Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
NUR 520 Study Guide
This study guide is meant to assist in guiding studying for each module of NUR 520. It
does not however represent a guarantee of what may be on the test.
There will be questions from each of the covered topics / chapters. Questions will come
from Powerpoint presentations, supplement materials and required readings. Questions
will be primarily application based, do not rely solely on memorization to study for the
exam, practice applying what you know.
Test taking tips: Please read the questions carefully before answering. Select the best
answer based on what the question is asking. Pay attention to the details provided in
the question stems, such as age, clinical symptoms, disorder, etc. These details will
often help you to identify the correct answer.
Module 1: Introduction to Psychopharmacology
● Prescribing controlled substances
● Legal and ethical aspects of prescribing
● Florida prescription monitoring
● Pharmacokinetic principles
● Prescription and pharmacy
● Routes of drug administration terms
● Common abbreviations
● Writing prescriptions
● Brand name
● Chemical name
● Generic drug
Module 2: Neuroanatomy, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
Nervous system anatomy and physiology
● Central nervous system
● Peripheral nervous system
● Autonomic nervous system
● Somatic nervous system
Pharmacodynamics
● Agonist
● Antagonist
● Blood brain barrier (or BBB)
Rev. 1.17.23
