NR 511 Final Exam Review Differential Diagnosis &
Primary Care Questions & Answers 2026 | Latest Review
Guide
1. Which class of medication is advised against for patients with GERD due to its
potential to exacerbate symptoms?
laxatives
antibiotics
antacids
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
2. What is a common cause of macrocytic normochromic anemias?
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Chronic blood loss
Folate deficiency
Iron deficiency
3. What common dietary habit should be avoided by patients with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
Drinking water
Eating spicy foods
Eating fruits and vegetables
Consuming whole grains
4. Describe how patient history can aid in the diagnosis of a gastric ulcer.
Patient history only provides information about previous surgeries.
, Patient history is not relevant for diagnosing gastric ulcers.
Patient history can reveal symptoms such as abdominal pain and the
timing of meals, which are crucial for diagnosing a gastric ulcer.
Patient history is primarily used to determine medication allergies.
5. The patient experiencing symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) is diagnosed with Barrett's epithelium following endoscopic
examination. How should the nurse explain the diagnosis to the patient?
This is a precancerous tissue located in the esophagus.
This finding is reflective of ulcerated and inflamed esophageal tissue
This indicates the presence of esophageal strictures.
This finding relates to the fine tears in the distal esophagus common
with GERD.
6. Which antibiotic is strictly used for uncomplicated UTI?
Amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin)
Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
Nitrofurantioin (Macrobid)
Cephalexin (Keflex)
TMP-SMZ (Bactrim/Septra)
7. What is a key component to assess during the history and physical exam for
gastrointestinal disorders?
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Respiratory rate
Patient history
,8. A 64-year-old obese woman comes in complaining of difficulty swallowing
for the past 3 weeks. She states that "some foods get stuck" and she has been
having "heartburn" at night when she lies down, especially if she has had a
heavy meal. Occasionally, she awakes at night coughing. She denies weight
gain and/or weight loss, vomiting, or change in bowel movements or color of
stools. She denies alcohol and tobacco use. There is no pertinent family
history or findings on review of systems (ROS). Physical examination is
normal, with no abdominal tenderness, and the stool is occult blood (OB)
negative. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)
Esophageal varices.
Esophageal cancer.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
9. A 72 y/o female comes in with severe abdominal pain and you begin to
assess her, what is the primary focus?
Obtaining a health history
Presenting issue
Head-to-toe assessment
Diagnosis
10. A 16-year-old male presents to an urgent care clinic with abdominal pain.
The pain is constant and located in the periumbilical region shifting to the
RLQ. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Elevation in WBC and WBC in urine
Rocky mountain fever
Gastroenteritis
Pancreatitis
Appendicitis
, 11. The nurse is looking at the CBC results for a recently diagnosed anemic
patient. Which of the following test results would differentiate sideroblastic
anemia from iron deficiency anemia?
sideroblastic anemia has lower h/h and increased TIBC
sideroblastic anemia results show adequate serum iron and ferritin
levels
iron deficient anemia results in smaller, paler RBCs
iron deficiency anemia is a simpler name for sideroblastic, they are the
same thing
12. Your patient notes that he is fatigued with vague abdominal pain. His labs
show anemia. What are you concerned about?
IBD
Crohns disease
GERD
Colon cancer
13. Which class of antibiotics is commonly prescribed for uncomplicated urinary
tract infections (UTIs)?
Nitrofurantoin
Amoxicillin
Ciprofloxacin
Vancomycin
14. On the way to the clinic, the nurse informed you that you have a 14-year old
patient who presents with loose watery stool of 3 days. Even before you saw
the patient, what are the most likely differential diagnoses you are going to
consider?
Primary Care Questions & Answers 2026 | Latest Review
Guide
1. Which class of medication is advised against for patients with GERD due to its
potential to exacerbate symptoms?
laxatives
antibiotics
antacids
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
2. What is a common cause of macrocytic normochromic anemias?
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Chronic blood loss
Folate deficiency
Iron deficiency
3. What common dietary habit should be avoided by patients with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
Drinking water
Eating spicy foods
Eating fruits and vegetables
Consuming whole grains
4. Describe how patient history can aid in the diagnosis of a gastric ulcer.
Patient history only provides information about previous surgeries.
, Patient history is not relevant for diagnosing gastric ulcers.
Patient history can reveal symptoms such as abdominal pain and the
timing of meals, which are crucial for diagnosing a gastric ulcer.
Patient history is primarily used to determine medication allergies.
5. The patient experiencing symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) is diagnosed with Barrett's epithelium following endoscopic
examination. How should the nurse explain the diagnosis to the patient?
This is a precancerous tissue located in the esophagus.
This finding is reflective of ulcerated and inflamed esophageal tissue
This indicates the presence of esophageal strictures.
This finding relates to the fine tears in the distal esophagus common
with GERD.
6. Which antibiotic is strictly used for uncomplicated UTI?
Amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin)
Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
Nitrofurantioin (Macrobid)
Cephalexin (Keflex)
TMP-SMZ (Bactrim/Septra)
7. What is a key component to assess during the history and physical exam for
gastrointestinal disorders?
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Respiratory rate
Patient history
,8. A 64-year-old obese woman comes in complaining of difficulty swallowing
for the past 3 weeks. She states that "some foods get stuck" and she has been
having "heartburn" at night when she lies down, especially if she has had a
heavy meal. Occasionally, she awakes at night coughing. She denies weight
gain and/or weight loss, vomiting, or change in bowel movements or color of
stools. She denies alcohol and tobacco use. There is no pertinent family
history or findings on review of systems (ROS). Physical examination is
normal, with no abdominal tenderness, and the stool is occult blood (OB)
negative. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)
Esophageal varices.
Esophageal cancer.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
9. A 72 y/o female comes in with severe abdominal pain and you begin to
assess her, what is the primary focus?
Obtaining a health history
Presenting issue
Head-to-toe assessment
Diagnosis
10. A 16-year-old male presents to an urgent care clinic with abdominal pain.
The pain is constant and located in the periumbilical region shifting to the
RLQ. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Elevation in WBC and WBC in urine
Rocky mountain fever
Gastroenteritis
Pancreatitis
Appendicitis
, 11. The nurse is looking at the CBC results for a recently diagnosed anemic
patient. Which of the following test results would differentiate sideroblastic
anemia from iron deficiency anemia?
sideroblastic anemia has lower h/h and increased TIBC
sideroblastic anemia results show adequate serum iron and ferritin
levels
iron deficient anemia results in smaller, paler RBCs
iron deficiency anemia is a simpler name for sideroblastic, they are the
same thing
12. Your patient notes that he is fatigued with vague abdominal pain. His labs
show anemia. What are you concerned about?
IBD
Crohns disease
GERD
Colon cancer
13. Which class of antibiotics is commonly prescribed for uncomplicated urinary
tract infections (UTIs)?
Nitrofurantoin
Amoxicillin
Ciprofloxacin
Vancomycin
14. On the way to the clinic, the nurse informed you that you have a 14-year old
patient who presents with loose watery stool of 3 days. Even before you saw
the patient, what are the most likely differential diagnoses you are going to
consider?
