NR 547 Differential Diagnosis Dx
Midterm Exam Review Questions and
Answers 100% Pass | Graded A+
Diagnostic reasoning is the process of questioning one's thinking
to determine if all possible avenues have been explored and if the
conclusions that are drawn are based on evidence. This is a
critical step for providers who are trying to uncover a cause, or
diagnosis, for their clients' signs and symptoms. The provider's
initial hypothesis is known as the differential diagnosis. The
differential diagnosis, or differential, is a working list of potential
problems that can be associated with the initial or chief complaint.
Establishing a differential diagnosis is a critical step in providing
safe, quality care. This evolving process of clinical reasoning and
decision making involves examining the client's presentation,
clinical data, and when appropriate, screening and diagnostic test
results to distinguish one disease from another and arrive at the
correct diagnosis. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Di - Answer>> Differential Dx
How long have you been feeling this way?
Did something happen in your life that may have triggered these
emotions?
How is this current situation impacting your life? - Answer>>
History of Present Illness
Have you ever been hospitalized for any mental health issues?
Have you ever had counseling or psychotherapy?
Have you ever taken medications for your mental health in the
past?
Are you currently on any medications for mental health or sleep? -
Answer>> The Psychiatric History
Do you have a primary care provider?
,Do you have any medical illnesses?
Are you currently taking any medications or herbal supplements?
Do you have any allergies to medications?
Have you ever been hospitalized for any reason?
Have you ever had surgery? - Answer>> Medical
History/Screening for General Medical Conditions
Has any relative of yours ever been hospitalized for a mental
health issue?
Has any blood relative of yours ever been diagnosed with a
mental health issue?
Has any blood relative of yours had a history of seizures or
dementia/Alzheimer's? - Answer>> Family Psychiatric History
Tell me a little bit about your childhood and how you grew up.
How was your experience in school when you were younger? Did
you enjoy school?
How do you support yourself with your finances?
Do you have a good support system? Are you currently in a
relationship? Where do you live? Who do you live with?
What do you do in your free time? What activities do you enjoy? -
Answer>> Social and Developmental History
A) Explain how the medication targets the symptoms, specific
benefits, and expected time course. (Correct answer)
B) Identify potential side effects, duration of side effects, and
adverse effects. (Correct answer)
C) Explain the instructions, dosing, and special requirements.
(Correct answer)
D) Use teach-back methods to ensure client understanding.
(Correct answer) - Answer>> Which of the following should be
included when providing client education about medication
regimens? Select all that apply.
B)Provide a brief suicide safety assessment.
,Rationale: While the client's responses do not indicate a need for
a stat full safety and mental health evaluation, the client requires
a brief suicide safety assessment to determine whether a full
mental health evaluation in necessary. It is also important to notify
the client's physician or the clinician responsible for the client's
care. - Answer>> Apply the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions
(ASQ) Suicide Risk Screening Tool (Links to an external site.) to
the scenario below.
A 52-year-old client presents to the emergency department
following a car accident. The emergency department (ED)
physician is concerned that the client may have intentionally
crashed her car and requests a stat PMHNP consult. In speaking
with the PMHNP, the client describes persistent feelings of
sadness and hopelessness. She states that she often wonders if
her husband would be happier if she wasn't around anymore
since she's never happy and sometimes thinks about what it
would be like to just take a handful of sleeping pills and go to
sleep forever. The client reports a previous suicide attempt when
she was 16 but denies that she is considering killing herself right
now.
Based on the client's ASQ score, what is the most appropriate
response?
A) No action is necessary as the client is not
The CBC is a serum diagnostic test that measures red blood
cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets.
The CBC includes a differential of the white blood cells. A CBC is
often included as part of routine health screening or to obtain
information related to specific conditions. In mental health, the
CBC is used to rule out medical conditions that may present with
symptoms that can be attributed to both medical and psychiatric
diagnoses. For example, the CBC can help rule out anemia as a
cause for depressive symptoms and fatigue or rule out infection
as a cause of acute mental status changes. The CBC is also used
, to monitor certain treatment regimens. For example, some
medications, such as clozapine, require routine analysis of
absolute neutrophil count and platelet levels. - Answer>>
Complete Blood Count
Red blood cells: 4.5-6.0 million/microliter
Hemoglobin: 12-18 grams/100 mL
Hematocrit: 38%-48%
Reticulocytes: 0%-1.5% - Answer>> Normal Range of:
Red blood cells
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
Reticulocytes
White blood cells (total): 5000-10,000/microliter
Neutrophils: 55%-70%
Eosinophils: 1%-3%
Basophils: 0.5%-1%
Lymphocytes: 20%-35%
Monocytes: 3%-8%
Platelets: 150,000-300,000/microliter - Answer>> Normal
Range of?
White blood cells (total):
Neutrophils:
Eosinophils:
Basophils:
Lymphocytes:
Monocytes:
Platelets:
The CMP is another common blood test used to determine
general health status. The CMP includes several tests that
provide information about fluid and electrolyte balance as well as
the status of the body's metabolism, liver function, and kidney
function. In psychiatric care, the CMP may be used to rule out
Midterm Exam Review Questions and
Answers 100% Pass | Graded A+
Diagnostic reasoning is the process of questioning one's thinking
to determine if all possible avenues have been explored and if the
conclusions that are drawn are based on evidence. This is a
critical step for providers who are trying to uncover a cause, or
diagnosis, for their clients' signs and symptoms. The provider's
initial hypothesis is known as the differential diagnosis. The
differential diagnosis, or differential, is a working list of potential
problems that can be associated with the initial or chief complaint.
Establishing a differential diagnosis is a critical step in providing
safe, quality care. This evolving process of clinical reasoning and
decision making involves examining the client's presentation,
clinical data, and when appropriate, screening and diagnostic test
results to distinguish one disease from another and arrive at the
correct diagnosis. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Di - Answer>> Differential Dx
How long have you been feeling this way?
Did something happen in your life that may have triggered these
emotions?
How is this current situation impacting your life? - Answer>>
History of Present Illness
Have you ever been hospitalized for any mental health issues?
Have you ever had counseling or psychotherapy?
Have you ever taken medications for your mental health in the
past?
Are you currently on any medications for mental health or sleep? -
Answer>> The Psychiatric History
Do you have a primary care provider?
,Do you have any medical illnesses?
Are you currently taking any medications or herbal supplements?
Do you have any allergies to medications?
Have you ever been hospitalized for any reason?
Have you ever had surgery? - Answer>> Medical
History/Screening for General Medical Conditions
Has any relative of yours ever been hospitalized for a mental
health issue?
Has any blood relative of yours ever been diagnosed with a
mental health issue?
Has any blood relative of yours had a history of seizures or
dementia/Alzheimer's? - Answer>> Family Psychiatric History
Tell me a little bit about your childhood and how you grew up.
How was your experience in school when you were younger? Did
you enjoy school?
How do you support yourself with your finances?
Do you have a good support system? Are you currently in a
relationship? Where do you live? Who do you live with?
What do you do in your free time? What activities do you enjoy? -
Answer>> Social and Developmental History
A) Explain how the medication targets the symptoms, specific
benefits, and expected time course. (Correct answer)
B) Identify potential side effects, duration of side effects, and
adverse effects. (Correct answer)
C) Explain the instructions, dosing, and special requirements.
(Correct answer)
D) Use teach-back methods to ensure client understanding.
(Correct answer) - Answer>> Which of the following should be
included when providing client education about medication
regimens? Select all that apply.
B)Provide a brief suicide safety assessment.
,Rationale: While the client's responses do not indicate a need for
a stat full safety and mental health evaluation, the client requires
a brief suicide safety assessment to determine whether a full
mental health evaluation in necessary. It is also important to notify
the client's physician or the clinician responsible for the client's
care. - Answer>> Apply the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions
(ASQ) Suicide Risk Screening Tool (Links to an external site.) to
the scenario below.
A 52-year-old client presents to the emergency department
following a car accident. The emergency department (ED)
physician is concerned that the client may have intentionally
crashed her car and requests a stat PMHNP consult. In speaking
with the PMHNP, the client describes persistent feelings of
sadness and hopelessness. She states that she often wonders if
her husband would be happier if she wasn't around anymore
since she's never happy and sometimes thinks about what it
would be like to just take a handful of sleeping pills and go to
sleep forever. The client reports a previous suicide attempt when
she was 16 but denies that she is considering killing herself right
now.
Based on the client's ASQ score, what is the most appropriate
response?
A) No action is necessary as the client is not
The CBC is a serum diagnostic test that measures red blood
cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets.
The CBC includes a differential of the white blood cells. A CBC is
often included as part of routine health screening or to obtain
information related to specific conditions. In mental health, the
CBC is used to rule out medical conditions that may present with
symptoms that can be attributed to both medical and psychiatric
diagnoses. For example, the CBC can help rule out anemia as a
cause for depressive symptoms and fatigue or rule out infection
as a cause of acute mental status changes. The CBC is also used
, to monitor certain treatment regimens. For example, some
medications, such as clozapine, require routine analysis of
absolute neutrophil count and platelet levels. - Answer>>
Complete Blood Count
Red blood cells: 4.5-6.0 million/microliter
Hemoglobin: 12-18 grams/100 mL
Hematocrit: 38%-48%
Reticulocytes: 0%-1.5% - Answer>> Normal Range of:
Red blood cells
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
Reticulocytes
White blood cells (total): 5000-10,000/microliter
Neutrophils: 55%-70%
Eosinophils: 1%-3%
Basophils: 0.5%-1%
Lymphocytes: 20%-35%
Monocytes: 3%-8%
Platelets: 150,000-300,000/microliter - Answer>> Normal
Range of?
White blood cells (total):
Neutrophils:
Eosinophils:
Basophils:
Lymphocytes:
Monocytes:
Platelets:
The CMP is another common blood test used to determine
general health status. The CMP includes several tests that
provide information about fluid and electrolyte balance as well as
the status of the body's metabolism, liver function, and kidney
function. In psychiatric care, the CMP may be used to rule out
