Week 4 Midterm Exam: NR547 / NR-547 (Latest 2026 -2027 )
Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health across the
Lifespan Practicum/ EXAM LATEST VERSION 2026 QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
|ALREADY GRADED A+
Basic Laboratory Interpretation
Complete Blood Count
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
(CMP) Thyroid Function Tests
Vitamin B12 Level
Vitamin D Level
Toxicology Screen
Urinalysis (UA)
Screening and Psychiatric Rating Scales
Evidence-based screening tools and psychiatric rating scales
-can help the provider identify symptoms and assess their severity and can
assist with the evaluation of response to treatment
,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?
No action is necessary as the client is not currently considering
suicide. Provide a brief suicide safety assessment.
Alert the client's primary care
physician. Provide a ST
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.
Diagnostic Testing when diagnosing mental health disorders
-Diagnostic tests and labs are most used to rule out physical conditions that may
cause psychiatric symptoms and to evaluate the effects of treatment
,Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Complete Blood Count
-measures RBCs, WBCs, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets
-includes a differential of the WBCs
-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
• Ex: rule out anemia as a cause for depressive symptoms and fatigue
• Ex: rule out infection as a cause of acute mental status changes
RBCs: 4.5-6.0 million/microliter
Hemoglobin: 12-18 grams/100 mL
Hematocrit: 38%-48%
Reticulocytes: 0%-1.5%
WBCs (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
, Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
common blood test used to determine general health status
-fluid and electrolyte balance, status of the body's metabolism, liver function, and
kidney function
-used to monitor the effects of medications, such as antipsychotics, on liver
function and glucose levels
-rule out medical conditions that could cause symptoms
• Ex: changes in mood or cognition
Sodium (Na+): 136-145 mEq/L
Postassium (K+): 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
Chloride (Cl-): 95-105 mEq/L
Bicarbonate (HCO3-): 22-28
mEq/L Calcium, serum (Ca 2+) 8.4-
10.2 mg/dl
Glucose, serum Fasting: 70-110 mg/dl; 2-h postprandial: <120mg/dl
Cholesterol, serum: REC<200 mg/dl
Total Protein 6.0-7.8
g/dl Albumin 3.5-5.5
g/dl
-Kidney Tests
• Creatinine, serum 0.6-1.2mg/dl
• Urea nitrogen, serum (BUN) 7-18mg/dl
-Liver Tests
• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum: 8-20 U/L
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum: 8-20 U/L
• Bilirubin, serum (adult) Total//Direct: 0.1-1.0 mg/dl // 0.0-0.3 mg/dl
• Phosphatase (alkaline), serum: 20-70 U/L
Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health across the
Lifespan Practicum/ EXAM LATEST VERSION 2026 QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
|ALREADY GRADED A+
Basic Laboratory Interpretation
Complete Blood Count
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
(CMP) Thyroid Function Tests
Vitamin B12 Level
Vitamin D Level
Toxicology Screen
Urinalysis (UA)
Screening and Psychiatric Rating Scales
Evidence-based screening tools and psychiatric rating scales
-can help the provider identify symptoms and assess their severity and can
assist with the evaluation of response to treatment
,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?
No action is necessary as the client is not currently considering
suicide. Provide a brief suicide safety assessment.
Alert the client's primary care
physician. Provide a ST
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.
Diagnostic Testing when diagnosing mental health disorders
-Diagnostic tests and labs are most used to rule out physical conditions that may
cause psychiatric symptoms and to evaluate the effects of treatment
,Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Complete Blood Count
-measures RBCs, WBCs, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets
-includes a differential of the WBCs
-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
• Ex: rule out anemia as a cause for depressive symptoms and fatigue
• Ex: rule out infection as a cause of acute mental status changes
RBCs: 4.5-6.0 million/microliter
Hemoglobin: 12-18 grams/100 mL
Hematocrit: 38%-48%
Reticulocytes: 0%-1.5%
WBCs (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
, Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
common blood test used to determine general health status
-fluid and electrolyte balance, status of the body's metabolism, liver function, and
kidney function
-used to monitor the effects of medications, such as antipsychotics, on liver
function and glucose levels
-rule out medical conditions that could cause symptoms
• Ex: changes in mood or cognition
Sodium (Na+): 136-145 mEq/L
Postassium (K+): 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
Chloride (Cl-): 95-105 mEq/L
Bicarbonate (HCO3-): 22-28
mEq/L Calcium, serum (Ca 2+) 8.4-
10.2 mg/dl
Glucose, serum Fasting: 70-110 mg/dl; 2-h postprandial: <120mg/dl
Cholesterol, serum: REC<200 mg/dl
Total Protein 6.0-7.8
g/dl Albumin 3.5-5.5
g/dl
-Kidney Tests
• Creatinine, serum 0.6-1.2mg/dl
• Urea nitrogen, serum (BUN) 7-18mg/dl
-Liver Tests
• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum: 8-20 U/L
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum: 8-20 U/L
• Bilirubin, serum (adult) Total//Direct: 0.1-1.0 mg/dl // 0.0-0.3 mg/dl
• Phosphatase (alkaline), serum: 20-70 U/L
