NR 603 CEA EXAM COMPREHENSIVE 100 QUESTION
PRACTICE TEST BANK WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
DETAILED RATIONALES COVERING CARDIOVASCULAR,
PULMONARY, HEMATOLOGY, ONCOLOGY, NEUROLOGY,
GASTROINTESTINAL, ENDOCRINE, MUSCULOSKELETAL, AND
DERMATOLOGY SYSTE
Cardiovascular — Questions
1.
A 58-year-old patient reports substernal chest pressure that began 30 minutes ago while
mowing the lawn. The pain radiates to the left arm and is associated with diaphoresis and
nausea. What is the priority diagnosis?
A. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
B. Acute coronary syndrome
C. Costochondritis
D. Panic disorder
Answer: B. Acute coronary syndrome
Rationale: Exertional substernal pressure with radiation, diaphoresis, and nausea is highly
concerning for myocardial ischemia. ACS requires immediate evaluation with ECG and cardiac
biomarkers.
2.
A patient with suspected heart failure reports worsening dyspnea, orthopnea, and a 5-lb weight
gain over several days. Which finding most strongly supports fluid overload?
A. Dry mucous membranes
B. Jugular venous distention
C. Bradycardia
D. Decreased abdominal girth
Answer: B. Jugular venous distention
Rationale: JVD reflects increased right-sided filling pressure and is an important clinical sign of
volume overload in heart failure.
,3.
Which symptom is most characteristic of peripheral arterial disease?
A. Bilateral leg edema
B. Calf pain with walking relieved by rest
C. Warm feet with bounding pulses
D. Pain that improves when the legs are elevated
Answer: B. Calf pain with walking relieved by rest
Rationale: Intermittent claudication occurs when arterial blood flow cannot meet muscular
oxygen demand during exercise. Rest reduces oxygen demand and relieves pain.
4.
A patient has atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response. Which complication is the
major long-term concern?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Stroke
C. Peptic ulcer disease
D. Renal calculi
Answer: B. Stroke
Rationale: Atrial fibrillation promotes blood stasis in the atria, particularly the left atrial
appendage, increasing thromboembolic stroke risk.
5.
Which ECG finding is classically associated with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction?
A. ST-segment elevation
B. Shortened PR interval only
C. Widened QRS without ischemic changes
D. Isolated sinus bradycardia
Answer: A. ST-segment elevation
,Rationale: ST elevation in anatomically contiguous leads can indicate acute myocardial injury
from coronary occlusion and requires urgent evaluation and reperfusion consideration.
6.
A patient with hypertension has blood pressure readings averaging 168/96 mmHg despite
lifestyle modification. What is the most appropriate interpretation?
A. Normal blood pressure
B. Elevated blood pressure only
C. Stage 2 hypertension
D. Hypertensive emergency automatically
Answer: C. Stage 2 hypertension
Rationale: Persistent BP in this range meets stage 2 hypertension criteria. A hypertensive
emergency requires severe BP elevation accompanied by acute target-organ injury.
7.
Which finding is most consistent with left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Ascites only
C. Peripheral cyanosis without dyspnea
D. Hepatomegaly without respiratory symptoms
Answer: A. Pulmonary crackles
Rationale: Left ventricular failure causes pulmonary venous congestion, which can produce
crackles, dyspnea, orthopnea, and pulmonary edema.
8.
A patient presents with unilateral calf swelling, warmth, and tenderness after prolonged
immobilization. What diagnosis should be suspected?
A. Deep vein thrombosis
B. Cellulitis only
, C. Osteoarthritis
D. Peripheral neuropathy
Answer: A. Deep vein thrombosis
Rationale: Unilateral swelling, warmth, and tenderness in a patient with a thrombotic risk factor
are classic findings of DVT. Compression ultrasonography is commonly used for evaluation.
9.
Which patient has the greatest risk for infective endocarditis?
A. Patient with seasonal allergies
B. Patient with a prosthetic heart valve
C. Patient with uncomplicated migraine
D. Patient with controlled hypothyroidism
Answer: B. Patient with a prosthetic heart valve
Rationale: Prosthetic valves significantly increase the risk of infective endocarditis.
10.
A patient with aortic stenosis is most likely to report which symptom combination?
A. Fever, cough, and hemoptysis
B. Syncope, angina, and exertional dyspnea
C. Polyuria and polydipsia
D. Diarrhea and abdominal cramping
Answer: B. Syncope, angina, and exertional dyspnea
Rationale: The classic symptom triad of significant aortic stenosis is angina, syncope, and
dyspnea, particularly with exertion.
11.
Which physical finding is most suggestive of mitral regurgitation?
A. Holosystolic murmur
B. Diastolic rumble only
PRACTICE TEST BANK WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
DETAILED RATIONALES COVERING CARDIOVASCULAR,
PULMONARY, HEMATOLOGY, ONCOLOGY, NEUROLOGY,
GASTROINTESTINAL, ENDOCRINE, MUSCULOSKELETAL, AND
DERMATOLOGY SYSTE
Cardiovascular — Questions
1.
A 58-year-old patient reports substernal chest pressure that began 30 minutes ago while
mowing the lawn. The pain radiates to the left arm and is associated with diaphoresis and
nausea. What is the priority diagnosis?
A. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
B. Acute coronary syndrome
C. Costochondritis
D. Panic disorder
Answer: B. Acute coronary syndrome
Rationale: Exertional substernal pressure with radiation, diaphoresis, and nausea is highly
concerning for myocardial ischemia. ACS requires immediate evaluation with ECG and cardiac
biomarkers.
2.
A patient with suspected heart failure reports worsening dyspnea, orthopnea, and a 5-lb weight
gain over several days. Which finding most strongly supports fluid overload?
A. Dry mucous membranes
B. Jugular venous distention
C. Bradycardia
D. Decreased abdominal girth
Answer: B. Jugular venous distention
Rationale: JVD reflects increased right-sided filling pressure and is an important clinical sign of
volume overload in heart failure.
,3.
Which symptom is most characteristic of peripheral arterial disease?
A. Bilateral leg edema
B. Calf pain with walking relieved by rest
C. Warm feet with bounding pulses
D. Pain that improves when the legs are elevated
Answer: B. Calf pain with walking relieved by rest
Rationale: Intermittent claudication occurs when arterial blood flow cannot meet muscular
oxygen demand during exercise. Rest reduces oxygen demand and relieves pain.
4.
A patient has atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response. Which complication is the
major long-term concern?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Stroke
C. Peptic ulcer disease
D. Renal calculi
Answer: B. Stroke
Rationale: Atrial fibrillation promotes blood stasis in the atria, particularly the left atrial
appendage, increasing thromboembolic stroke risk.
5.
Which ECG finding is classically associated with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction?
A. ST-segment elevation
B. Shortened PR interval only
C. Widened QRS without ischemic changes
D. Isolated sinus bradycardia
Answer: A. ST-segment elevation
,Rationale: ST elevation in anatomically contiguous leads can indicate acute myocardial injury
from coronary occlusion and requires urgent evaluation and reperfusion consideration.
6.
A patient with hypertension has blood pressure readings averaging 168/96 mmHg despite
lifestyle modification. What is the most appropriate interpretation?
A. Normal blood pressure
B. Elevated blood pressure only
C. Stage 2 hypertension
D. Hypertensive emergency automatically
Answer: C. Stage 2 hypertension
Rationale: Persistent BP in this range meets stage 2 hypertension criteria. A hypertensive
emergency requires severe BP elevation accompanied by acute target-organ injury.
7.
Which finding is most consistent with left-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary crackles
B. Ascites only
C. Peripheral cyanosis without dyspnea
D. Hepatomegaly without respiratory symptoms
Answer: A. Pulmonary crackles
Rationale: Left ventricular failure causes pulmonary venous congestion, which can produce
crackles, dyspnea, orthopnea, and pulmonary edema.
8.
A patient presents with unilateral calf swelling, warmth, and tenderness after prolonged
immobilization. What diagnosis should be suspected?
A. Deep vein thrombosis
B. Cellulitis only
, C. Osteoarthritis
D. Peripheral neuropathy
Answer: A. Deep vein thrombosis
Rationale: Unilateral swelling, warmth, and tenderness in a patient with a thrombotic risk factor
are classic findings of DVT. Compression ultrasonography is commonly used for evaluation.
9.
Which patient has the greatest risk for infective endocarditis?
A. Patient with seasonal allergies
B. Patient with a prosthetic heart valve
C. Patient with uncomplicated migraine
D. Patient with controlled hypothyroidism
Answer: B. Patient with a prosthetic heart valve
Rationale: Prosthetic valves significantly increase the risk of infective endocarditis.
10.
A patient with aortic stenosis is most likely to report which symptom combination?
A. Fever, cough, and hemoptysis
B. Syncope, angina, and exertional dyspnea
C. Polyuria and polydipsia
D. Diarrhea and abdominal cramping
Answer: B. Syncope, angina, and exertional dyspnea
Rationale: The classic symptom triad of significant aortic stenosis is angina, syncope, and
dyspnea, particularly with exertion.
11.
Which physical finding is most suggestive of mitral regurgitation?
A. Holosystolic murmur
B. Diastolic rumble only
