NR 547 DIFFERENTIAL DX MIDTERM| QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS| NEWEST EXAM UPDATE 2025/2026
Differential Dx -CORRECT ANSWER 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 Disorders (DSM-5-TR)provides guidance for identifying
psychiatric diagnosest
History of Present Illness -CORRECT ANSWER 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?
The Psychiatric History -CORRECT ANSWER 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?
Medical History/Screening for General Medical Conditions -CORRECT
ANSWER 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?
Family Psychiatric History -CORRECT ANSWER 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?
Social and Developmental History -CORRECT ANSWER 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?
Which of the following should be included when providing client education
about medication regimens? Select all that apply. -CORRECT ANSWER
A)Explain how the medication targets the symptoms, specific benefits, and
expected time course. (Correct CORRECT ANSWER)
B)Identify potential side effects, duration of side effects, and adverse effects.
(Correct CORRECT ANSWER)
C)Explain the instructions, dosing, and special requirements. (Correct
CORRECT ANSWER)
,D)Use teach-back methods to ensure client understanding. (Correct CORRECT
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 -CORRECT ANSWER
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.
Complete Blood Count -CORRECT ANSWER 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.
Normal Range of:
Red blood cells
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
Reticulocytes -CORRECT ANSWER Red blood cells: 4.5-6.0
million/microliter
Hemoglobin: 12-18 grams/100 mL
Hematocrit: 38%-48%
Reticulocytes: 0%-1.5%
Normal Range of?
White blood cells (total):
Neutrophils:
Eosinophils:
Basophils:
Lymphocytes:
Monocytes:
Platelets: -CORRECT ANSWER White blood cells (total): 5000-
10,000/microliter
Neutrophils: 55%-70%
Eosinophils: 1%-3%
Basophils: 0.5%-1%
Lymphocytes: 20%-35%
Monocytes: 3%-8%
ANSWERS| NEWEST EXAM UPDATE 2025/2026
Differential Dx -CORRECT ANSWER 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 Disorders (DSM-5-TR)provides guidance for identifying
psychiatric diagnosest
History of Present Illness -CORRECT ANSWER 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?
The Psychiatric History -CORRECT ANSWER 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?
Medical History/Screening for General Medical Conditions -CORRECT
ANSWER 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?
Family Psychiatric History -CORRECT ANSWER 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?
Social and Developmental History -CORRECT ANSWER 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?
Which of the following should be included when providing client education
about medication regimens? Select all that apply. -CORRECT ANSWER
A)Explain how the medication targets the symptoms, specific benefits, and
expected time course. (Correct CORRECT ANSWER)
B)Identify potential side effects, duration of side effects, and adverse effects.
(Correct CORRECT ANSWER)
C)Explain the instructions, dosing, and special requirements. (Correct
CORRECT ANSWER)
,D)Use teach-back methods to ensure client understanding. (Correct CORRECT
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 -CORRECT ANSWER
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.
Complete Blood Count -CORRECT ANSWER 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.
Normal Range of:
Red blood cells
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
Reticulocytes -CORRECT ANSWER Red blood cells: 4.5-6.0
million/microliter
Hemoglobin: 12-18 grams/100 mL
Hematocrit: 38%-48%
Reticulocytes: 0%-1.5%
Normal Range of?
White blood cells (total):
Neutrophils:
Eosinophils:
Basophils:
Lymphocytes:
Monocytes:
Platelets: -CORRECT ANSWER White blood cells (total): 5000-
10,000/microliter
Neutrophils: 55%-70%
Eosinophils: 1%-3%
Basophils: 0.5%-1%
Lymphocytes: 20%-35%
Monocytes: 3%-8%
