting moods are separate CBT tasks.
Coping cards reinforce adaptive coping in real time.
7. In Gestalt therapy, what is the primary purpose of the empty chair
technique?
A) Develop a behavioral plan
B) Identify cognitive distortions
C) Explore and resolve unfinished business
D) Analyze unconscious conflicts
Correct Answer: C) Explore and resolve unfinished business
Rationale: The empty chair technique helps clients address unresolved
emotions and conflicts with significant people in their lives. It allows
expression of unspoken feelings and promotes resolution of unfinished
business. Behavioral planning, cognitive restructuring, and unconscious
analysis are not the primary focus of this Gestalt intervention.
8. Which federal law protects the confidentiality of patient health
information in psychiatric practice?
A) Affordable Care Act
