PMHNP Board Review 2026: Ace Your
Certification Exam with Proven Strategies
Description:
Preparing for your Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner board exam? Our targeted 2026
PMHNP certification review guide is engineered for your success. We break down complex
assessment protocols, differential diagnosis, DSM-5-TR criteria, and pharmacology into
clear, high-yield concepts. This isn't just another study list—it’s a strategic blueprint developed
to help you master clinical reasoning, tackle tricky exam questions, and walk into your test with
unshakable confidence. Stop drowning in endless textbooks and start studying smarter.
Download your free sample questions now and start your journey to becoming a certified PMHNP
today!
, PMHNP Exam Secrets 2026: Pass Your Psychiatric-Mental Health
NP Board Review
1. During the initial phase of a patient assessment, which of the following is the primary
foundational step before formulating a working diagnosis?
a. Ordering specialized laboratory tests
b. Establishing a therapeutic relationship and rapport
c. Completing all required assessment scales
d. Consulting with family members for collateral history
Answer: B
Explanation: Establishing a therapeutic relationship and building rapport is the critical first step
in any clinical assessment. This foundation of trust and safety encourages open communication,
which is essential for gathering accurate information, developing a working diagnosis, and
creating an effective plan of care. The other options, while potentially important later in the
process, are secondary to this initial connection.
2. When documenting a patient's chief complaint, the most clinically valuable approach is to:
a. Use standardized medical terminology to ensure precision.
b. Record the problem using the patient's own descriptive words.
c. Combine the complaint with the clinician's initial impression.
d. Translate the complaint into a billable diagnostic code.
Answer: B
Explanation: Documenting the chief complaint in the patient's own words preserves the
authenticity of their experience and perspective. This practice minimizes clinician bias and
ensures the clinical record accurately reflects what the patient identifies as their primary reason
for seeking care, which is fundamental to patient-centered assessment.
3. The "SLAP" mnemonic is a structured tool used to assess which of the following high-risk
presentations?
a. Risk for violence toward others
b. Severity of alcohol use disorder
, c. Lethality of a suicidal plan
d. Potential for medication non-adherence
Answer: C
Explanation: The SLAP mnemonic is a key clinical tool for evaluating the lethality of a patient's
suicidal ideation. It guides the clinician to assess Specificity of the Plan, Lethality of the
proposed method, Availability of the means, and Proximity of help or social support. This
structured assessment is critical for determining immediate risk and the appropriate level of
intervention.
4. A patient presents with a persistently irritable mood, increased goal-directed activity, and rapid,
pressured speech for the past 10 days. These symptoms are best captured by which mnemonic?
a. SIGECAPS
b. DIGFAST
c. CAGE
d. IS PATH WARM
Answer: B
Explanation: The DIGFAST mnemonic is used to screen for symptoms of mania or hypomania
in bipolar disorder. The symptoms described (Distractibility, Indiscretion, Grandiosity, Flight of
ideas, Activity increase, Sleep deficit, Talkativeness) align directly with the DIGFAST criteria,
whereas SIGECAPS is for depression, CAGE for alcohol use, and IS PATH WARM for suicide
risk.
5. Which assessment finding would be most suggestive of a potential neurocognitive disorder
requiring further evaluation?
a. A score of 2 on the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS)
b. A score of 3 on the Clock Drawing Test
c. A Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score of 15
d. A positive response on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)
Answer: B
Certification Exam with Proven Strategies
Description:
Preparing for your Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner board exam? Our targeted 2026
PMHNP certification review guide is engineered for your success. We break down complex
assessment protocols, differential diagnosis, DSM-5-TR criteria, and pharmacology into
clear, high-yield concepts. This isn't just another study list—it’s a strategic blueprint developed
to help you master clinical reasoning, tackle tricky exam questions, and walk into your test with
unshakable confidence. Stop drowning in endless textbooks and start studying smarter.
Download your free sample questions now and start your journey to becoming a certified PMHNP
today!
, PMHNP Exam Secrets 2026: Pass Your Psychiatric-Mental Health
NP Board Review
1. During the initial phase of a patient assessment, which of the following is the primary
foundational step before formulating a working diagnosis?
a. Ordering specialized laboratory tests
b. Establishing a therapeutic relationship and rapport
c. Completing all required assessment scales
d. Consulting with family members for collateral history
Answer: B
Explanation: Establishing a therapeutic relationship and building rapport is the critical first step
in any clinical assessment. This foundation of trust and safety encourages open communication,
which is essential for gathering accurate information, developing a working diagnosis, and
creating an effective plan of care. The other options, while potentially important later in the
process, are secondary to this initial connection.
2. When documenting a patient's chief complaint, the most clinically valuable approach is to:
a. Use standardized medical terminology to ensure precision.
b. Record the problem using the patient's own descriptive words.
c. Combine the complaint with the clinician's initial impression.
d. Translate the complaint into a billable diagnostic code.
Answer: B
Explanation: Documenting the chief complaint in the patient's own words preserves the
authenticity of their experience and perspective. This practice minimizes clinician bias and
ensures the clinical record accurately reflects what the patient identifies as their primary reason
for seeking care, which is fundamental to patient-centered assessment.
3. The "SLAP" mnemonic is a structured tool used to assess which of the following high-risk
presentations?
a. Risk for violence toward others
b. Severity of alcohol use disorder
, c. Lethality of a suicidal plan
d. Potential for medication non-adherence
Answer: C
Explanation: The SLAP mnemonic is a key clinical tool for evaluating the lethality of a patient's
suicidal ideation. It guides the clinician to assess Specificity of the Plan, Lethality of the
proposed method, Availability of the means, and Proximity of help or social support. This
structured assessment is critical for determining immediate risk and the appropriate level of
intervention.
4. A patient presents with a persistently irritable mood, increased goal-directed activity, and rapid,
pressured speech for the past 10 days. These symptoms are best captured by which mnemonic?
a. SIGECAPS
b. DIGFAST
c. CAGE
d. IS PATH WARM
Answer: B
Explanation: The DIGFAST mnemonic is used to screen for symptoms of mania or hypomania
in bipolar disorder. The symptoms described (Distractibility, Indiscretion, Grandiosity, Flight of
ideas, Activity increase, Sleep deficit, Talkativeness) align directly with the DIGFAST criteria,
whereas SIGECAPS is for depression, CAGE for alcohol use, and IS PATH WARM for suicide
risk.
5. Which assessment finding would be most suggestive of a potential neurocognitive disorder
requiring further evaluation?
a. A score of 2 on the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS)
b. A score of 3 on the Clock Drawing Test
c. A Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score of 15
d. A positive response on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)
Answer: B
