Final Exam: NR547 / NR 547 (Latest Update 2025 /
2026) Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental
Health across the Lifespan Practicum | Questions &
Answers | 100% Correct | Grade A – Chamberlain.
A 52-year-old client presents to the emergency department following a car accident. The emergency
N N N N N N N N N N N N N
department (ED) physician is concerned that the client may have intentionally crashed her car and
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
requests a stat PMHNP consult. In speaking with the PMHNP, the client describes persistent feelings of
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
sadness and hopelessness. She states that she often wonders if her husband would be happier if she
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
wasn't around anymore since she's never happy and sometimes thinks about what it would be like to
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
just take a handful of sleeping pills and go to sleep forever. The client reports a previous suicide
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
attempt when she was 16 but denies that she is considering killing herself right now.
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
Based on the client's ASQ score, what is the most appropriate response?
N N N N N N N N N N N
No action is necessary as the client is not currently considering suicide.
N N N N N N N N N N N
Provide a brief suicide safety assessment.
N N N N N N
Alert the client's primary care physician.
N N N N N
Provide a ST - ANSWER-Provide a brief suicide safety assessment.
N N N N N N N N N N
Rationale: While the client's responses do not indicate a need for a stat full safety and mental health
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
evaluation, the client requires a brief suicide safety assessment to determine whether a full mental
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
health evaluation in necessary. It is also important to notify the client's physician or the clinician
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
responsible for the client's care.
N N N N N
Basic Laboratory Interpretation - ANSWER-Complete Blood Count
N N N N N N
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) N N N
Thyroid Function Tests N N
Vitamin B12 Level N N
Vitamin D Level N N
Toxicology Screen N
Urinalysis (UA) N
, Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Complete Blood Count - ANSWER--measures RBCs, WBCs, hemoglobin,
N N N N N N N N N N
hematocrit, and platelets
N N N
-includes a differential of the WBCs N N N N N
-In mental health, the CBC is used to rule out medical conditions that may present with symptoms that
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
Ncan be attributed to both medical and psychiatric diagnoses
N N N N N N N N
• Ex: rule out anemia as a cause for depressive symptoms and fatigue
N N N N N N N N N N N N
• Ex: rule out infection as a cause of acute mental status changes
N N N N N N N N N N N N
RBCs: 4.5-6.0 million/microliter
N N
Hemoglobin: 12-18 grams/100 mL N N N
Hematocrit: 38%-48% N
Reticulocytes: 0%-1.5% N
WBCs (total): 5000-10,000/microliter
N N
Neutrophils: 55%-70% N
Eosinophils: 1%-3% N
Basophils: 0.5%-1% N
Lymphocytes: 20%-35% N
Monocytes: 3%-8% N
Platelets: 150,000-300,000/microliter N
Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) - ANSWER-common blood test
N N N N N N N N N N
used to determine general health status
N N N N N N
-fluid and electrolyte balance, status of the body's metabolism, liver function, and kidney function
N N N N N N N N N N N N N
-used to monitor the effects of medications, such as antipsychotics, on liver function and glucose levels
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
-rule out medical conditions that could cause symptoms
N N N N N N N
• Ex: changes in mood or cognition
N N N N N N
Sodium (Na+): 136-145 mEq/L N N N
Postassium (K+): 3.5-5.0 mEq/L N N N
Chloride (Cl-): 95-105 mEq/L N N N
Bicarbonate (HCO3-): 22-28 mEq/L N N N
2026) Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental
Health across the Lifespan Practicum | Questions &
Answers | 100% Correct | Grade A – Chamberlain.
A 52-year-old client presents to the emergency department following a car accident. The emergency
N N N N N N N N N N N N N
department (ED) physician is concerned that the client may have intentionally crashed her car and
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
requests a stat PMHNP consult. In speaking with the PMHNP, the client describes persistent feelings of
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
sadness and hopelessness. She states that she often wonders if her husband would be happier if she
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
wasn't around anymore since she's never happy and sometimes thinks about what it would be like to
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
just take a handful of sleeping pills and go to sleep forever. The client reports a previous suicide
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
attempt when she was 16 but denies that she is considering killing herself right now.
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
Based on the client's ASQ score, what is the most appropriate response?
N N N N N N N N N N N
No action is necessary as the client is not currently considering suicide.
N N N N N N N N N N N
Provide a brief suicide safety assessment.
N N N N N N
Alert the client's primary care physician.
N N N N N
Provide a ST - ANSWER-Provide a brief suicide safety assessment.
N N N N N N N N N N
Rationale: While the client's responses do not indicate a need for a stat full safety and mental health
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
evaluation, the client requires a brief suicide safety assessment to determine whether a full mental
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
health evaluation in necessary. It is also important to notify the client's physician or the clinician
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
responsible for the client's care.
N N N N N
Basic Laboratory Interpretation - ANSWER-Complete Blood Count
N N N N N N
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) N N N
Thyroid Function Tests N N
Vitamin B12 Level N N
Vitamin D Level N N
Toxicology Screen N
Urinalysis (UA) N
, Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Complete Blood Count - ANSWER--measures RBCs, WBCs, hemoglobin,
N N N N N N N N N N
hematocrit, and platelets
N N N
-includes a differential of the WBCs N N N N N
-In mental health, the CBC is used to rule out medical conditions that may present with symptoms that
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
Ncan be attributed to both medical and psychiatric diagnoses
N N N N N N N N
• Ex: rule out anemia as a cause for depressive symptoms and fatigue
N N N N N N N N N N N N
• Ex: rule out infection as a cause of acute mental status changes
N N N N N N N N N N N N
RBCs: 4.5-6.0 million/microliter
N N
Hemoglobin: 12-18 grams/100 mL N N N
Hematocrit: 38%-48% N
Reticulocytes: 0%-1.5% N
WBCs (total): 5000-10,000/microliter
N N
Neutrophils: 55%-70% N
Eosinophils: 1%-3% N
Basophils: 0.5%-1% N
Lymphocytes: 20%-35% N
Monocytes: 3%-8% N
Platelets: 150,000-300,000/microliter N
Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) - ANSWER-common blood test
N N N N N N N N N N
used to determine general health status
N N N N N N
-fluid and electrolyte balance, status of the body's metabolism, liver function, and kidney function
N N N N N N N N N N N N N
-used to monitor the effects of medications, such as antipsychotics, on liver function and glucose levels
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
-rule out medical conditions that could cause symptoms
N N N N N N N
• Ex: changes in mood or cognition
N N N N N N
Sodium (Na+): 136-145 mEq/L N N N
Postassium (K+): 3.5-5.0 mEq/L N N N
Chloride (Cl-): 95-105 mEq/L N N N
Bicarbonate (HCO3-): 22-28 mEq/L N N N
