ANCC - PMHNP SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
/ STUDY GUIDE / ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS (ALREADY GRADED
A+) 2025/2026 UPDATE
A patient with borderline personality disorder experiences intense anxiety
when an adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner goes on
vacation. The best explanation for this reaction is that the patient:
A. has failed to develop clear ego boundaries.
B. has failed to master object constancy.
C. is employing primitive idealization.
D. is employing projective identification. - ANS>> B. has failed to master
object constancy
2. Which behavior reflects existentially oriented therapy?
A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
B. Challenging a patient's irrational beliefs
C. Developing specific plans for change
D. Establishing general group goals - ANS>> A. Attempting to understand a
patient's subjective world
3. A patient has been taking escitalopram (Lexapro) 10 mg daily for four
weeks. Initially, the patient reported depression and suicidal thoughts. The
patient's sleep, appetite, energy, and appearance have now begun to
improve. Which statement applies to this patient?
A. The medication should be discontinued.
B. The medication should be increased.
C. The patient's risk for suicide is not a concern.
D. The patient's suicide potential is increased. - ANS>> D. The patient's
suicide potential is increased.
4. Serving as a member on a crisis team, an adult psychiatric and mental
health nurse practitioner provides crisis intervention to the survivors of a
plane crash. Forty-eight hours after the accident, the survivors describe
, vivid flashbacks, startle reactions, and disrupted sleep patterns. The nurse
practitioner responds by:
A. advising the survivors to consider using a hypnotic medication for a brief
period.
B. educating the survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic
stress disorder.
C. encouraging the survivors to rest during the day.
D. suggesting that the survivors join a posttrauma support group. - ANS>>
B. educating the survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic
stress disorder.
5. An Hispanic patient informs an adult psychiatric and mental health nurse
practitioner during a wellness visit that he or she occasionally uses hot chili
juice to relieve a "nervous condition." The patient denies any complaints
related to this practice. The nurse practitioner's response is to:
A. actively discourage the patient from continuing this treatment.
B. offer a medication to treat the nervous condition.
C. suggest an alternative food to relieve the nervous condition.
D. view this as a self-care ritual that needs to be preserved. - ANS>> D.
view this as a self-care ritual that needs to be preserved.
6. An adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner uses the
interpersonal therapy model with a patient to establish a therapeutic
alliance based upon empathy and trust. The nurse practitioner recognizes
the patient's readiness to terminate therapy when the patient demonstrates:
A. an understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also
presents an opportunity for growth.
B. breathing and muscle relaxation exercises that decrease muscle tension
and anxiety.
C. free association, and considers the nurse practitioner's interpretation of
the patient's dreams.
D. new adaptive skills and responses after completing "homework
assignments." - ANS>> A. an understanding that leaving a significant other
may be painful, but also presents an opportunity for growth.
/ STUDY GUIDE / ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS (ALREADY GRADED
A+) 2025/2026 UPDATE
A patient with borderline personality disorder experiences intense anxiety
when an adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner goes on
vacation. The best explanation for this reaction is that the patient:
A. has failed to develop clear ego boundaries.
B. has failed to master object constancy.
C. is employing primitive idealization.
D. is employing projective identification. - ANS>> B. has failed to master
object constancy
2. Which behavior reflects existentially oriented therapy?
A. Attempting to understand a patient's subjective world
B. Challenging a patient's irrational beliefs
C. Developing specific plans for change
D. Establishing general group goals - ANS>> A. Attempting to understand a
patient's subjective world
3. A patient has been taking escitalopram (Lexapro) 10 mg daily for four
weeks. Initially, the patient reported depression and suicidal thoughts. The
patient's sleep, appetite, energy, and appearance have now begun to
improve. Which statement applies to this patient?
A. The medication should be discontinued.
B. The medication should be increased.
C. The patient's risk for suicide is not a concern.
D. The patient's suicide potential is increased. - ANS>> D. The patient's
suicide potential is increased.
4. Serving as a member on a crisis team, an adult psychiatric and mental
health nurse practitioner provides crisis intervention to the survivors of a
plane crash. Forty-eight hours after the accident, the survivors describe
, vivid flashbacks, startle reactions, and disrupted sleep patterns. The nurse
practitioner responds by:
A. advising the survivors to consider using a hypnotic medication for a brief
period.
B. educating the survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic
stress disorder.
C. encouraging the survivors to rest during the day.
D. suggesting that the survivors join a posttrauma support group. - ANS>>
B. educating the survivors about prodromal symptoms of posttraumatic
stress disorder.
5. An Hispanic patient informs an adult psychiatric and mental health nurse
practitioner during a wellness visit that he or she occasionally uses hot chili
juice to relieve a "nervous condition." The patient denies any complaints
related to this practice. The nurse practitioner's response is to:
A. actively discourage the patient from continuing this treatment.
B. offer a medication to treat the nervous condition.
C. suggest an alternative food to relieve the nervous condition.
D. view this as a self-care ritual that needs to be preserved. - ANS>> D.
view this as a self-care ritual that needs to be preserved.
6. An adult psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner uses the
interpersonal therapy model with a patient to establish a therapeutic
alliance based upon empathy and trust. The nurse practitioner recognizes
the patient's readiness to terminate therapy when the patient demonstrates:
A. an understanding that leaving a significant other may be painful, but also
presents an opportunity for growth.
B. breathing and muscle relaxation exercises that decrease muscle tension
and anxiety.
C. free association, and considers the nurse practitioner's interpretation of
the patient's dreams.
D. new adaptive skills and responses after completing "homework
assignments." - ANS>> A. an understanding that leaving a significant other
may be painful, but also presents an opportunity for growth.
