Key Takeaways
- Advanced Practice Skills is the largest PMHNP domain (27%).
- Structured psychiatric interviews improve diagnostic precision and safety decisions.
- Suicide and violence risk assessments require explicit documentation of risk/protective factors.
Last updated: February 2026
Advanced Practice Skills: What ANCC Tests
ANCC PMHNP questions heavily emphasize process quality during assessment.
High-Scoring Assessment Sequence
- Chief concern and symptom chronology
- Psychiatric history and treatment response profile
- Substance-use and medical contributors
- Mental status examination
- Safety screening (suicide, violence, self-care capacity)
- Function, supports, and barriers
Risk Formulation Essentials
| Component | Example Prompt |
|---|---|
| Acute risk factors | "What increases near-term danger today?" |
| Chronic risk factors | "What baseline factors elevate long-term risk?" |
| Protective factors | "What reduces immediate risk and supports safety?" |
| Action plan | "What is the least restrictive safe next step?" |
Documentation Standard
Board-style best answers include clear rationale for level-of-care decisions and explicit safety planning language.
Test Your Knowledge
A patient reports passive death wishes but denies active plan. What is the best PMHNP next step?
A
B
C
D
Test Your Knowledge
Which interview style best supports PMHNP diagnostic accuracy?
A
B
C
D