NR 511 Differential Diagnosis and Primary
Care Final Examination, 2026/2027 –Questions
with Verified Solutions
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 - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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. - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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 -
ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-d. all of the above
Which causes the greatest percentage of mammalian bites?
a. dogs
b. cats
c. humans
d. rodents - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-a. absent cremasteric
reflux
Care Final Examination, 2026/2027 –Questions
with Verified Solutions
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 - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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. - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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 -
ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-d. all of the above
Which causes the greatest percentage of mammalian bites?
a. dogs
b. cats
c. humans
d. rodents - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-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 - ANSWERS-a. absent cremasteric
reflux
