Sample Questions

1. A 34-year-old female with bipolar I disorder has remained stable on lithium 100 mg/day and lamotrigine 100 mg/day for the past five years. She recently had her wisdom teeth removed and has been taking 800 mg ibuprofen twice daily for pain. She arrives at your office with complaints of sedation, vomiting, diarrhea, and tremor. What is causing these side effects?

2. A parent brings her three-year-old daughter for an assessment of possible autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The mother describes her daughter's symptoms as developing after a period of normal growth and development and involving loss of skills and social impairment. She describes her daughter's atypical interests along with perceptual disturbances, stating, "She seems to hear things that aren't there." As part of a differential diagnosis, which of the following needs to be ruled out?

3. Which classification of psychiatric medications requires routine lab work for metabolic monitoring?

3. An elevated temperature in a patient prescribed mood stabilizers and antipsychotics such as clozapine may indicate which of the following?

5. When assessing the standard of care a PMHNP provided to a patient, a court of law will typically evaluate it by comparing it to a few factors. These factors include:

6. A senior female immigrant, who relocated to the US only two months ago, has come to your clinic for assistance. She struggles with English language skills and cannot read or write in English. As a healthcare provider, what would be your primary action to ensure equal care for this patient?

7. A patient experiencing difficulties with memory, planning, prioritizing, insight and impulse control presents for an assessment. Which part of the brain most likely is responsible for these symptoms?

8. A patient was treated for psychosis two weeks ago He presents today with hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, mutism, leukocytosis and myoglobinuria. These symptoms are identified by the PMHNP and most likely represent which condition.

9. A 25-year-old female comes to your outpatient clinic for a follow-up appointment and during the assessment states “No one will ever love me. All I want is to be loved and appreciated.” Which one of the following Erickson’s stages did the patient not successfully progressing through?

10. Mr. Quentin is a 27-year-old patient who is diagnosed with schizophrenia. He has been compliant with medications and appointments and lives independently. What is your next course of action to ensure dramatic reduction in frequent hospitalizations?