Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing 5

Question 1

A PMHNP documents that a patient with schizophrenia sits motionless for hours, maintains an unusual posture when repositioned, and does not speak. These symptoms best describe:

Accepted Answer

Catatonia

Answer

Catatonia is characterized by motor immobility, posturing (waxy flexibility), mutism, and negativism, which can occur in schizophrenia, mood disorders, and medical conditions.

Question 2

A PMHNP is treating an adolescent with depression and learns the patient disclosed abuse by a family member. The PMHNP's FIRST legal and ethical obligation is to:

Accepted Answer

Report the suspected abuse to the appropriate child protective services

Answer

As a mandated reporter, the PMHNP must immediately report suspected child abuse to child protective services regardless of the therapeutic relationship or parental consent.

Question 3

Which pharmacological property of quetiapine at lower doses (25–100 mg) is primarily responsible for its sedating effects used in sleep or anxiety?

Accepted Answer

H1 (histamine) receptor antagonism

Answer

At low doses, quetiapine's sedating effects are primarily driven by potent H1 histamine receptor antagonism before significant D2 or 5-HT2A blockade occurs.

Question 4

A PMHNP applying trauma-informed care (TIC) principles encounters a patient who becomes suddenly fearful and dissociates during an assessment. The priority intervention is:

Accepted Answer

Gently reorient the patient using grounding techniques and pause the assessment

Answer

Trauma-informed care prioritizes safety; grounding techniques help restore present-moment awareness and demonstrate respect for the patient's response to trauma cues.

Question 5

A patient with major depressive disorder has failed two adequate SSRI trials. The PMHNP considers augmentation. Which agent is FDA-approved as an augmentation strategy for treatment-resistant depression?

Accepted Answer

Aripiprazole (Abilify)

Answer

Aripiprazole is FDA-approved as an adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for major depressive disorder in patients with an inadequate response.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam Practice Test

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam Practice Test

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing 5