NR 511 CEA: Clinical Diagnosis and Management
Across the Lifespan Final Chamberlain Primary
Care Exam Practice (2026) 150 Questions with
Answers & Rationales
Section 1: Primary Care Fundamentals & Clinical Reasoning (Questions 1–25)
1. A 55-year-old male presents with fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and
low-grade fever for 3 weeks. Which of the following is the most appropriate
initial approach?
A) Reassure the patient and schedule follow-up in 3 months
B) Order a comprehensive metabolic panel, CBC with differential, and
ESR/CRP
C) Prescribe antibiotics for presumed infection
D) Refer immediately to oncology
Answer: B) Order a comprehensive metabolic panel, CBC with
differential, and ESR/CRP
Rationale: Unexplained weight loss with constitutional symptoms
warrants initial laboratory evaluation to screen for infection,
inflammation, or malignancy. Targeted testing based on history
guides further evaluation.
,2. Which of the following is a key component of the "5 A's" model for
behavioral counseling in primary care?
A) Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange
B) Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange
C) Admit, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange
D) Assess, Advise, Administer, Arrange, Adhere
Answer: A) Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange
Rationale: The 5 A's model (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) is
an evidence-based framework for health behavior counseling in
primary care settings.
3. A 68-year-old female presents with a chief complaint of "dizziness." Which
of the following questions is most important to differentiate between vertigo
and lightheadedness?
A) "Do you feel like the room is spinning?"
B) "Do you feel faint or like you might pass out?"
C) "Do you have a headache?"
D) "Do you have chest pain?"
Answer: A) "Do you feel like the room is spinning?"
,Rationale: Vertigo is the sensation of movement (often spinning),
while lightheadedness/presyncope is a sensation of impending faint.
This distinction guides the differential diagnosis.
4. A 45-year-old female presents with a sore throat, fever, and tender
anterior cervical lymphadenopathy. Rapid strep test is negative. What is the
most appropriate next step?
A) Prescribe amoxicillin
B) Perform a throat culture
C) Reassure and treat symptomatically
D) Order a Monospot test
Answer: B) Perform a throat culture
Rationale: In adults with a negative rapid strep test and high clinical
suspicion (Centor criteria), throat culture is indicated to confirm
Group A streptococcal infection.
5. Which of the following is a first-line treatment for uncomplicated cystitis
in a non-pregnant female?
A) Ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily for 3 days
B) Nitrofurantoin 100 mg twice daily for 5 days
C) Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7 days
, D) Amoxicillin 500 mg three times daily for 7 days
Answer: B) Nitrofurantoin 100 mg twice daily for 5 days
Rationale: Nitrofurantoin is first-line for uncomplicated cystitis due
to low resistance rates. Fluoroquinolones are reserved for complicated
cases due to resistance and side effects.
6. A 35-year-old male presents with a painful, swollen right knee after a
twisting injury while playing basketball. He is unable to bear weight. What is
the most appropriate initial imaging study?
A) MRI of the knee
B) CT of the knee
C) X-ray of the knee
D) Ultrasound of the knee
Answer: C) X-ray of the knee
Rationale: X-ray is the initial imaging study for acute knee injury to
rule out fracture. MRI is indicated if ligamentous or meniscal injury is
suspected after initial evaluation.
7. A 60-year-old male with a 30-pack-year smoking history presents with a
new cough and hemoptysis. What is the most appropriate next step?
A) Chest x-ray
Across the Lifespan Final Chamberlain Primary
Care Exam Practice (2026) 150 Questions with
Answers & Rationales
Section 1: Primary Care Fundamentals & Clinical Reasoning (Questions 1–25)
1. A 55-year-old male presents with fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and
low-grade fever for 3 weeks. Which of the following is the most appropriate
initial approach?
A) Reassure the patient and schedule follow-up in 3 months
B) Order a comprehensive metabolic panel, CBC with differential, and
ESR/CRP
C) Prescribe antibiotics for presumed infection
D) Refer immediately to oncology
Answer: B) Order a comprehensive metabolic panel, CBC with
differential, and ESR/CRP
Rationale: Unexplained weight loss with constitutional symptoms
warrants initial laboratory evaluation to screen for infection,
inflammation, or malignancy. Targeted testing based on history
guides further evaluation.
,2. Which of the following is a key component of the "5 A's" model for
behavioral counseling in primary care?
A) Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange
B) Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange
C) Admit, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange
D) Assess, Advise, Administer, Arrange, Adhere
Answer: A) Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange
Rationale: The 5 A's model (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) is
an evidence-based framework for health behavior counseling in
primary care settings.
3. A 68-year-old female presents with a chief complaint of "dizziness." Which
of the following questions is most important to differentiate between vertigo
and lightheadedness?
A) "Do you feel like the room is spinning?"
B) "Do you feel faint or like you might pass out?"
C) "Do you have a headache?"
D) "Do you have chest pain?"
Answer: A) "Do you feel like the room is spinning?"
,Rationale: Vertigo is the sensation of movement (often spinning),
while lightheadedness/presyncope is a sensation of impending faint.
This distinction guides the differential diagnosis.
4. A 45-year-old female presents with a sore throat, fever, and tender
anterior cervical lymphadenopathy. Rapid strep test is negative. What is the
most appropriate next step?
A) Prescribe amoxicillin
B) Perform a throat culture
C) Reassure and treat symptomatically
D) Order a Monospot test
Answer: B) Perform a throat culture
Rationale: In adults with a negative rapid strep test and high clinical
suspicion (Centor criteria), throat culture is indicated to confirm
Group A streptococcal infection.
5. Which of the following is a first-line treatment for uncomplicated cystitis
in a non-pregnant female?
A) Ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily for 3 days
B) Nitrofurantoin 100 mg twice daily for 5 days
C) Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7 days
, D) Amoxicillin 500 mg three times daily for 7 days
Answer: B) Nitrofurantoin 100 mg twice daily for 5 days
Rationale: Nitrofurantoin is first-line for uncomplicated cystitis due
to low resistance rates. Fluoroquinolones are reserved for complicated
cases due to resistance and side effects.
6. A 35-year-old male presents with a painful, swollen right knee after a
twisting injury while playing basketball. He is unable to bear weight. What is
the most appropriate initial imaging study?
A) MRI of the knee
B) CT of the knee
C) X-ray of the knee
D) Ultrasound of the knee
Answer: C) X-ray of the knee
Rationale: X-ray is the initial imaging study for acute knee injury to
rule out fracture. MRI is indicated if ligamentous or meniscal injury is
suspected after initial evaluation.
7. A 60-year-old male with a 30-pack-year smoking history presents with a
new cough and hemoptysis. What is the most appropriate next step?
A) Chest x-ray
