NR 569 MIDTERM & FINAL EXAMS |
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN ACUTE CARE
PRACTICUM (CHAMBERLAIN) | LATEST
2024/2025 STUDY BUNDLE | VERIFIED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | A+ GUARANTEED
• This study bundle contains 200 verified exam questions covering differential
diagnosis in acute care, designed to mirror the actual NR 569 Midterm & Final exam
format for Chamberlain students.
• Use this material by reading each question carefully, attempting an answer before
revealing the correct option, and studying the EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce
clinical reasoning skills.
NR 569 — DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN ACUTE CARE PRACTICUM MIDTERM &
FINAL EXAM STUDY BUNDLE | 200 QUESTIONS
1. A 45-year-old male presents with sudden onset severe chest pain radiating
to the back, described as "tearing." BP is 180/110 mmHg. What is the most
likely diagnosis?
A. Acute myocardial infarction
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Tension pneumothorax
D. Pericarditis
==▶ E. Aortic dissection ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Tearing or ripping chest pain radiating to the back with
hypertension is classic for aortic dissection. Immediate imaging (CT angiography) is
required.
,2. A 60-year-old woman presents with dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and a
recent long-haul flight. Oxygen saturation is 89%. What is the priority
diagnosis?
A. Pneumonia
B. Acute MI
C. Pleuritis
D. COPD exacerbation
==▶ E. Pulmonary embolism ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Risk factors (immobility from long flight), pleuritic chest pain,
dyspnea, and hypoxia are classic for PE. D-dimer and CT pulmonary angiography are
indicated.
3. A 30-year-old presents with sudden onset unilateral sharp chest pain,
decreased breath sounds, and tracheal deviation. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Hemothorax
B. Myocardial infarction
C. Pericardial effusion
D. Pleuritis
==▶ E. Tension pneumothorax ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Tracheal deviation away from affected side, absent breath sounds,
and sudden onset sharp pain indicate tension pneumothorax — a life-threatening
emergency.
4. A 55-year-old diabetic male presents with diaphoresis, nausea, and jaw pain
without chest pain. ECG shows ST elevation in leads II, III, aVF. What is the
diagnosis?
,A. Esophageal spasm
B. Angina pectoris
C. Pericarditis
D. Pulmonary embolism
==▶ E. Inferior STEMI ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: ST elevation in II, III, aVF localizes to the inferior wall. Diabetic
patients often present atypically without classic chest pain.
5. A 25-year-old woman presents with palpitations, heat intolerance, weight
loss, and exophthalmos. TSH is undetectable. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Hypothyroidism
B. Cushing's syndrome
C. Addison's disease
D. Type 1 diabetes
==▶ E. Graves' disease ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Exophthalmos is pathognomonic for Graves' disease, an
autoimmune hyperthyroidism. Suppressed TSH with elevated T3/T4 confirms the
diagnosis.
6. A patient presents with polyuria, polydipsia, and a serum glucose of 520
mg/dL with a bicarbonate of 10 mEq/L and positive ketones. What is the
diagnosis?
A. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
B. SIADH
C. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
, D. Lactic acidosis
==▶ E. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: DKA is characterized by hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis (low
bicarb), and ketonemia/ketonuria. Treatment is IV fluids, insulin, and electrolyte
replacement.
7. A 70-year-old with atrial fibrillation presents with sudden left-sided
weakness and facial droop lasting 20 minutes, then fully resolving. What is
the diagnosis?
A. Todd's paralysis
B. Hemiplegic migraine
C. Bell's palsy
D. Multiple sclerosis relapse
==▶ E. Transient ischemic attack (TIA) ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Sudden focal neurologic deficits lasting <24 hours that fully resolve
are TIAs. AF is a major cardioembolic risk factor. Urgent workup is required.
8. A 68-year-old smoker presents with productive cough, fever, rusty sputum,
and right lower lobe consolidation on CXR. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Tuberculosis
B. Lung cancer
C. Bronchitis
D. Pulmonary edema
==▶ E. Community-acquired pneumonia ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Fever, productive cough, rusty sputum (classic for Streptococcus
pneumoniae), and lobar consolidation on CXR confirm community-acquired pneumonia.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN ACUTE CARE
PRACTICUM (CHAMBERLAIN) | LATEST
2024/2025 STUDY BUNDLE | VERIFIED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | A+ GUARANTEED
• This study bundle contains 200 verified exam questions covering differential
diagnosis in acute care, designed to mirror the actual NR 569 Midterm & Final exam
format for Chamberlain students.
• Use this material by reading each question carefully, attempting an answer before
revealing the correct option, and studying the EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce
clinical reasoning skills.
NR 569 — DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN ACUTE CARE PRACTICUM MIDTERM &
FINAL EXAM STUDY BUNDLE | 200 QUESTIONS
1. A 45-year-old male presents with sudden onset severe chest pain radiating
to the back, described as "tearing." BP is 180/110 mmHg. What is the most
likely diagnosis?
A. Acute myocardial infarction
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Tension pneumothorax
D. Pericarditis
==▶ E. Aortic dissection ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Tearing or ripping chest pain radiating to the back with
hypertension is classic for aortic dissection. Immediate imaging (CT angiography) is
required.
,2. A 60-year-old woman presents with dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and a
recent long-haul flight. Oxygen saturation is 89%. What is the priority
diagnosis?
A. Pneumonia
B. Acute MI
C. Pleuritis
D. COPD exacerbation
==▶ E. Pulmonary embolism ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Risk factors (immobility from long flight), pleuritic chest pain,
dyspnea, and hypoxia are classic for PE. D-dimer and CT pulmonary angiography are
indicated.
3. A 30-year-old presents with sudden onset unilateral sharp chest pain,
decreased breath sounds, and tracheal deviation. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Hemothorax
B. Myocardial infarction
C. Pericardial effusion
D. Pleuritis
==▶ E. Tension pneumothorax ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Tracheal deviation away from affected side, absent breath sounds,
and sudden onset sharp pain indicate tension pneumothorax — a life-threatening
emergency.
4. A 55-year-old diabetic male presents with diaphoresis, nausea, and jaw pain
without chest pain. ECG shows ST elevation in leads II, III, aVF. What is the
diagnosis?
,A. Esophageal spasm
B. Angina pectoris
C. Pericarditis
D. Pulmonary embolism
==▶ E. Inferior STEMI ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: ST elevation in II, III, aVF localizes to the inferior wall. Diabetic
patients often present atypically without classic chest pain.
5. A 25-year-old woman presents with palpitations, heat intolerance, weight
loss, and exophthalmos. TSH is undetectable. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Hypothyroidism
B. Cushing's syndrome
C. Addison's disease
D. Type 1 diabetes
==▶ E. Graves' disease ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Exophthalmos is pathognomonic for Graves' disease, an
autoimmune hyperthyroidism. Suppressed TSH with elevated T3/T4 confirms the
diagnosis.
6. A patient presents with polyuria, polydipsia, and a serum glucose of 520
mg/dL with a bicarbonate of 10 mEq/L and positive ketones. What is the
diagnosis?
A. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
B. SIADH
C. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
, D. Lactic acidosis
==▶ E. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: DKA is characterized by hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis (low
bicarb), and ketonemia/ketonuria. Treatment is IV fluids, insulin, and electrolyte
replacement.
7. A 70-year-old with atrial fibrillation presents with sudden left-sided
weakness and facial droop lasting 20 minutes, then fully resolving. What is
the diagnosis?
A. Todd's paralysis
B. Hemiplegic migraine
C. Bell's palsy
D. Multiple sclerosis relapse
==▶ E. Transient ischemic attack (TIA) ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Sudden focal neurologic deficits lasting <24 hours that fully resolve
are TIAs. AF is a major cardioembolic risk factor. Urgent workup is required.
8. A 68-year-old smoker presents with productive cough, fever, rusty sputum,
and right lower lobe consolidation on CXR. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Tuberculosis
B. Lung cancer
C. Bronchitis
D. Pulmonary edema
==▶ E. Community-acquired pneumonia ==
EXPERT RATIONALE: Fever, productive cough, rusty sputum (classic for Streptococcus
pneumoniae), and lobar consolidation on CXR confirm community-acquired pneumonia.
