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FITZGERALD PMHNP CERTIFICATION
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS WIITH
SOLUTIONS
Section 1: Prevention & Public Health (Questions 1–6)
1. The goal of primary prevention is the ______ of disease. Examples
include:
A. Early detection; blood pressure screening and colonoscopy
B. Prevention; immunization and counseling about safety
C. Minimizing negative outcomes; adjusting therapy to avoid end-organ
damage
D. Treatment; medication management and psychotherapy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs.
Immunizations and safety counseling are classic examples . (A)
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describes secondary prevention. (C) describes tertiary prevention. (D)
describes treatment, not prevention.
2. The goal of secondary prevention is ______ of disease. Examples
include:
A. Prevention; immunization and counseling about safety
B. Minimizing negative outcomes; adjusting therapy to avoid end-organ
damage
C. Early detection; blood pressure screening and colonoscopy
D. Treatment; medication management and psychotherapy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and
intervention. Blood pressure screening and colonoscopy are key
examples . (A) is primary prevention. (B) is tertiary prevention. (D)
describes treatment.
3. The goal of tertiary prevention is:
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A. Preventing disease before it occurs
B. Early detection of disease
C. Minimizing negative outcomes from disease
D. Eliminating all risk factors
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tertiary prevention aims to minimize negative outcomes and
complications from established disease, such as adjusting therapy to
avoid end-organ damage . (A) is primary prevention. (B) is secondary
prevention. (D) is not a realistic goal of any prevention level.
4. A PMHNP screens all new patients for depression using the PHQ-9.
This is an example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Health promotion
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: Screening for depression is a secondary prevention strategy
aimed at early detection and early intervention . (A) would be
preventing depression before it occurs. (C) would be treating
established depression to prevent complications. (D) is a broader
concept that includes prevention but is not the specific category.
5. A PMHNP works with a patient who has schizophrenia to adjust
antipsychotic medication to prevent relapse and minimize functional
decline. This is an example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Quaternary prevention
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on minimizing negative
outcomes and preventing complications in patients with established
illness . (A) and (B) apply before or at the point of diagnosis, not after
FITZGERALD PMHNP CERTIFICATION
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS WIITH
SOLUTIONS
Section 1: Prevention & Public Health (Questions 1–6)
1. The goal of primary prevention is the ______ of disease. Examples
include:
A. Early detection; blood pressure screening and colonoscopy
B. Prevention; immunization and counseling about safety
C. Minimizing negative outcomes; adjusting therapy to avoid end-organ
damage
D. Treatment; medication management and psychotherapy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs.
Immunizations and safety counseling are classic examples . (A)
,2|Page
describes secondary prevention. (C) describes tertiary prevention. (D)
describes treatment, not prevention.
2. The goal of secondary prevention is ______ of disease. Examples
include:
A. Prevention; immunization and counseling about safety
B. Minimizing negative outcomes; adjusting therapy to avoid end-organ
damage
C. Early detection; blood pressure screening and colonoscopy
D. Treatment; medication management and psychotherapy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and
intervention. Blood pressure screening and colonoscopy are key
examples . (A) is primary prevention. (B) is tertiary prevention. (D)
describes treatment.
3. The goal of tertiary prevention is:
,3|Page
A. Preventing disease before it occurs
B. Early detection of disease
C. Minimizing negative outcomes from disease
D. Eliminating all risk factors
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tertiary prevention aims to minimize negative outcomes and
complications from established disease, such as adjusting therapy to
avoid end-organ damage . (A) is primary prevention. (B) is secondary
prevention. (D) is not a realistic goal of any prevention level.
4. A PMHNP screens all new patients for depression using the PHQ-9.
This is an example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Health promotion
Correct Answer: B
, 4|Page
Rationale: Screening for depression is a secondary prevention strategy
aimed at early detection and early intervention . (A) would be
preventing depression before it occurs. (C) would be treating
established depression to prevent complications. (D) is a broader
concept that includes prevention but is not the specific category.
5. A PMHNP works with a patient who has schizophrenia to adjust
antipsychotic medication to prevent relapse and minimize functional
decline. This is an example of:
A. Primary prevention
B. Secondary prevention
C. Tertiary prevention
D. Quaternary prevention
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on minimizing negative
outcomes and preventing complications in patients with established
illness . (A) and (B) apply before or at the point of diagnosis, not after
