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NR511/ NR 511 Differential Diagnosis Final Exam
2026/2027 | Verified Correct Q&A | A+ Study
Resource
Differential Diagnosis & Primary Care – Comprehensive Q&A
Review
Introduction
This 2026/2027 NR 511 Final Exam Study Guide is designed to help learners strengthen their
clinical reasoning, sharpen differential diagnosis skills, and build confidence in managing common
conditions encountered in primary care settings. The content is structured around high-yield
concepts that reflect the core learning objectives of NR 511, including diagnostic decision-making,
evidence-based practice, and patient-centered assessment strategies.
Inside this study guide, you’ll find carefully crafted practice questions paired with clear, accurate
explanations to reinforce understanding—not replace studying. Each question is designed to mirror
the style, depth, and clinical thinking required in graduate-level primary care coursework. All
answers come with concise rationales to support deeper comprehension and help students prepare
effectively for graded assessments.
Whether you’re reviewing key disease processes, clarifying diagnostic pathways, or strengthening
exam-taking strategies, this resource offers a focused and approachable way to study smarter and
more efficiently.
,Janet is a 30 year old woman who has been recently diagnosed with a herniated disc at the level
of L5-S1. She is currently in the emergency room with suspician of cauda equna compression.
Which of the following is a sign or symptom of cauda equina compression?
a. gastrocnemius weakness
b. reduced or absent ankle refles
c. numbness of the lateral foot
d. paresthesia of the perineum and buttocks
d. paresthesia of the perineum and buttocks
The patient has acute pancreatitis with 7 of the diagnostic criteria from Ranson's Criteria. In
order to plan care, the clinician understands that this criteria score has which of the following
meanings?
a. a high mortality rate
b. an increased chance of recurrence
c. 7% chance of the disease becoming chronic
d. all of the above
a. a high mortality rate
Reuben, age 24, has HIV and just had a routine viral load test done. The results show a falling
viral load What does this indicate
a. a favorable diagnostic trend
b. disease progression
c. the need to be more aggressive with Reuben's medications
d. the eradication of the HIV
a. a favorable diagnostic trend
Which is the differentiating symptom mbetween labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis?
a. symptoms with vestibular neuritis are usually acute in onset, whereas with labyrinthitis the
onet is more gradual
b. hearing loss may be associated with vestibular neuritis, but not with labyrinthitis
c. symptoms with labyrinthitis are usually acute in onset, ,whereas with vesticular neuritis the
onset is more gradual
d. hearing loss may be associated with labyrinthitis ,but not with vestibular neuritis.
d. hearing loss may be associated with labyrinthitis ,but not with vestibular neuritis.
A 27 year old female presents with a chief complaint of burning and pain on urination. She has
no previous history of urinary tract infection. what are some additional symptoms consistant with
a diagnosis of lower UTI?
a. back and abdominal pain
b. fever, chills, costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness
c. blood in urine and frequency
d. foul-smelling discharge, perineal itch
c. blood in urine and frequency
,The differential diagnosis for vertigo can be classified into which of the following categories:
a. peripheral vestibular disease
b. CNS disorders
c. Systemic disorders
d. all of the above
d. all of the above
Sam is a 25-year-old man who has been diagnosed with low back strain based on his history of
localized low back pain and muscle spasm along with a normal neurological examination. As the
clinician, you explain to Sam that low back pain is a diagnosis of exclusion. Which of the
following symptoms would alert the clinician to the more serious finding of a herniated nucleus
pulposus or ruptured disc?
a. morning stiffness and limited mobility of the lumbar spine
b. unilateral radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than
the back pain
c. Fever, chills, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate
d. pathologic fractures, severe night pain, weight loss and fatigue
b. unilateral radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than
the back pain
Preceptors must always see the patients that the students see in the clinical setting
a. true
b. false
a. true
An 82 year old man is seen in the primary care office with complaints of dribbling urine and
difficulty starting his stream. Which of the following should be included in the list of
differentials?
a. BPH
b. Prostate cancer
c. UTI
d. all of the above
d. all of the above
Which causes the greatest percentage of mammalian bites?
a. dogs
b. cats
c. humans
d. rodents
a. dogs
Endoscopic report reveals the presents of Barrett's epithelium. Which of the following
information should the clinician include in the explaination of the pathology report?
, a. this is a premalignant tissue
b. this tissue is resistant to gastric acid
c. this tissue supports healing of the esophagus
d. all of the above
d. all of the above
Which of the following data are indicative of testicular torsion?
a. absent cremasteric reflux
b. pain relived on testicular elevation
c. testicle very low in the scrotum
d. swollen scrotum with a red dot sign
a. absent cremasteric reflux
Most nosocomial pneumonias are caused by:
a. Fungi.
b. Viruses
c. Gram-negative bacteria.
d. Pneumococcal pneumonia.
c. Gram-negative bacteria.
A family practice office for all 5 of your clinical rotations will guarantee that you will gain the
required pediatric exposure
a. true
b. false
b. false
The most common precancerous skin lesion found in Caucasians is
a. skin tags
b. actinic keratosis
c. melanoma
d. basal skin lesion
b. actinic keratosis
Which obstructive lung disease is classified as reversible?
a. Asthma
b. Chronic bronchitis
c. Emphysema
d. COPD
a. Asthma
Which of the following is an example of an articular structure
a. bone
b. synovium
NR511/ NR 511 Differential Diagnosis Final Exam
2026/2027 | Verified Correct Q&A | A+ Study
Resource
Differential Diagnosis & Primary Care – Comprehensive Q&A
Review
Introduction
This 2026/2027 NR 511 Final Exam Study Guide is designed to help learners strengthen their
clinical reasoning, sharpen differential diagnosis skills, and build confidence in managing common
conditions encountered in primary care settings. The content is structured around high-yield
concepts that reflect the core learning objectives of NR 511, including diagnostic decision-making,
evidence-based practice, and patient-centered assessment strategies.
Inside this study guide, you’ll find carefully crafted practice questions paired with clear, accurate
explanations to reinforce understanding—not replace studying. Each question is designed to mirror
the style, depth, and clinical thinking required in graduate-level primary care coursework. All
answers come with concise rationales to support deeper comprehension and help students prepare
effectively for graded assessments.
Whether you’re reviewing key disease processes, clarifying diagnostic pathways, or strengthening
exam-taking strategies, this resource offers a focused and approachable way to study smarter and
more efficiently.
,Janet is a 30 year old woman who has been recently diagnosed with a herniated disc at the level
of L5-S1. She is currently in the emergency room with suspician of cauda equna compression.
Which of the following is a sign or symptom of cauda equina compression?
a. gastrocnemius weakness
b. reduced or absent ankle refles
c. numbness of the lateral foot
d. paresthesia of the perineum and buttocks
d. paresthesia of the perineum and buttocks
The patient has acute pancreatitis with 7 of the diagnostic criteria from Ranson's Criteria. In
order to plan care, the clinician understands that this criteria score has which of the following
meanings?
a. a high mortality rate
b. an increased chance of recurrence
c. 7% chance of the disease becoming chronic
d. all of the above
a. a high mortality rate
Reuben, age 24, has HIV and just had a routine viral load test done. The results show a falling
viral load What does this indicate
a. a favorable diagnostic trend
b. disease progression
c. the need to be more aggressive with Reuben's medications
d. the eradication of the HIV
a. a favorable diagnostic trend
Which is the differentiating symptom mbetween labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis?
a. symptoms with vestibular neuritis are usually acute in onset, whereas with labyrinthitis the
onet is more gradual
b. hearing loss may be associated with vestibular neuritis, but not with labyrinthitis
c. symptoms with labyrinthitis are usually acute in onset, ,whereas with vesticular neuritis the
onset is more gradual
d. hearing loss may be associated with labyrinthitis ,but not with vestibular neuritis.
d. hearing loss may be associated with labyrinthitis ,but not with vestibular neuritis.
A 27 year old female presents with a chief complaint of burning and pain on urination. She has
no previous history of urinary tract infection. what are some additional symptoms consistant with
a diagnosis of lower UTI?
a. back and abdominal pain
b. fever, chills, costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness
c. blood in urine and frequency
d. foul-smelling discharge, perineal itch
c. blood in urine and frequency
,The differential diagnosis for vertigo can be classified into which of the following categories:
a. peripheral vestibular disease
b. CNS disorders
c. Systemic disorders
d. all of the above
d. all of the above
Sam is a 25-year-old man who has been diagnosed with low back strain based on his history of
localized low back pain and muscle spasm along with a normal neurological examination. As the
clinician, you explain to Sam that low back pain is a diagnosis of exclusion. Which of the
following symptoms would alert the clinician to the more serious finding of a herniated nucleus
pulposus or ruptured disc?
a. morning stiffness and limited mobility of the lumbar spine
b. unilateral radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than
the back pain
c. Fever, chills, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate
d. pathologic fractures, severe night pain, weight loss and fatigue
b. unilateral radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than
the back pain
Preceptors must always see the patients that the students see in the clinical setting
a. true
b. false
a. true
An 82 year old man is seen in the primary care office with complaints of dribbling urine and
difficulty starting his stream. Which of the following should be included in the list of
differentials?
a. BPH
b. Prostate cancer
c. UTI
d. all of the above
d. all of the above
Which causes the greatest percentage of mammalian bites?
a. dogs
b. cats
c. humans
d. rodents
a. dogs
Endoscopic report reveals the presents of Barrett's epithelium. Which of the following
information should the clinician include in the explaination of the pathology report?
, a. this is a premalignant tissue
b. this tissue is resistant to gastric acid
c. this tissue supports healing of the esophagus
d. all of the above
d. all of the above
Which of the following data are indicative of testicular torsion?
a. absent cremasteric reflux
b. pain relived on testicular elevation
c. testicle very low in the scrotum
d. swollen scrotum with a red dot sign
a. absent cremasteric reflux
Most nosocomial pneumonias are caused by:
a. Fungi.
b. Viruses
c. Gram-negative bacteria.
d. Pneumococcal pneumonia.
c. Gram-negative bacteria.
A family practice office for all 5 of your clinical rotations will guarantee that you will gain the
required pediatric exposure
a. true
b. false
b. false
The most common precancerous skin lesion found in Caucasians is
a. skin tags
b. actinic keratosis
c. melanoma
d. basal skin lesion
b. actinic keratosis
Which obstructive lung disease is classified as reversible?
a. Asthma
b. Chronic bronchitis
c. Emphysema
d. COPD
a. Asthma
Which of the following is an example of an articular structure
a. bone
b. synovium
