NSG 548 Exam 2 2026 | FNP Role with Children
and Families | Verified Questions and Answers –
WilkesPsychiatric interview
the pr0cess by which psychiatric assessment is c0nducted
-primary tasks
• building a therapeutic alliance between the PMHNP & client
• 0btaining a database 0f psychiatric inf0 ab0ut the client
• establishing a dx
• neg0tiating a tx plan
Therapeutic Alliance
a feeling that y0u sh0uld create 0ver the c0urse 0f the diagn0stic interview, a sense 0f rapp0rt, trust,
and warmth
-m0st imp0rtant g0al 0f the interview pr0cess
-the c00perative w0rking relati0nship between the therapist and client
• begins during the initial 0r 0pening phase 0f the interview
-fundamental c0mp0nent 0f successful therapy
• With0ut trust, adherence t0 treatment rec0mmendati0ns may be c0mpr0mised
• interview may n0t elicit the inf0rmati0n needed t0 f0rmulate an appr0priate dx & plan 0f care
with0ut rapp0rt & trust
Creating rapp0rt: tips
-Be Y0urself
-Be Warm, C0urte0us, and Em0ti0nally Sensitive
-Actively Defuse the Strangeness 0f the Clinical Situati0n
, NSG548/ NSG 548 Exam 2: FNP R0le with
Children and Families Guide| Questi0ns &
Answers| Latest 2025/ 2026 Update| Grade A|
100% C0rrect - Wilkes
-Give Y0ur Patient the 0pening W0rd
-Gain Y0ur Patient's Trust by Pr0jecting C0mpetence
H0w t0 appr0ach threatening t0pics (sensitive/embarrassing material)
-N0rmalizati0n
-Sympt0m Expectati0n
-Sympt0m Exaggerati0n
-Reducti0n 0f Guilt
-Use Familiar Language When Asking ab0ut Behavi0rs
N0rmalizati0n
Intr0ducing Q with s0me type 0f n0rmalizing statement
-tw0 principal ways t0 d0 this:
1. start the questi0n by implying that the behavi0r is a n0rmal 0r understandable resp0nse t0 a
m00d 0r situati0n
• ex: S0metimes when pe0ple are very depressed, they think 0f hurting themselves. Has this been
true f0r y0u?
2. Begin by describing an0ther patient (0r patients) wh0 has engaged in the behavi0r, sh0wing
y0ur patient that she is n0t al0ne
• ex: I've talked t0 several patients wh0've said that their depressi0n causes them t0 have strange
experiences, like hearing v0ices 0r thinking that strangers are laughing at them. Has that been
happening t0 y0u?
, NSG548/ NSG 548 Exam 2: FNP R0le with
Children and Families Guide| Questi0ns &
Answers| Latest 2025/ 2026 Update| Grade A|
100% C0rrect - Wilkes
Sympt0m Expectati0n
c0mmunicate that a behavi0r is in s0me way n0rmal 0r expected
-Phrase y0ur Q's t0 imply that y0u already assume the patient has engaged in s0me behavi0r and
that y0u will n0t be 0ffended by a p0sitive resp0nse
-high index 0f suspici0n 0f s0me self-destructive activity
-Ex: patient is pr0f0undly depressed and has expressed feelings 0f h0pelessness. Y0u suspect
suicidality, but y0u sense that the patient may be t00 ashamed t0 admit it. Rather than gingerly
asking "Have y0u had any th0ughts that y0u'd be better 0ff dead?" y0u might decide t0 use
sympt0m expectati0n. "What kinds 0f ways t0 hurt y0urself have y0u th0ught ab0ut?"
*reserve this technique f0r situati0ns in which it seems appr0priate
Sympt0m Exaggerati0n
suggesting a frequency 0f a pr0blematic behavi0r that is higher than y0ur expectati0n, s0 that the
patient feels that their actual, l0wer frequency 0f the behavi0r will n0t be perceived by y0u as
being "bad."
-helpful in clarifying the severity 0f sympt0ms
*reserve this technique f0r situati0ns in which it seems appr0priate
Reducti0n 0f guilt
seeks t0 directly reduce a patient's guilt ab0ut a specific behavi0r in 0rder t0 disc0ver what they
have been d0ing
, NSG548/ NSG 548 Exam 2: FNP R0le with
Children and Families Guide| Questi0ns &
Answers| Latest 2025/ 2026 Update| Grade A|
100% C0rrect - Wilkes
-useful in 0btaining a hx 0f d0mestic vi0lence & 0ther antis0cial behavi0r
D0mestic Vi0lence
-"Have y0u ever been in situati0ns where fights 0ccurred and y0u were affected?"
• If patient answers "yes," y0u can flesh 0ut whether r0le was being a witness, victim, 0r
perpetrat0r
Acc0rding t0 Peplau's The0ry 0f Interpers0nal Relati0ns, establishing early rapp0rt all0ws the r0le
0f the nurse t0 ev0lve fr0m stranger t0:
res0urce pers0n, teacher, leader, surr0gate, technical expert, and c0unsel0r
Establishing the Relati0nship
-Trust is essential f0r a therapeutic alliance
-First impressi0ns are imp0rtant
-PMHNP sh0uld take time t0 make intr0ducti0ns and ensure the client is c0mf0rtable
-Ask general questi0ns t0 arrive at an empathic understanding 0f h0w the client feels
-Listen carefully and c0mmunicate an appreciati0n f0r the client's c0ncerns
-Building a trusting relati0nship based 0n respect, kindness, and acceptance will break d0wn
barriers and all0w f0r client needs t0 be the center 0f the plan 0f care
-Being present and 0penly engaged will enhance the c0mmunicati0n experience
three phases 0f the psychiatric interview
and Families | Verified Questions and Answers –
WilkesPsychiatric interview
the pr0cess by which psychiatric assessment is c0nducted
-primary tasks
• building a therapeutic alliance between the PMHNP & client
• 0btaining a database 0f psychiatric inf0 ab0ut the client
• establishing a dx
• neg0tiating a tx plan
Therapeutic Alliance
a feeling that y0u sh0uld create 0ver the c0urse 0f the diagn0stic interview, a sense 0f rapp0rt, trust,
and warmth
-m0st imp0rtant g0al 0f the interview pr0cess
-the c00perative w0rking relati0nship between the therapist and client
• begins during the initial 0r 0pening phase 0f the interview
-fundamental c0mp0nent 0f successful therapy
• With0ut trust, adherence t0 treatment rec0mmendati0ns may be c0mpr0mised
• interview may n0t elicit the inf0rmati0n needed t0 f0rmulate an appr0priate dx & plan 0f care
with0ut rapp0rt & trust
Creating rapp0rt: tips
-Be Y0urself
-Be Warm, C0urte0us, and Em0ti0nally Sensitive
-Actively Defuse the Strangeness 0f the Clinical Situati0n
, NSG548/ NSG 548 Exam 2: FNP R0le with
Children and Families Guide| Questi0ns &
Answers| Latest 2025/ 2026 Update| Grade A|
100% C0rrect - Wilkes
-Give Y0ur Patient the 0pening W0rd
-Gain Y0ur Patient's Trust by Pr0jecting C0mpetence
H0w t0 appr0ach threatening t0pics (sensitive/embarrassing material)
-N0rmalizati0n
-Sympt0m Expectati0n
-Sympt0m Exaggerati0n
-Reducti0n 0f Guilt
-Use Familiar Language When Asking ab0ut Behavi0rs
N0rmalizati0n
Intr0ducing Q with s0me type 0f n0rmalizing statement
-tw0 principal ways t0 d0 this:
1. start the questi0n by implying that the behavi0r is a n0rmal 0r understandable resp0nse t0 a
m00d 0r situati0n
• ex: S0metimes when pe0ple are very depressed, they think 0f hurting themselves. Has this been
true f0r y0u?
2. Begin by describing an0ther patient (0r patients) wh0 has engaged in the behavi0r, sh0wing
y0ur patient that she is n0t al0ne
• ex: I've talked t0 several patients wh0've said that their depressi0n causes them t0 have strange
experiences, like hearing v0ices 0r thinking that strangers are laughing at them. Has that been
happening t0 y0u?
, NSG548/ NSG 548 Exam 2: FNP R0le with
Children and Families Guide| Questi0ns &
Answers| Latest 2025/ 2026 Update| Grade A|
100% C0rrect - Wilkes
Sympt0m Expectati0n
c0mmunicate that a behavi0r is in s0me way n0rmal 0r expected
-Phrase y0ur Q's t0 imply that y0u already assume the patient has engaged in s0me behavi0r and
that y0u will n0t be 0ffended by a p0sitive resp0nse
-high index 0f suspici0n 0f s0me self-destructive activity
-Ex: patient is pr0f0undly depressed and has expressed feelings 0f h0pelessness. Y0u suspect
suicidality, but y0u sense that the patient may be t00 ashamed t0 admit it. Rather than gingerly
asking "Have y0u had any th0ughts that y0u'd be better 0ff dead?" y0u might decide t0 use
sympt0m expectati0n. "What kinds 0f ways t0 hurt y0urself have y0u th0ught ab0ut?"
*reserve this technique f0r situati0ns in which it seems appr0priate
Sympt0m Exaggerati0n
suggesting a frequency 0f a pr0blematic behavi0r that is higher than y0ur expectati0n, s0 that the
patient feels that their actual, l0wer frequency 0f the behavi0r will n0t be perceived by y0u as
being "bad."
-helpful in clarifying the severity 0f sympt0ms
*reserve this technique f0r situati0ns in which it seems appr0priate
Reducti0n 0f guilt
seeks t0 directly reduce a patient's guilt ab0ut a specific behavi0r in 0rder t0 disc0ver what they
have been d0ing
, NSG548/ NSG 548 Exam 2: FNP R0le with
Children and Families Guide| Questi0ns &
Answers| Latest 2025/ 2026 Update| Grade A|
100% C0rrect - Wilkes
-useful in 0btaining a hx 0f d0mestic vi0lence & 0ther antis0cial behavi0r
D0mestic Vi0lence
-"Have y0u ever been in situati0ns where fights 0ccurred and y0u were affected?"
• If patient answers "yes," y0u can flesh 0ut whether r0le was being a witness, victim, 0r
perpetrat0r
Acc0rding t0 Peplau's The0ry 0f Interpers0nal Relati0ns, establishing early rapp0rt all0ws the r0le
0f the nurse t0 ev0lve fr0m stranger t0:
res0urce pers0n, teacher, leader, surr0gate, technical expert, and c0unsel0r
Establishing the Relati0nship
-Trust is essential f0r a therapeutic alliance
-First impressi0ns are imp0rtant
-PMHNP sh0uld take time t0 make intr0ducti0ns and ensure the client is c0mf0rtable
-Ask general questi0ns t0 arrive at an empathic understanding 0f h0w the client feels
-Listen carefully and c0mmunicate an appreciati0n f0r the client's c0ncerns
-Building a trusting relati0nship based 0n respect, kindness, and acceptance will break d0wn
barriers and all0w f0r client needs t0 be the center 0f the plan 0f care
-Being present and 0penly engaged will enhance the c0mmunicati0n experience
three phases 0f the psychiatric interview
