Comprehensive Clinical Exam (CEA) 2026–2028 | Complete
Questions, Verified Answers & Rationales | Grade A+
Course NR 511 – Differential Diagnosis and Primary Care Practicum
Exam Comprehensive Clinical Exam (CEA)
Institution Chamberlain University
Format Multiple-choice, scenario-based questions
Core Advanced health assessment, differential diagnosis, primary care management,
Topics pathophysiology, pharmacology, evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning
Your 22 year old male patient states during his review of systems thathis scrotum is
very enlarged and feels like it is full a powerlifter and works as a trash collector. You
suspect the patient likely has which of the following diagnoses?
A -Varicocele
B -Meningocele
C -Rectocele
D -Hydrocele - CORRECT ANSWER A -Varicocele
QUESTION : The point of maximum impulse (PMI) is MOST often palpable in healthy
adults when positioned in the supine or left lateral decubitus position. Which one of the
following locations is most commonly described as the PMI in a healthy adult?
A -Left 2nd intercostal space, midaxillary line
B -Left 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
C -Right 4th intercostal space, midaxillary line
D -Right 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line - CORRECT ANSWER B -Left
5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
QUESTION : A40 year old, female, African American patient presents for history and
physical. Upon your initial assessment, you notice she has severe exophthalmos as
pictured below. Which one of the following diagnoses below would be the highest on
your differential diagnose of this physical examination finding?
A -Bilateral conjunctivitis
,B -Hyperthyroidism
C -hypothyroidism
D -Myexedma - CORRECT ANSWER B -Hyperthyroidism
QUESTION : Your patient with a suspected diagnosis of COPD has been seen by
pulmonology and has underwent a pulmonary function test (PFT) with spirometry. As
the patient's primary healthcare provider, you have been asked to explain the findings of
the PFT to the patient in afollow-up visit at which time the patient asks what the study
was evaluating. To describe the PFT to the patient in more useful terms, you state that
the large inspiration of air to the furthest extent they could reasonably accomplish
followed by a full exhalation is referred to as which of the following measurements
during the PFT?
A -Forced Expiratory Volume over 1 second (FEV1)
B -Functional Reserve Capacity
C -Inspiratory Reserve
D -Forced Vital Capacity - CORRECT ANSWER D -Forced vital capacity
QUESTION : Your patient has a diagnosis of Addison's disease. Which of the following
might you expect to find during examination?
A -Abdominal striae
B -Dowager hump
C -Low body temperature
D -Moon face - CORRECT ANSWER B -Dowager hump
QUESTION : The nurse practitioner's evaluation of a patient with Diabetes Mellitus
type 2 should include which of the following while evaluating for end organ dysfunction
of the disease?
A -Renal function panel
B -Urinalysis
C -Non-dilated eye exam
D -All of these are appropriate options - CORRECT ANSWER D -All of these are
appropriate options
QUESTION : During your visit with a 19 year old patient for a college health physical,
your health history includes a diagnosis of angioedema. What of the following parts of
the body are were likely involved?
A -Isolated to the colon
B -Anywhere in the enteral tract
C -Chest
D -Face and Lips - CORRECT ANSWER D -Face and Lips
QUESTION : Which of the following dermatologic lesions is precancerous and likely
due to prolonged exposure to UV-B?
A -Actinic Keratosis
B -Basal cell carcinoma
,C -Verucca
D -Seborrheic dermatitis - CORRECT ANSWER A -Actinic Keratosis
QUESTION : Based on your evaluation of ABCDE for melanoma, which of the
following represents a suspicous finding?
A -Irregular borders
B -Symmetrical nature
C -Brown color
D -Diameter of 0.4 cm - CORRECT ANSWER A -Irregular borders
QUESTION : Your patient is complaining of hypersomnia, lack of motivation, weight
gain, and anhedonia. Suspecting a diagnosis of clinical depression, you anticipate the
patient will benefit from treating their underlying deficit of which of the following
neurotransmitters?
A -GABA
B -Serotonin
C -Dobutamine
D -Glutamate - CORRECT ANSWER B -Serotonin
QUESTION : As a prudent nurse practitioner, the diabetic, hypertensive patient you
are seeing should be evaluated for early evidence of renal damage from both diabetes
and hypertension. Which of the following assessment tools should the nurse practitioner
order first for the evaluation of early renal dysfunction secondary to diabetes or
hypertension?
A -BUN/creatinine ratio
B -Urinalysis with micro/macro albumin
C -Renal biopsy
D -Urine sodium - CORRECT ANSWER B -Urinalysis with micro/macro albumin
QUESTION : While evaluating a patient in your clinic for a routine health visit, you
auscultate crackles in the poster left lower lobe, have the patient cough, with follow-up
auscultation revealing clear breath sounds. Which one of the following would you
suspect?
A -Congestive heart failure
B -Atelectasis
C -Laryngospasm
D -Bronchiactasis. - CORRECT ANSWER B -Atelectasis
QUESTION : Your 39 year old patient who has recently been hospitalized for an
appendectomy and is being seen in your clinic for post-operative follow-up with primary
care. On assessment, the patient complains of some incisional pain and otherwise
examination is normal, with the exception of dull percussion sounds noted on the thorax
over lung tissue. Which of the following diagnoses would be explained by this finding in
post-operative patient?
A -Left-sided heart failure
, B -Chronic bronchitis
C -Atelectasis
D -Healthy patient with no coexising disease - CORRECT ANSWER C -Atelectasis
QUESTION : You are evaluating a 41 year old female patient in your clinic with
symptoms of right upper quadrant pain which worsens with deep breathing. The patient
exhibits a positive Murphy sign. These findings are most consistent which one of the
following?
A -Appendicitis
B -Cholecystitis
C -Crohn's flare
D -Pancreatitis - CORRECT ANSWER B -Cholecystitis
QUESTION : In educating your patient about the non-pharmacologic management of
gastroesophageal reflux disease, you include teaching to the patient that their heartburn
is aggravated by al of the following except which one?
A -Activities including lifting or bending over
B -Alcohol intake
C -Foods, such as citrus, onions and coffee
D -Gastric dumping, or increased emptying into the small intestines - CORRECT
ANSWER D -Gastric dumping, or increased emptying into the small intestines
QUESTION : The patient is experiencing acute closed angle glaucoma. Which of the
following examination findings by the nurse practitioner is most consistent with their
diagnosis?
A -Macular degeneration
B -Increase in intraocular pressure
C -AV nicking
D -Loss of aqueous humor volume - CORRECT ANSWER B -Increase in
intraocular pressure
QUESTION : While managing the care of the patient with chronic alcoholism, the
nurse practitioner would likely anticipate which findings on the CBC with differential?
A -Low MCV and MCH
B -Normal MCV and MCH
C -Chronic alcoholism will not affect the differential
D -Elevated MCV and MCH - CORRECT ANSWER D -Elevated MCV and MCH
QUESTION : The nurse practitioner is caring for a patient with an elevated WBC,
fever, chills, and malaise. When developing a differential diagnosis for this finding,
which of the following is not a potential cause of the elevated WBC?
A -Sepsis
B -Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
C -Leukemia