ANCC IQ DOMAIN 1-5 2025
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN THIS SECTION
QUESTION 1
1. A child who is seen by the PMHNP has difficulty feeling safe with his caregiver
and is unable to feel comfort. Which theorist's theory would help explain the
child's behavior and help guide treatment?
- Bowen
- Bowlby
- Erickson
- Freud
- Bowlby
by not feeling safe with their caregiver Rationale: According to Bowlby and
attachment theory, children who come from parents with high expressed emotion
and unresolved losses tend to develop disorganized attachment characterized and
an inability to feel soothing comfort.
QUESTION 2
1. When working with a family in therapy, you plan to address differentiation of
self, triangles, and genograms. What family therapy approach will you be
utilizing?
- Systemic family therapy
- Structural family therapy
- Emotionally focused family therapy
- Strategic family therapy
- Systemic family therapy
Rationale: Systemic family therapy developed by Murray Bowen utilizes
differentiation of self, triangles, and genograms.
END OF
PAGE 1
, ANCC IQ DOMAIN 1-5 2025
QUESTION 3
1. According to Erikson, the primary task of adolescent psychosocial development
is "identity formation" and the associated virtue of "fidelity" to one's nascent self-
definition and to one's ideology of "self-in-world." Which of the following
behaviors would indicate successful navigation of this developmental milestone?
- Easily identifies with a series of different groups from athletes, rave parties,
computer geeks to heavy metal bands
- Ability to tolerate differences in others while affirming one's own values and
beliefs
- Primary identification with "goth" friends despite ostracism by others
- Ability to form a sexually intimate relationship sustained over several years
- Ability to tolerate differences in others while affirming one‘s own values and
beliefs
Rationale: Adolescents may defend against role diffusion by joining cliques or
cults or by identifying with folk heroes. Intolerance of individual differences is a
way in which the young person attempts to ward off a sense of identity loss.
Fidelity is the ability to sustain loyalties freely pledged in spite of the inevitable
contradictions of value systems. It is the cornerstone of identity and receives
inspiration from confirming ideologies and affirming companionships.
QUESTION 4
1. A number of theories with biologic, psychological, and social underpinnings
have been postulated to explain violence between intimate partners and in the
family. Which statement best illustrates the psychosocial theory of
intergenerational transmission of violence in explaining why men become
batterers?
END OF
PAGE 2
, ANCC IQ DOMAIN 1-5 2025
- Men with personality disorders including antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, and
dependent are prone to violence toward intimate partners.
- Men with alcohol and substance use disorders have disinhibition of social
restraints and higher prevalence of violent behavior.
- Men with traumatic brain injury are prone to seizure disorders, attentional
dysfunction, and aggressive behavior.
- Men who witness violence in their family of origin often perpetuate violent
behavior in their families as adults.
- Men who witness violence in their family of origin often perpetuate violent
behavior in their families as adults.
Rationale: Findings of extreme violence in the parental homes of batterers and
battered individuals who grew up witnessing violence are common, and support
the intergenerational transmission of violence theory.
QUESTION 5
1. When working with adolescents who have poor affect regulation and limited
response flexibility, therapists strive to provide a therapeutic frame open enough
for changes and consistent enough for stability and safety. Which of the following
responses characterizes such a therapeutic frame?
- Charismatic, engaging, expressive
- Detached, neutral, objective
- Mindful, reflective, intentional
- Empathic, consistent, strict
- Mindful, reflective, intentional
Rationale: The therapist who is able to be mindful, reflective, intentional, and
genuine in their responses to all clients, not just adolescents, offers a model for
thoughtfully appraising the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of others rather than
END OF
PAGE 3
, ANCC IQ DOMAIN 1-5 2025
relying on a strict set of rules or being caught up in emotional or reactive
responses. Maintaining this therapeutic frame can be challenging when working
with adolescents who act-out, have poor affect regulation, and limited response
flexibility, yet this therapeutic frame is at the core of individual, group, and family
therapy interventions.
QUESTION 6
1. The PMHNP knows that the ego is a part of the personality and is the
logical/rationale mind including defense mechanisms. What might this personality
part say?
- "I want"
- "I should"
- "I ought"
"I evaluate
- ―I evaluate‖
Rationale: The ego is the logical and rational mind. The ego monitors the id and
would say ―I think. I evaluate.‖
Id: "I want"
Ego: "I think, I evaluate"
Superego: "I ought, I should"
END OF
PAGE 4
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN THIS SECTION
QUESTION 1
1. A child who is seen by the PMHNP has difficulty feeling safe with his caregiver
and is unable to feel comfort. Which theorist's theory would help explain the
child's behavior and help guide treatment?
- Bowen
- Bowlby
- Erickson
- Freud
- Bowlby
by not feeling safe with their caregiver Rationale: According to Bowlby and
attachment theory, children who come from parents with high expressed emotion
and unresolved losses tend to develop disorganized attachment characterized and
an inability to feel soothing comfort.
QUESTION 2
1. When working with a family in therapy, you plan to address differentiation of
self, triangles, and genograms. What family therapy approach will you be
utilizing?
- Systemic family therapy
- Structural family therapy
- Emotionally focused family therapy
- Strategic family therapy
- Systemic family therapy
Rationale: Systemic family therapy developed by Murray Bowen utilizes
differentiation of self, triangles, and genograms.
END OF
PAGE 1
, ANCC IQ DOMAIN 1-5 2025
QUESTION 3
1. According to Erikson, the primary task of adolescent psychosocial development
is "identity formation" and the associated virtue of "fidelity" to one's nascent self-
definition and to one's ideology of "self-in-world." Which of the following
behaviors would indicate successful navigation of this developmental milestone?
- Easily identifies with a series of different groups from athletes, rave parties,
computer geeks to heavy metal bands
- Ability to tolerate differences in others while affirming one's own values and
beliefs
- Primary identification with "goth" friends despite ostracism by others
- Ability to form a sexually intimate relationship sustained over several years
- Ability to tolerate differences in others while affirming one‘s own values and
beliefs
Rationale: Adolescents may defend against role diffusion by joining cliques or
cults or by identifying with folk heroes. Intolerance of individual differences is a
way in which the young person attempts to ward off a sense of identity loss.
Fidelity is the ability to sustain loyalties freely pledged in spite of the inevitable
contradictions of value systems. It is the cornerstone of identity and receives
inspiration from confirming ideologies and affirming companionships.
QUESTION 4
1. A number of theories with biologic, psychological, and social underpinnings
have been postulated to explain violence between intimate partners and in the
family. Which statement best illustrates the psychosocial theory of
intergenerational transmission of violence in explaining why men become
batterers?
END OF
PAGE 2
, ANCC IQ DOMAIN 1-5 2025
- Men with personality disorders including antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, and
dependent are prone to violence toward intimate partners.
- Men with alcohol and substance use disorders have disinhibition of social
restraints and higher prevalence of violent behavior.
- Men with traumatic brain injury are prone to seizure disorders, attentional
dysfunction, and aggressive behavior.
- Men who witness violence in their family of origin often perpetuate violent
behavior in their families as adults.
- Men who witness violence in their family of origin often perpetuate violent
behavior in their families as adults.
Rationale: Findings of extreme violence in the parental homes of batterers and
battered individuals who grew up witnessing violence are common, and support
the intergenerational transmission of violence theory.
QUESTION 5
1. When working with adolescents who have poor affect regulation and limited
response flexibility, therapists strive to provide a therapeutic frame open enough
for changes and consistent enough for stability and safety. Which of the following
responses characterizes such a therapeutic frame?
- Charismatic, engaging, expressive
- Detached, neutral, objective
- Mindful, reflective, intentional
- Empathic, consistent, strict
- Mindful, reflective, intentional
Rationale: The therapist who is able to be mindful, reflective, intentional, and
genuine in their responses to all clients, not just adolescents, offers a model for
thoughtfully appraising the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of others rather than
END OF
PAGE 3
, ANCC IQ DOMAIN 1-5 2025
relying on a strict set of rules or being caught up in emotional or reactive
responses. Maintaining this therapeutic frame can be challenging when working
with adolescents who act-out, have poor affect regulation, and limited response
flexibility, yet this therapeutic frame is at the core of individual, group, and family
therapy interventions.
QUESTION 6
1. The PMHNP knows that the ego is a part of the personality and is the
logical/rationale mind including defense mechanisms. What might this personality
part say?
- "I want"
- "I should"
- "I ought"
"I evaluate
- ―I evaluate‖
Rationale: The ego is the logical and rational mind. The ego monitors the id and
would say ―I think. I evaluate.‖
Id: "I want"
Ego: "I think, I evaluate"
Superego: "I ought, I should"
END OF
PAGE 4
