CMN 574 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
2026/2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES || 100% GUARANTEED
PASS LATEST VERSION
Question 1
What is the most common cause of chest pain in the primary care setting?
A) Gastrointestinal (GERD)
B) Musculoskeletal/chest wall pain
C) Pulmonary (pneumonia)
D) Psychiatric (panic disorder)
Answer: B
Rationale: Musculoskeletal/chest wall pain is the most common cause of chest pain in primary
care. It is typically more localized, and the patient can often point to the exact location. It is
made worse with movement or deep inspiration and is often reproducible.
Question 2
What is the most common cause of musculoskeletal chest pain?
A) Rib fracture
B) Herpes zoster
C) Muscle strain or costochondritis
D) Fibromyalgia
Answer: C
Rationale: Muscle strain or costochondritis is the most common cause of musculoskeletal chest
pain. Costochondritis is inflammation of the costochondral junctions and presents with localized
chest wall tenderness. It often occurs in young, active patients involved in sports or lifting.
,Question 3
Which of the following is a characteristic feature of musculoskeletal chest pain?
A) Substernal burning pain relieved by antacids
B) Pain that is reproducible with palpation or movement
C) Sharp pain that worsens with deep inspiration and is unilateral
D) Pain radiating to the jaw and left arm
Answer: B
Rationale: Musculoskeletal chest pain is usually more localized, and the patient can point to the
specific area. It is often reproducible with palpation or movement (e.g., arm movement or deep
inspiration). This is a key distinguishing feature from cardiac pain.
Question 4
A young, active patient presents with chest wall pain following a sports injury. What is the most
appropriate initial diagnostic test?
A) ECG
B) Chest X-ray only if trauma history present
C) Cardiac enzymes
D) CT angiography
Answer: B
Rationale: For musculoskeletal chest pain, no specific diagnostic tests are usually needed unless
there is a history of trauma. If trauma is present, a chest X-ray may be indicated to rule out rib
fracture. ECG and cardiac enzymes are not indicated for musculoskeletal pain.
Question 5
Which of the following is a risk factor for musculoskeletal chest pain?
A) Sedentary lifestyle
B) Overuse or repetitive movement
C) Family history of CAD
D) Hyperlipidemia
Answer: B
,Rationale: Risk factors for musculoskeletal chest pain include trauma, overuse, and history of
chickenpox (which can lead to herpes zoster). CAD risk factors are not associated with
musculoskeletal pain.
Question 6
A patient with musculoskeletal chest pain reports a history of chickenpox. What should the
nurse practitioner examine for?
A) Costochondral tenderness
B) Rash associated with zoster
C) Tachycardia
D) Fever
Answer: B
Rationale: If the patient has a history of chickenpox, the nurse practitioner should examine for a
rash associated with herpes zoster (shingles), which can cause chest wall pain prior to the
appearance of the characteristic vesicular rash.
Question 7
What is the recommended treatment for musculoskeletal chest pain?
A) PPIs and elevation of HOB
B) NSAIDs and rest
C) Nitroglycerin sublingual
D) Anticoagulation
Answer: B
Rationale: Treatment for musculoskeletal chest pain includes rest, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs), and ice/heat therapy. Unlike GI or cardiac causes, PPIs and nitroglycerin
are not effective.
Question 8
A patient with musculoskeletal chest pain describes the pain as:
A) Squeezing or pressure-like
B) Gradual onset of sharp or dull pain
, C) Burning substernal pain
D) Sharp, stabbing, one-sided pain
Answer: B
Rationale: Musculoskeletal chest pain is typically described as having a gradual onset of sharp
or dull pain. It is more localized and can be reproduced with movement.
Gastrointestinal Chest Pain
Question 9
What is the second most common cause of chest pain in primary care?
A) Psychiatric disorders
B) Pulmonary causes
C) Gastrointestinal causes
D) Musculoskeletal causes
Answer: C
Rationale: Gastrointestinal causes (GERD, esophagitis, PUD, hiatal hernia, gallbladder) are the
second most common cause of chest pain, after musculoskeletal causes.
Question 10
Which gastrointestinal disorder most commonly mimics cardiac chest pain?
A) Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)
B) Esophageal spasm
C) Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
D) Hiatal hernia
Answer: C
Rationale: GERD is the most common gastrointestinal disorder that mimics chest pain. It causes
substernal burning pain that is often recurrent and can be confused with cardiac pain.
Question 11
A patient with GERD-related chest pain reports that the pain is relieved by:
2026/2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES || 100% GUARANTEED
PASS LATEST VERSION
Question 1
What is the most common cause of chest pain in the primary care setting?
A) Gastrointestinal (GERD)
B) Musculoskeletal/chest wall pain
C) Pulmonary (pneumonia)
D) Psychiatric (panic disorder)
Answer: B
Rationale: Musculoskeletal/chest wall pain is the most common cause of chest pain in primary
care. It is typically more localized, and the patient can often point to the exact location. It is
made worse with movement or deep inspiration and is often reproducible.
Question 2
What is the most common cause of musculoskeletal chest pain?
A) Rib fracture
B) Herpes zoster
C) Muscle strain or costochondritis
D) Fibromyalgia
Answer: C
Rationale: Muscle strain or costochondritis is the most common cause of musculoskeletal chest
pain. Costochondritis is inflammation of the costochondral junctions and presents with localized
chest wall tenderness. It often occurs in young, active patients involved in sports or lifting.
,Question 3
Which of the following is a characteristic feature of musculoskeletal chest pain?
A) Substernal burning pain relieved by antacids
B) Pain that is reproducible with palpation or movement
C) Sharp pain that worsens with deep inspiration and is unilateral
D) Pain radiating to the jaw and left arm
Answer: B
Rationale: Musculoskeletal chest pain is usually more localized, and the patient can point to the
specific area. It is often reproducible with palpation or movement (e.g., arm movement or deep
inspiration). This is a key distinguishing feature from cardiac pain.
Question 4
A young, active patient presents with chest wall pain following a sports injury. What is the most
appropriate initial diagnostic test?
A) ECG
B) Chest X-ray only if trauma history present
C) Cardiac enzymes
D) CT angiography
Answer: B
Rationale: For musculoskeletal chest pain, no specific diagnostic tests are usually needed unless
there is a history of trauma. If trauma is present, a chest X-ray may be indicated to rule out rib
fracture. ECG and cardiac enzymes are not indicated for musculoskeletal pain.
Question 5
Which of the following is a risk factor for musculoskeletal chest pain?
A) Sedentary lifestyle
B) Overuse or repetitive movement
C) Family history of CAD
D) Hyperlipidemia
Answer: B
,Rationale: Risk factors for musculoskeletal chest pain include trauma, overuse, and history of
chickenpox (which can lead to herpes zoster). CAD risk factors are not associated with
musculoskeletal pain.
Question 6
A patient with musculoskeletal chest pain reports a history of chickenpox. What should the
nurse practitioner examine for?
A) Costochondral tenderness
B) Rash associated with zoster
C) Tachycardia
D) Fever
Answer: B
Rationale: If the patient has a history of chickenpox, the nurse practitioner should examine for a
rash associated with herpes zoster (shingles), which can cause chest wall pain prior to the
appearance of the characteristic vesicular rash.
Question 7
What is the recommended treatment for musculoskeletal chest pain?
A) PPIs and elevation of HOB
B) NSAIDs and rest
C) Nitroglycerin sublingual
D) Anticoagulation
Answer: B
Rationale: Treatment for musculoskeletal chest pain includes rest, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs), and ice/heat therapy. Unlike GI or cardiac causes, PPIs and nitroglycerin
are not effective.
Question 8
A patient with musculoskeletal chest pain describes the pain as:
A) Squeezing or pressure-like
B) Gradual onset of sharp or dull pain
, C) Burning substernal pain
D) Sharp, stabbing, one-sided pain
Answer: B
Rationale: Musculoskeletal chest pain is typically described as having a gradual onset of sharp
or dull pain. It is more localized and can be reproduced with movement.
Gastrointestinal Chest Pain
Question 9
What is the second most common cause of chest pain in primary care?
A) Psychiatric disorders
B) Pulmonary causes
C) Gastrointestinal causes
D) Musculoskeletal causes
Answer: C
Rationale: Gastrointestinal causes (GERD, esophagitis, PUD, hiatal hernia, gallbladder) are the
second most common cause of chest pain, after musculoskeletal causes.
Question 10
Which gastrointestinal disorder most commonly mimics cardiac chest pain?
A) Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)
B) Esophageal spasm
C) Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
D) Hiatal hernia
Answer: C
Rationale: GERD is the most common gastrointestinal disorder that mimics chest pain. It causes
substernal burning pain that is often recurrent and can be confused with cardiac pain.
Question 11
A patient with GERD-related chest pain reports that the pain is relieved by:
