The scope of practice for an advanced nurse practitioner would include which intervention?

Choice A rationale

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) focuses on current interpersonal relationships and related issues like grief, role disputes, or social deficits. While the client's issue is relational, the core concern about being "too possessive" suggests an underlying, often unconscious, pattern of relating rooted in past experiences, which is better suited to psychodynamic exploration.

Choice B rationale

Psychodynamic therapy is the most suitable approach because it explores how early childhood experiences and unconscious processes (like transference and defense mechanisms) influence current relationship patterns and emotional conflicts. Possessiveness is often viewed as a maladaptive defense against deeper fears of abandonment, making an exploration of these historical roots essential.

Choice C rationale

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is highly effective for modifying distorted thought patterns and specific maladaptive behaviors (e.g., compulsions). While CBT could address the behavior of possessiveness, it might not fully explore the root emotional and developmental basis of the possessive tendency, which is crucial for lasting change in relationship dynamics.

Choice D rationale

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is primarily designed for individuals with severe emotion dysregulation and impulsive behaviors, often associated with Borderline Personality Disorder. While it teaches valuable skills in mindfulness and distress tolerance, it is generally considered overly specialized for the possessiveness issue described without evidence of pervasive instability or severe self-harm.

Choice A rationale

Conducting a comprehensive mental health assessment, which involves gathering a holistic history and current mental status examination, is within the scope of practice for both a registered nurse and an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). An APRN typically conducts a more in-depth, diagnostic assessment.

Choice B rationale

Establishing a therapeutic relationship, built on trust, respect, and professional boundaries, is a fundamental and essential skill and intervention for all professional psychiatric nurses, including registered nurses and APRNs, forming the foundation for all subsequent care.

Choice C rationale

Prescribing psychotropic medication is a key component of the advanced practice role for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMH-APRNs) in most jurisdictions, contingent upon state regulations. This function requires specialized education in pharmacology and the authority to diagnose, which is beyond the scope of a general registered nurse.

Choice D rationale

Individualizing a nursing care plan based on patient assessment, evidence-based guidelines, and patient goals is a core professional function of a registered nurse and a critical element of providing competent and patient-centered nursing care across all levels of practice.