LEIK FNP Practice Questions \Walden University \NURS
6501 \ Comprehensive Exam with Verified Rationales
Practice Questions and Answers 2026 with complete
solution
Walden University – NURS 6501
LEIK FNP Practice Questions (Advanced Level)
QUESTION 1 – Cellular Injury
Which mechanism MOST directly causes irreversible cell injury?
A. Cellular swelling
B. Mitochondrial dysfunction
C. Increased anaerobic metabolism
D. Decreased ATP production
✅ Correct Answer: B. Mitochondrial dysfunction
Explanation:
Irreversible cell injury occurs when mitochondria fail, leading to loss of oxidative phosphorylation,
apoptosis, or necrosis.
❌ Swelling and ATP loss are reversible early changes
❌ Anaerobic metabolism is compensatory
QUESTION 2 – Inflammation
Which mediator is primarily responsible for increased vascular permeability in acute inflammation?
A. Prostaglandins
B. Histamine
C. Bradykinin
D. Leukotrienes
✅ Correct Answer: B. Histamine
,Explanation:
Histamine is released from mast cells and causes vasodilation and capillary leakage.
❌ Prostaglandins = pain/fever
❌ Bradykinin = pain
❌ Leukotrienes = bronchoconstriction
QUESTION 3 – Acid–Base Balance
ABG: pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 55, HCO₃⁻ 26
Interpretation?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
✅ Correct Answer: B. Respiratory acidosis
Explanation:
Low pH + elevated CO₂ = primary respiratory acidosis.
No renal compensation yet.
QUESTION 4 – Heart Failure
Which compensatory mechanism initially improves cardiac output in heart failure?
A. Decreased preload
B. Increased sympathetic stimulation
C. Reduced afterload
D. Decreased aldosterone
✅ Correct Answer: B. Increased sympathetic stimulation
Explanation:
SNS increases heart rate and contractility early but worsens HF long-term.
QUESTION 5 – Diabetes Mellitus
Which mechanism contributes MOST to insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes?
A. Beta-cell destruction
B. Autoimmune attack
C. Impaired insulin receptor signaling
D. Decreased glucagon
,✅ Correct Answer: C. Impaired insulin receptor signaling
Explanation:
Type 2 DM is driven by cellular resistance, not insulin absence.
QUESTION 6 – Thyroid Disorders
Which finding is MOST consistent with hyperthyroidism?
A. Weight gain
B. Cold intolerance
C. Bradycardia
D. Heat intolerance
✅ Correct Answer: D. Heat intolerance
QUESTION 7 – Renal Physiology
Which lab value increases FIRST in acute kidney injury?
A. Creatinine
B. Potassium
C. BUN
D. Phosphorus
✅ Correct Answer: C. BUN
Explanation:
BUN rises earlier due to decreased filtration.
QUESTION 8 – Pulmonary Pathophysiology
Which condition results from alveolar collapse?
A. Emphysema
B. Atelectasis
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Bronchitis
✅ Correct Answer: B. Atelectasis
QUESTION 9 – Shock
Which type of shock results from widespread vasodilation?
, A. Cardiogenic
B. Hypovolemic
C. Septic
D. Obstructive
✅ Correct Answer: C. Septic
QUESTION 10 – Immunology
Which immunoglobulin crosses the placenta?
A. IgA
B. IgE
C. IgG
D. IgM
✅ Correct Answer: C. IgG
QUESTION 11 – Hematology
Which anemia presents with low MCV and low ferritin?
A. Thalassemia
B. Iron deficiency anemia
C. Sickle cell anemia
D. Aplastic anemia
✅ Correct Answer: B. Iron deficiency anemia
QUESTION 12 – Oncology
Which tumor suppressor gene is MOST commonly mutated in cancer?
A. BRCA1
B. APC
C. p53
D. Rb
✅ Correct Answer: C. p53
QUESTION 13 – Neurology
Which neurotransmitter is deficient in Parkinson disease?
6501 \ Comprehensive Exam with Verified Rationales
Practice Questions and Answers 2026 with complete
solution
Walden University – NURS 6501
LEIK FNP Practice Questions (Advanced Level)
QUESTION 1 – Cellular Injury
Which mechanism MOST directly causes irreversible cell injury?
A. Cellular swelling
B. Mitochondrial dysfunction
C. Increased anaerobic metabolism
D. Decreased ATP production
✅ Correct Answer: B. Mitochondrial dysfunction
Explanation:
Irreversible cell injury occurs when mitochondria fail, leading to loss of oxidative phosphorylation,
apoptosis, or necrosis.
❌ Swelling and ATP loss are reversible early changes
❌ Anaerobic metabolism is compensatory
QUESTION 2 – Inflammation
Which mediator is primarily responsible for increased vascular permeability in acute inflammation?
A. Prostaglandins
B. Histamine
C. Bradykinin
D. Leukotrienes
✅ Correct Answer: B. Histamine
,Explanation:
Histamine is released from mast cells and causes vasodilation and capillary leakage.
❌ Prostaglandins = pain/fever
❌ Bradykinin = pain
❌ Leukotrienes = bronchoconstriction
QUESTION 3 – Acid–Base Balance
ABG: pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 55, HCO₃⁻ 26
Interpretation?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
✅ Correct Answer: B. Respiratory acidosis
Explanation:
Low pH + elevated CO₂ = primary respiratory acidosis.
No renal compensation yet.
QUESTION 4 – Heart Failure
Which compensatory mechanism initially improves cardiac output in heart failure?
A. Decreased preload
B. Increased sympathetic stimulation
C. Reduced afterload
D. Decreased aldosterone
✅ Correct Answer: B. Increased sympathetic stimulation
Explanation:
SNS increases heart rate and contractility early but worsens HF long-term.
QUESTION 5 – Diabetes Mellitus
Which mechanism contributes MOST to insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes?
A. Beta-cell destruction
B. Autoimmune attack
C. Impaired insulin receptor signaling
D. Decreased glucagon
,✅ Correct Answer: C. Impaired insulin receptor signaling
Explanation:
Type 2 DM is driven by cellular resistance, not insulin absence.
QUESTION 6 – Thyroid Disorders
Which finding is MOST consistent with hyperthyroidism?
A. Weight gain
B. Cold intolerance
C. Bradycardia
D. Heat intolerance
✅ Correct Answer: D. Heat intolerance
QUESTION 7 – Renal Physiology
Which lab value increases FIRST in acute kidney injury?
A. Creatinine
B. Potassium
C. BUN
D. Phosphorus
✅ Correct Answer: C. BUN
Explanation:
BUN rises earlier due to decreased filtration.
QUESTION 8 – Pulmonary Pathophysiology
Which condition results from alveolar collapse?
A. Emphysema
B. Atelectasis
C. Pulmonary edema
D. Bronchitis
✅ Correct Answer: B. Atelectasis
QUESTION 9 – Shock
Which type of shock results from widespread vasodilation?
, A. Cardiogenic
B. Hypovolemic
C. Septic
D. Obstructive
✅ Correct Answer: C. Septic
QUESTION 10 – Immunology
Which immunoglobulin crosses the placenta?
A. IgA
B. IgE
C. IgG
D. IgM
✅ Correct Answer: C. IgG
QUESTION 11 – Hematology
Which anemia presents with low MCV and low ferritin?
A. Thalassemia
B. Iron deficiency anemia
C. Sickle cell anemia
D. Aplastic anemia
✅ Correct Answer: B. Iron deficiency anemia
QUESTION 12 – Oncology
Which tumor suppressor gene is MOST commonly mutated in cancer?
A. BRCA1
B. APC
C. p53
D. Rb
✅ Correct Answer: C. p53
QUESTION 13 – Neurology
Which neurotransmitter is deficient in Parkinson disease?