Chamberlain College of Nursing | NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health
Across the Lifespan Practicum
NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental
Health Across the Lifespan Practicum Midterm
Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
Chamberlain College of Nursing | NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health Across the
Lifespan Practicum | University-Level Advanced Practice Nursing Students
75 Verified Questions | 4 Core Domains | Academic Year 2026/2027
Prepared by
Chamberlain College of Nursing | NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health Across the
Lifespan Practicum
Midterm Comprehensive Examination Actual Exam | Academic Year 2026/2027
NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health Across the Lifespan Practicum Midterm Examination 2026/2027 |
Verified Questions
,INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive examination contains 75 original verified questions designed for university-level
advanced practice nursing students preparing for the NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental
Health Across the Lifespan Practicum Midterm Examination. The questions are distributed across four core
domains aligned with official NR 547 midterm content outlines: Neurocognitive and Neurodevelopmental
Disorders (19 questions), Mood, Anxiety, and Trauma-Related Disorders (19 questions), Psychotic,
Personality, and Dissociative Disorders (19 questions), and Substance Use, Addictive, and Eating Disorders
(18 questions). Content is original and structured to reinforce official Chamberlain College of Nursing NR
547 course objectives for actual exam readiness and clinical proficiency, aligned to the 2026/2027 academic
year. Each question includes a correct answer and a clinical rationale grounded in foundational psychiatric
differential diagnosis methodology and current diagnostic standards.
ACTUAL QUESTIONS
Domain 1: Neurocognitive and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Question 1. A 72-year-old client presents with progressive memory loss, difficulty with executive
function, and impairment in daily activities. Which feature most strongly supports a diagnosis of
major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease rather than normal aging?
A. Occasional word-finding difficulty that does not interfere with work
B. Mild forgetfulness that is noticed only by the client
C. Significant decline in cognitive function that interferes with independence in everyday activities
D. Temporary confusion during an acute medical illness that resolves with treatment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Major neurocognitive disorder requires evidence of significant cognitive decline that interferes with
independence in everyday activities, distinguishing it from normal aging or mild cognitive impairment.
Question 2. Which finding is most characteristic of delirium rather than dementia?
A. Insidious onset over months to years
B. Fluctuating level of consciousness and acute onset
C. Stable cognitive deficits over time
D. Gradual loss of social skills without attention changes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Delirium is defined by an acute onset and fluctuating course with disturbed attention and
awareness, whereas dementia typically has an insidious onset and relatively stable deficits.
Question 3. A 7-year-old child demonstrates persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity
across home and school settings for more than six months. Which diagnosis is most consistent
with these findings?
A. Oppositional defiant disorder
B. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
C. Conduct disorder
D. Separation anxiety disorder
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: ADHD requires a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is present
in multiple settings and interferes with functioning, with onset before age 12.
NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health Across the Lifespan Practicum Midterm Examination 2026/2027 |
Verified Questions
, Question 4. Which neurodevelopmental disorder is characterized by persistent deficits in social
communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities?
A. Specific learning disorder
B. Intellectual developmental disorder
C. Autism spectrum disorder
D. Communication disorder
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Autism spectrum disorder is defined by persistent deficits in social communication and social
interaction together with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
Question 5. A client with vascular neurocognitive disorder is most likely to demonstrate which
pattern of cognitive decline?
A. Smooth, gradual progression without plateaus
B. Stepwise deterioration corresponding to cerebrovascular events
C. Rapid progression over weeks with prominent hallucinations
D. Fluctuating cognition with visual hallucinations and parkinsonism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Vascular neurocognitive disorder classically follows a stepwise course related to successive
cerebrovascular insults, distinguishing it from the more linear progression of Alzheimer disease.
Question 6. Which feature is required for a diagnosis of intellectual developmental disorder?
A. Onset of deficits during the developmental period
B. Presence of psychotic symptoms
C. Normal adaptive functioning with isolated cognitive deficits
D. Onset after age 18
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Intellectual developmental disorder requires deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning with
onset during the developmental period.
Question 7. A 68-year-old client develops progressive cognitive decline accompanied by visual
hallucinations, spontaneous parkinsonism, and fluctuating alertness. The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease
B. Major neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies
C. Frontotemporal neurocognitive disorder
D. Vascular neurocognitive disorder
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The combination of fluctuating cognition, recurrent visual hallucinations, and spontaneous
parkinsonism is characteristic of major neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies.
Question 8. Which statement best distinguishes mild neurocognitive disorder from major
neurocognitive disorder?
A. Mild neurocognitive disorder always progresses to major neurocognitive disorder
B. In mild neurocognitive disorder, cognitive deficits do not interfere with capacity for independence in
everyday activities
C. Major neurocognitive disorder has an acute onset
D. Mild neurocognitive disorder requires the presence of behavioral disturbances
Correct Answer: C
NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health Across the Lifespan Practicum Midterm Examination 2026/2027 |
Verified Questions
Across the Lifespan Practicum
NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental
Health Across the Lifespan Practicum Midterm
Examination 2026/2027 | Verified Questions
Chamberlain College of Nursing | NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health Across the
Lifespan Practicum | University-Level Advanced Practice Nursing Students
75 Verified Questions | 4 Core Domains | Academic Year 2026/2027
Prepared by
Chamberlain College of Nursing | NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health Across the
Lifespan Practicum
Midterm Comprehensive Examination Actual Exam | Academic Year 2026/2027
NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health Across the Lifespan Practicum Midterm Examination 2026/2027 |
Verified Questions
,INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive examination contains 75 original verified questions designed for university-level
advanced practice nursing students preparing for the NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental
Health Across the Lifespan Practicum Midterm Examination. The questions are distributed across four core
domains aligned with official NR 547 midterm content outlines: Neurocognitive and Neurodevelopmental
Disorders (19 questions), Mood, Anxiety, and Trauma-Related Disorders (19 questions), Psychotic,
Personality, and Dissociative Disorders (19 questions), and Substance Use, Addictive, and Eating Disorders
(18 questions). Content is original and structured to reinforce official Chamberlain College of Nursing NR
547 course objectives for actual exam readiness and clinical proficiency, aligned to the 2026/2027 academic
year. Each question includes a correct answer and a clinical rationale grounded in foundational psychiatric
differential diagnosis methodology and current diagnostic standards.
ACTUAL QUESTIONS
Domain 1: Neurocognitive and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Question 1. A 72-year-old client presents with progressive memory loss, difficulty with executive
function, and impairment in daily activities. Which feature most strongly supports a diagnosis of
major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease rather than normal aging?
A. Occasional word-finding difficulty that does not interfere with work
B. Mild forgetfulness that is noticed only by the client
C. Significant decline in cognitive function that interferes with independence in everyday activities
D. Temporary confusion during an acute medical illness that resolves with treatment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Major neurocognitive disorder requires evidence of significant cognitive decline that interferes with
independence in everyday activities, distinguishing it from normal aging or mild cognitive impairment.
Question 2. Which finding is most characteristic of delirium rather than dementia?
A. Insidious onset over months to years
B. Fluctuating level of consciousness and acute onset
C. Stable cognitive deficits over time
D. Gradual loss of social skills without attention changes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Delirium is defined by an acute onset and fluctuating course with disturbed attention and
awareness, whereas dementia typically has an insidious onset and relatively stable deficits.
Question 3. A 7-year-old child demonstrates persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity
across home and school settings for more than six months. Which diagnosis is most consistent
with these findings?
A. Oppositional defiant disorder
B. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
C. Conduct disorder
D. Separation anxiety disorder
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: ADHD requires a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is present
in multiple settings and interferes with functioning, with onset before age 12.
NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health Across the Lifespan Practicum Midterm Examination 2026/2027 |
Verified Questions
, Question 4. Which neurodevelopmental disorder is characterized by persistent deficits in social
communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities?
A. Specific learning disorder
B. Intellectual developmental disorder
C. Autism spectrum disorder
D. Communication disorder
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Autism spectrum disorder is defined by persistent deficits in social communication and social
interaction together with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
Question 5. A client with vascular neurocognitive disorder is most likely to demonstrate which
pattern of cognitive decline?
A. Smooth, gradual progression without plateaus
B. Stepwise deterioration corresponding to cerebrovascular events
C. Rapid progression over weeks with prominent hallucinations
D. Fluctuating cognition with visual hallucinations and parkinsonism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Vascular neurocognitive disorder classically follows a stepwise course related to successive
cerebrovascular insults, distinguishing it from the more linear progression of Alzheimer disease.
Question 6. Which feature is required for a diagnosis of intellectual developmental disorder?
A. Onset of deficits during the developmental period
B. Presence of psychotic symptoms
C. Normal adaptive functioning with isolated cognitive deficits
D. Onset after age 18
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Intellectual developmental disorder requires deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning with
onset during the developmental period.
Question 7. A 68-year-old client develops progressive cognitive decline accompanied by visual
hallucinations, spontaneous parkinsonism, and fluctuating alertness. The most likely diagnosis is:
A. Major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer disease
B. Major neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies
C. Frontotemporal neurocognitive disorder
D. Vascular neurocognitive disorder
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The combination of fluctuating cognition, recurrent visual hallucinations, and spontaneous
parkinsonism is characteristic of major neurocognitive disorder with Lewy bodies.
Question 8. Which statement best distinguishes mild neurocognitive disorder from major
neurocognitive disorder?
A. Mild neurocognitive disorder always progresses to major neurocognitive disorder
B. In mild neurocognitive disorder, cognitive deficits do not interfere with capacity for independence in
everyday activities
C. Major neurocognitive disorder has an acute onset
D. Mild neurocognitive disorder requires the presence of behavioral disturbances
Correct Answer: C
NR 547 Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health Across the Lifespan Practicum Midterm Examination 2026/2027 |
Verified Questions
