NR 511 CEA Midterm Exam Practice: Primary Care & Differ… 2026 Update • Verified Answers
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NR 511 CEA Midterm Exam Practice: Primary Care &
Differential Diagnosis 2026 |Chamberlain
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,NR 511 CEA Midterm Exam Practice: Primary Care & Differ… 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A 24-year-old patient presents with a sore throat, fever, and cervical lymphadenopathy.
According to the Centor criteria, which of the following findings would most strongly suggest a
need for a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) for Group A Streptococcus?
A. Tonsillar exudates
B. Presence of a cough
C. Posterior cervical lymphadenopathy
D. Afebrile status
Answer: A
Rationale: The Centor criteria include fever, tonsillar exudates, tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy, and
the absence of a cough. Each scores one point to determine the likelihood of bacterial pharyngitis. Exam
questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear
rationale essential for mastery.
2. Which physical exam maneuver is specifically used to assess for acute cholecystitis?
A. Murphy’s sign
B. Rovsing’s sign
C. McBurney’s sign
D. Psoas sign
Answer: A
Rationale: Murphy’s sign is positive when a patient experiences sharp pain and inspiratory arrest upon
palpation of the right upper quadrant during a deep breath, suggesting cholecystitis. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
3. In evidence-based practice, the ‘Sensitivity’ of a diagnostic test refers to its ability to:
A. Correctly identify those with the disease
B. Correctly identify those who do not have the disease
C. Minimize false positive results
D. Predict the prognosis of a disease
Answer: A
Rationale: Sensitivity is the probability that a test will be positive when the disease is present (True Positive
Rate). Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a
clear rationale essential for mastery. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based
practice and improves patient outcomes.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, NR 511 CEA Midterm Exam Practice: Primary Care & Differ… 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A 65-year-old male presents with a smoker’s cough and shortness of breath. A spirometry
test reveals an FEV1/FVC ratio of less than 0.70 post-bronchodilator. This finding is diagnostic
for:
A. Restrictive lung disease
B. Asthma
C. Congestive Heart Failure
D. COPD
Answer: D
Rationale: According to the GOLD criteria, a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.70 confirms persistent
airflow limitation, which is diagnostic for COPD. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care,
anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to
distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
5. Which of the following is considered the ‘gold standard’ for diagnosing acute bacterial
rhinosinusitis compared to viral rhinosinusitis?
A. Presence of purulent nasal discharge for 3 days
B. Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improvement
C. Sinus CT scan showing mucosal thickening
D. Patient report of facial pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Bacterial sinusitis is typically diagnosed clinically when symptoms persist for 10 or more days, or
involve ‘double sickening’ (worsening after initial improvement). This is an important clinical concept because
selecting the correct answer (B) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing
implications.
6. A patient presents with a ‘velvety,’ hyperpigmented patch on the back of the neck. This
condition, known as Acanthosis Nigricans, is most commonly associated with:
A. Vitamin B12 deficiency
B. Insulin resistance
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Answer: B
Rationale: Acanthosis Nigricans is a skin marker frequently associated with insulin resistance, obesity, and
Type 2 Diabetes. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and
provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely
related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NR 511 CEA Midterm Exam Practice: Primary Care &
Differential Diagnosis 2026 |Chamberlain
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,NR 511 CEA Midterm Exam Practice: Primary Care & Differ… 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A 24-year-old patient presents with a sore throat, fever, and cervical lymphadenopathy.
According to the Centor criteria, which of the following findings would most strongly suggest a
need for a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) for Group A Streptococcus?
A. Tonsillar exudates
B. Presence of a cough
C. Posterior cervical lymphadenopathy
D. Afebrile status
Answer: A
Rationale: The Centor criteria include fever, tonsillar exudates, tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy, and
the absence of a cough. Each scores one point to determine the likelihood of bacterial pharyngitis. Exam
questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear
rationale essential for mastery.
2. Which physical exam maneuver is specifically used to assess for acute cholecystitis?
A. Murphy’s sign
B. Rovsing’s sign
C. McBurney’s sign
D. Psoas sign
Answer: A
Rationale: Murphy’s sign is positive when a patient experiences sharp pain and inspiratory arrest upon
palpation of the right upper quadrant during a deep breath, suggesting cholecystitis. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
3. In evidence-based practice, the ‘Sensitivity’ of a diagnostic test refers to its ability to:
A. Correctly identify those with the disease
B. Correctly identify those who do not have the disease
C. Minimize false positive results
D. Predict the prognosis of a disease
Answer: A
Rationale: Sensitivity is the probability that a test will be positive when the disease is present (True Positive
Rate). Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a
clear rationale essential for mastery. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based
practice and improves patient outcomes.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, NR 511 CEA Midterm Exam Practice: Primary Care & Differ… 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A 65-year-old male presents with a smoker’s cough and shortness of breath. A spirometry
test reveals an FEV1/FVC ratio of less than 0.70 post-bronchodilator. This finding is diagnostic
for:
A. Restrictive lung disease
B. Asthma
C. Congestive Heart Failure
D. COPD
Answer: D
Rationale: According to the GOLD criteria, a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.70 confirms persistent
airflow limitation, which is diagnostic for COPD. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care,
anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to
distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
5. Which of the following is considered the ‘gold standard’ for diagnosing acute bacterial
rhinosinusitis compared to viral rhinosinusitis?
A. Presence of purulent nasal discharge for 3 days
B. Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improvement
C. Sinus CT scan showing mucosal thickening
D. Patient report of facial pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Bacterial sinusitis is typically diagnosed clinically when symptoms persist for 10 or more days, or
involve ‘double sickening’ (worsening after initial improvement). This is an important clinical concept because
selecting the correct answer (B) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing
implications.
6. A patient presents with a ‘velvety,’ hyperpigmented patch on the back of the neck. This
condition, known as Acanthosis Nigricans, is most commonly associated with:
A. Vitamin B12 deficiency
B. Insulin resistance
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Answer: B
Rationale: Acanthosis Nigricans is a skin marker frequently associated with insulin resistance, obesity, and
Type 2 Diabetes. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and
provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely
related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
