CEA Preclinical exam Question and
answers verified to pass 2025/2026
Your 22-year-old male patient states during his review of systems that his scrotum is very enlarged and
feels like it is full of a powerlifter and works as a trash collector. Which of the following diagnoses do you
suspect the patient likely has? - correct answer ✔Varicocele
The point of maximum impulse (PMI) is MOST often palpable in healthy adults when positioned in the
supine or left lateral decubitus position. Which one of the following locations is most commonly
described as the PMI in a healthy adult? - correct answer ✔Left 5th intercostal space midclavicular line
A 40-year-old female, African American patient presents for history and physical. Upon your initial
assessment, you notice she has severe exophthalmos as pictured below. Which one of the following
diagnoses below would be the highest on your differential diagnosis of this physical examination
finding? - correct answer ✔Hyperthyroidism
Your patient with a suspected diagnosis of COPD has been seen by pulmonology and has undergone a
pulmonary function test (PFT) with spirometry. As the patient's primary healthcare provider, you have
been asked to explain the findings of the PFT to the patient in a follow-up visit, at which time the patient
asks what the study was evaluating. To describe the PFT to the patient in more useful terms, you state
that the large inspiration of air to the furthest extent they could reasonably accomplish, followed by a
full exhalation, is referred to as which of the following measurements during the PFT? - correct answer
✔Forced vital capacity
Your patient has a diagnosis of Addison's disease. Which of the following might you expect to find during
an examination? - correct answer ✔Low body temperature
The nurse practitioner's evaluation of a patient with Diabetes Mellitus type 2 should include which of
the following while evaluating for end-organ dysfunction of the disease? - correct answer ✔Renal
function panel
Urinalysis
Non-dilated eye exam
,D -All of these are appropriate options
During your visit with a 19-year-old patient for a college health physical, your health history includes a
diagnosis of angioedema. Which of the following parts of the body was likely involved? - correct answer
✔Face and lips
Which of the following dermatologic lesions is precancerous and likely due to prolonged exposure to
UV-B? - correct answer ✔Actinic keratosis
Based on your evaluation of ABCDE for melanoma, which of the following represents a suspicious
finding? - correct answer ✔Irregular borders
Your patient is complaining of hypersomnia, lack of motivation, weight gain, and anhedonia. Suspecting
a diagnosis of clinical depression, you anticipate the patient will benefit from treating their underlying
deficit of which of the following neurotransmitters? - correct answer ✔Serotonin
As a prudent nurse practitioner, the diabetic, hypertensive patient you are seeing should be evaluated
for early evidence of renal damage from both diabetes and hypertension. Which of the following
assessment tools should the nurse practitioner order first for the evaluation of early renal dysfunction
secondary to diabetes or hypertension? - correct answer ✔Urinalysis with micro/macro albumin
While evaluating a patient in your clinic for a routine health visit, you auscultate crackles in the
posterolateral left lower lobe and have the patient cough. Follow-up auscultation reveals clear breath
sounds. Which one of the following would you suspect? - correct answer ✔Atelectasis- condition
where one or more areas of the lungs collapse or don't inflate properly, leading to reduced oxygen levels
in the blood
Your 39-year-old patient, who has recently been hospitalized for an appendectomy, is being seen in your
clinic for post-operative follow-up with primary care. On assessment, the patient complains of some
incisional pain, and otherwise examination is standard, with the exception of dull percussion sounds
noted on the thorax over lung tissue. Which of the following diagnoses would be explained by this
finding in a post-operative patient? - correct answer ✔Atelectasis
, You are evaluating a 41-year-old female patient in your clinic with symptoms of right upper quadrant
pain that worsens with deep breathing. The patient exhibits a positive Murphy sign. These findings are
most consistent with which one of the following? - correct answer ✔Cholecystitis- inflammation of the
gallbladder
In educating your patient about the non-pharmacologic management of gastroesophageal reflux
disease, you include teaching to the patient that their heartburn is aggravated by al of the following
except which one? - correct answer ✔Gastric dumping, or increased emptying into the small intestines
The patient is experiencing acute closed angle glaucoma. Which of the following examination findings by
the nurse practitioner is most consistent with their diagnosis? - correct answer ✔Increase in intraocular
pressure
While managing the care of the patient with chronic alcoholism, the nurse practitioner would likely
anticipate which findings on the CBC with differential? - correct answer ✔Elevated MCV and MCH
MCV- Measures the average size or volume of RBC
MCH- measure the average amount of HBG in a single red blood cell
The nurse practitioner is caring for a patient with an elevated WBC, fever, chills, and malaise. When
developing a differential diagnosis for this finding, which of the following is not a potential cause of the
elevated WBC? - correct answer ✔Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
Your 21-year-old sexually active female patient states during a routine health exam that they have some
"weird bumps" on their vulva. She is concerned that she has a sexually transmitted infection. You notify
her that condyloma is caused by exposure to which of the following? - correct answer ✔Human
papillomavirus type 6 and 1
Your patient, who has undergone a recent major medical procedure, is at a rehabilitation center and is
having a hard time being motivated to do therapy. When you interview them as the nurse practitioner
on staff for the subacute rehab center, they appear to be responsive and have difficulty being awake
during therapy sessions. They have stable vital signs, temperature, and urine output, and are not ill-
answers verified to pass 2025/2026
Your 22-year-old male patient states during his review of systems that his scrotum is very enlarged and
feels like it is full of a powerlifter and works as a trash collector. Which of the following diagnoses do you
suspect the patient likely has? - correct answer ✔Varicocele
The point of maximum impulse (PMI) is MOST often palpable in healthy adults when positioned in the
supine or left lateral decubitus position. Which one of the following locations is most commonly
described as the PMI in a healthy adult? - correct answer ✔Left 5th intercostal space midclavicular line
A 40-year-old female, African American patient presents for history and physical. Upon your initial
assessment, you notice she has severe exophthalmos as pictured below. Which one of the following
diagnoses below would be the highest on your differential diagnosis of this physical examination
finding? - correct answer ✔Hyperthyroidism
Your patient with a suspected diagnosis of COPD has been seen by pulmonology and has undergone a
pulmonary function test (PFT) with spirometry. As the patient's primary healthcare provider, you have
been asked to explain the findings of the PFT to the patient in a follow-up visit, at which time the patient
asks what the study was evaluating. To describe the PFT to the patient in more useful terms, you state
that the large inspiration of air to the furthest extent they could reasonably accomplish, followed by a
full exhalation, is referred to as which of the following measurements during the PFT? - correct answer
✔Forced vital capacity
Your patient has a diagnosis of Addison's disease. Which of the following might you expect to find during
an examination? - correct answer ✔Low body temperature
The nurse practitioner's evaluation of a patient with Diabetes Mellitus type 2 should include which of
the following while evaluating for end-organ dysfunction of the disease? - correct answer ✔Renal
function panel
Urinalysis
Non-dilated eye exam
,D -All of these are appropriate options
During your visit with a 19-year-old patient for a college health physical, your health history includes a
diagnosis of angioedema. Which of the following parts of the body was likely involved? - correct answer
✔Face and lips
Which of the following dermatologic lesions is precancerous and likely due to prolonged exposure to
UV-B? - correct answer ✔Actinic keratosis
Based on your evaluation of ABCDE for melanoma, which of the following represents a suspicious
finding? - correct answer ✔Irregular borders
Your patient is complaining of hypersomnia, lack of motivation, weight gain, and anhedonia. Suspecting
a diagnosis of clinical depression, you anticipate the patient will benefit from treating their underlying
deficit of which of the following neurotransmitters? - correct answer ✔Serotonin
As a prudent nurse practitioner, the diabetic, hypertensive patient you are seeing should be evaluated
for early evidence of renal damage from both diabetes and hypertension. Which of the following
assessment tools should the nurse practitioner order first for the evaluation of early renal dysfunction
secondary to diabetes or hypertension? - correct answer ✔Urinalysis with micro/macro albumin
While evaluating a patient in your clinic for a routine health visit, you auscultate crackles in the
posterolateral left lower lobe and have the patient cough. Follow-up auscultation reveals clear breath
sounds. Which one of the following would you suspect? - correct answer ✔Atelectasis- condition
where one or more areas of the lungs collapse or don't inflate properly, leading to reduced oxygen levels
in the blood
Your 39-year-old patient, who has recently been hospitalized for an appendectomy, is being seen in your
clinic for post-operative follow-up with primary care. On assessment, the patient complains of some
incisional pain, and otherwise examination is standard, with the exception of dull percussion sounds
noted on the thorax over lung tissue. Which of the following diagnoses would be explained by this
finding in a post-operative patient? - correct answer ✔Atelectasis
, You are evaluating a 41-year-old female patient in your clinic with symptoms of right upper quadrant
pain that worsens with deep breathing. The patient exhibits a positive Murphy sign. These findings are
most consistent with which one of the following? - correct answer ✔Cholecystitis- inflammation of the
gallbladder
In educating your patient about the non-pharmacologic management of gastroesophageal reflux
disease, you include teaching to the patient that their heartburn is aggravated by al of the following
except which one? - correct answer ✔Gastric dumping, or increased emptying into the small intestines
The patient is experiencing acute closed angle glaucoma. Which of the following examination findings by
the nurse practitioner is most consistent with their diagnosis? - correct answer ✔Increase in intraocular
pressure
While managing the care of the patient with chronic alcoholism, the nurse practitioner would likely
anticipate which findings on the CBC with differential? - correct answer ✔Elevated MCV and MCH
MCV- Measures the average size or volume of RBC
MCH- measure the average amount of HBG in a single red blood cell
The nurse practitioner is caring for a patient with an elevated WBC, fever, chills, and malaise. When
developing a differential diagnosis for this finding, which of the following is not a potential cause of the
elevated WBC? - correct answer ✔Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
Your 21-year-old sexually active female patient states during a routine health exam that they have some
"weird bumps" on their vulva. She is concerned that she has a sexually transmitted infection. You notify
her that condyloma is caused by exposure to which of the following? - correct answer ✔Human
papillomavirus type 6 and 1
Your patient, who has undergone a recent major medical procedure, is at a rehabilitation center and is
having a hard time being motivated to do therapy. When you interview them as the nurse practitioner
on staff for the subacute rehab center, they appear to be responsive and have difficulty being awake
during therapy sessions. They have stable vital signs, temperature, and urine output, and are not ill-
