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NR 547 DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS DX MIDTERM
EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
FULL VERSION BLUEPRINT
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?
,2
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.
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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
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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
NR 547 DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS DX MIDTERM
EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
FULL VERSION BLUEPRINT
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?
,2
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.
,3
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
, 4
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
