NR 575 CLINICAL EVALUATION
ASSESSMENT (CEA) COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM Chamberlain University |
2026/2027 Updat180 Questions with
Detailed Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT & PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
(Questions 1–30)
QUESTION 1
A 19-year-old patient presents with a new-onset cough. The nurse practitioner
performs percussion of the thorax. How does percussion assist in the physical
examination?
A) To confirm the cardiac origin of angina
B) To assess for deep-seated lesions and tumors
C) To assess for pain or discomfort prior to palpation
D) To identify if underlying tissues are air-filled, fluid-filled, or consolidated
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Percussion of the thorax produces different sounds based on the
density of underlying structures. Normal lung tissue is air-filled and produces a
,resonant sound. Fluid (pleural effusion) or consolidated tissue (pneumonia, tumor)
produces dullness. Hyperresonance indicates trapped air (COPD, pneumothorax).
QUESTION 2
A 50-year-old Caucasian male presents for an initial history and physical after 20+
years without primary care. Examination reveals nonpitting periorbital edema, very
dry thinned hair, and loss of the lateral third of the eyebrows. Which diagnosis
should the NP suspect?
A) Addison's disease
B) Graves' disease
C) Severe hypothyroidism (myxedema)
D) Alzheimer's disease
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Severe hypothyroidism (myxedema) presents with characteristic
findings including nonpitting periorbital edema (myxedema), dry thinned hair, and
loss of the lateral third of the eyebrows (Queen Anne's sign). These findings result
from accumulation of mucopolysaccharides in the dermis and other tissues.
QUESTION 3
A 55-year-old man presents with intermittent chest pressure occurring during
exercise and resolving with rest. The APRN selects a diagnostic test with high
sensitivity. What is the primary advantage of this choice?
,A) It confirms disease when positive
B) It minimizes false negatives
C) It minimizes false positives
D) It predicts disease severity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Highly sensitive tests detect most patients who truly have the disease,
resulting in fewer false negatives. Therefore, a negative result helps rule out disease
(SnNout - Sensitivity rules out).
QUESTION 4
A 43-year-old woman presents with fatigue, weight loss, and palpitations. Which
additional history question would most effectively narrow the differential
diagnosis?
A) "Do you drink coffee?"
B) "Have you noticed heat intolerance or tremors?"
C) "What is your occupation?"
D) "How many siblings do you have?"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Heat intolerance and tremors are classic symptoms of hyperthyroidism
and help discriminate endocrine causes from other causes of fatigue and weight
loss. This targeted questioning efficiently narrows the differential diagnosis.
, QUESTION 5
A 72-year-old develops sudden facial droop, right arm weakness, and slurred
speech lasting 15 minutes before complete resolution. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A) Migraine
B) Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
C) Bell's palsy
D) Seizure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transient neurologic deficits that completely resolve within 24 hours
(typically <1 hour) are characteristic of a transient ischemic attack. This requires
urgent stroke evaluation and risk factor modification to prevent future stroke.
QUESTION 6
A patient demonstrates weakness when shrugging the shoulders against
resistance. Which cranial nerve is affected?
A) Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
B) Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
C) Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)
D) Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Correct Answer: C
ASSESSMENT (CEA) COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM Chamberlain University |
2026/2027 Updat180 Questions with
Detailed Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT & PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
(Questions 1–30)
QUESTION 1
A 19-year-old patient presents with a new-onset cough. The nurse practitioner
performs percussion of the thorax. How does percussion assist in the physical
examination?
A) To confirm the cardiac origin of angina
B) To assess for deep-seated lesions and tumors
C) To assess for pain or discomfort prior to palpation
D) To identify if underlying tissues are air-filled, fluid-filled, or consolidated
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Percussion of the thorax produces different sounds based on the
density of underlying structures. Normal lung tissue is air-filled and produces a
,resonant sound. Fluid (pleural effusion) or consolidated tissue (pneumonia, tumor)
produces dullness. Hyperresonance indicates trapped air (COPD, pneumothorax).
QUESTION 2
A 50-year-old Caucasian male presents for an initial history and physical after 20+
years without primary care. Examination reveals nonpitting periorbital edema, very
dry thinned hair, and loss of the lateral third of the eyebrows. Which diagnosis
should the NP suspect?
A) Addison's disease
B) Graves' disease
C) Severe hypothyroidism (myxedema)
D) Alzheimer's disease
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Severe hypothyroidism (myxedema) presents with characteristic
findings including nonpitting periorbital edema (myxedema), dry thinned hair, and
loss of the lateral third of the eyebrows (Queen Anne's sign). These findings result
from accumulation of mucopolysaccharides in the dermis and other tissues.
QUESTION 3
A 55-year-old man presents with intermittent chest pressure occurring during
exercise and resolving with rest. The APRN selects a diagnostic test with high
sensitivity. What is the primary advantage of this choice?
,A) It confirms disease when positive
B) It minimizes false negatives
C) It minimizes false positives
D) It predicts disease severity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Highly sensitive tests detect most patients who truly have the disease,
resulting in fewer false negatives. Therefore, a negative result helps rule out disease
(SnNout - Sensitivity rules out).
QUESTION 4
A 43-year-old woman presents with fatigue, weight loss, and palpitations. Which
additional history question would most effectively narrow the differential
diagnosis?
A) "Do you drink coffee?"
B) "Have you noticed heat intolerance or tremors?"
C) "What is your occupation?"
D) "How many siblings do you have?"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Heat intolerance and tremors are classic symptoms of hyperthyroidism
and help discriminate endocrine causes from other causes of fatigue and weight
loss. This targeted questioning efficiently narrows the differential diagnosis.
, QUESTION 5
A 72-year-old develops sudden facial droop, right arm weakness, and slurred
speech lasting 15 minutes before complete resolution. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A) Migraine
B) Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
C) Bell's palsy
D) Seizure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transient neurologic deficits that completely resolve within 24 hours
(typically <1 hour) are characteristic of a transient ischemic attack. This requires
urgent stroke evaluation and risk factor modification to prevent future stroke.
QUESTION 6
A patient demonstrates weakness when shrugging the shoulders against
resistance. Which cranial nerve is affected?
A) Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
B) Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
C) Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)
D) Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Correct Answer: C
