NSG 6998 FNP Predictor Exam: 127 Practice
Questions & Study Guide 2026 Verified Answers
Latest Edition SOUTH UNIVERSITY
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Section 1: Respiratory Disorders (Questions 1-18)
1. A 76-year-old male with a history of COPD, diabetes mellitus, and alcoholism has a
chest x-ray showing infiltrates. Which medication is the most appropriate first-line
treatment?
A) Amoxicillin
B) Levofloxacin
C) Azithromycin
D) Doxycycline
Rationale: Levofloxacin is the preferred first-line treatment for community-acquired
pneumonia in patients with comorbidities such as COPD, diabetes, and alcoholism, as it
provides broad coverage including Haemophilus influenzae, the most likely pathogen in this
scenario.
2. A 76-year-old male with COPD, diabetes, and alcoholism has a chest x-ray showing
infiltrates. Which pathogen is the most likely etiology?
A) Haemophilus influenzae
B) Streptococcus pneumoniae
C) Bordetella pertussis
D) Viral infection
Rationale: In patients with underlying COPD and comorbidities, H. influenzae is the
most common bacterial pathogen causing pneumonia, making a respiratory fluoroquinolone
such as levofloxacin an appropriate choice.
,3. A 56-year-old male has suspected COPD. Which symptoms are indicative of this
diagnosis? (Select all that apply.)
A) Progressive dyspnea
B) Acute cough
C) Sputum production over the past 2 months
D) FEV1/FVC ratio >0.70
E) Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Rationale: COPD is characterized by progressive dyspnea, chronic cough lasting more
than 8 weeks, and sputum production. Diagnosis is confirmed by an FEV1/FVC ratio <0.70.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic risk factor.
4. A 56-year-old male has been diagnosed with COPD. Which medication is
considered first-line therapy?
A) SABAs (e.g., albuterol)
B) LABAs (e.g., salmeterol)
C) Inhaled anticholinergics (ipratropium)
D) LAAC (aclidinium)
Rationale: Short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs) such as albuterol are the first-line
treatment for immediate symptom relief in COPD management.
5. A 32-year-old man has acute bronchitis. He is a nonsmoker and otherwise healthy.
How should he be managed?
A) Treat symptoms only
B) Prescribe a macrolide antibiotic
C) Prescribe an antitussive
D) Prescribe both antibiotic and antitussive
,Rationale: Acute bronchitis in healthy, young, nonsmoking individuals is typically viral in
origin and should be managed symptomatically without antibiotics.
6. An 84-year-old male has acute bronchitis. Which test should the Nurse Practitioner
order?
A) Sputum culture
B) Chest X-ray
C) Chest CT
D) Chest MRI
Rationale: The presence of acute cough in patients >75 years of age warrants a chest
x-ray to rule out pneumonia.
7. A 58-year-old male has acute bronchitis. He is a heavy smoker but otherwise
healthy. What is the most likely etiology?
A) Viral infection
B) S. pneumoniae
C) B. pertussis
D) Haemophilus influenzae
Rationale: In heavy smokers with acute bronchitis, H. influenzae is the most likely
bacterial etiology due to impaired mucosal defenses.
8. A 76-year-old man has an acute productive cough with fever of 100-101°F for the
past 3-4 days. He is a nonsmoker and otherwise healthy. Which diagnosis should be
included in the differential?
A) Acute bronchitis
B) Pneumonitis
C) Pneumonia
, D) COPD
E) Bronchiectasis
F) Pertussis
Rationale: Fever, productive cough, and advanced age (≥65 years) in a previously
healthy individual strongly suggest pneumonia, requiring further workup including chest x-
ray.
9. Which findings warrant a chest x-ray when an acute cough is present? (Select all
that apply.)
A) Temp 100.4°F
B) HR 86
C) Rales, consolidation
D) >65 years of age
E) RR 26
Rationale: Chest x-ray is indicated for acute cough with abnormal vital signs (RR >24,
HR >100, temp >100.4°F), abnormal lung findings, or age ≥65 years.
10. A 76-year-old male has a chest x-ray showing infiltrates. Which medication is the
most appropriate first-line treatment for otherwise healthy elderly patient?
A) Amoxicillin 1 gram TID
B) Doxycycline 100 mg BID
C) Azithromycin 500 mg then 250 mg daily
D) Clarithromycin 500 mg BID
Rationale: For community-acquired pneumonia in healthy patients without comorbidities,
amoxicillin is first-line therapy.
Questions & Study Guide 2026 Verified Answers
Latest Edition SOUTH UNIVERSITY
Section 1: Respiratory Disorders (Questions 1-18)
1. A 76-year-old male with a history of COPD, diabetes mellitus, and alcoholism has a
chest x-ray showing infiltrates. Which medication is the most appropriate first-line
treatment?
A) Amoxicillin
B) Levofloxacin
C) Azithromycin
D) Doxycycline
Rationale: Levofloxacin is the preferred first-line treatment for community-acquired
pneumonia in patients with comorbidities such as COPD, diabetes, and alcoholism, as it
provides broad coverage including Haemophilus influenzae, the most likely pathogen in this
scenario.
2. A 76-year-old male with COPD, diabetes, and alcoholism has a chest x-ray showing
infiltrates. Which pathogen is the most likely etiology?
A) Haemophilus influenzae
B) Streptococcus pneumoniae
C) Bordetella pertussis
D) Viral infection
Rationale: In patients with underlying COPD and comorbidities, H. influenzae is the
most common bacterial pathogen causing pneumonia, making a respiratory fluoroquinolone
such as levofloxacin an appropriate choice.
,3. A 56-year-old male has suspected COPD. Which symptoms are indicative of this
diagnosis? (Select all that apply.)
A) Progressive dyspnea
B) Acute cough
C) Sputum production over the past 2 months
D) FEV1/FVC ratio >0.70
E) Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Rationale: COPD is characterized by progressive dyspnea, chronic cough lasting more
than 8 weeks, and sputum production. Diagnosis is confirmed by an FEV1/FVC ratio <0.70.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic risk factor.
4. A 56-year-old male has been diagnosed with COPD. Which medication is
considered first-line therapy?
A) SABAs (e.g., albuterol)
B) LABAs (e.g., salmeterol)
C) Inhaled anticholinergics (ipratropium)
D) LAAC (aclidinium)
Rationale: Short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs) such as albuterol are the first-line
treatment for immediate symptom relief in COPD management.
5. A 32-year-old man has acute bronchitis. He is a nonsmoker and otherwise healthy.
How should he be managed?
A) Treat symptoms only
B) Prescribe a macrolide antibiotic
C) Prescribe an antitussive
D) Prescribe both antibiotic and antitussive
,Rationale: Acute bronchitis in healthy, young, nonsmoking individuals is typically viral in
origin and should be managed symptomatically without antibiotics.
6. An 84-year-old male has acute bronchitis. Which test should the Nurse Practitioner
order?
A) Sputum culture
B) Chest X-ray
C) Chest CT
D) Chest MRI
Rationale: The presence of acute cough in patients >75 years of age warrants a chest
x-ray to rule out pneumonia.
7. A 58-year-old male has acute bronchitis. He is a heavy smoker but otherwise
healthy. What is the most likely etiology?
A) Viral infection
B) S. pneumoniae
C) B. pertussis
D) Haemophilus influenzae
Rationale: In heavy smokers with acute bronchitis, H. influenzae is the most likely
bacterial etiology due to impaired mucosal defenses.
8. A 76-year-old man has an acute productive cough with fever of 100-101°F for the
past 3-4 days. He is a nonsmoker and otherwise healthy. Which diagnosis should be
included in the differential?
A) Acute bronchitis
B) Pneumonitis
C) Pneumonia
, D) COPD
E) Bronchiectasis
F) Pertussis
Rationale: Fever, productive cough, and advanced age (≥65 years) in a previously
healthy individual strongly suggest pneumonia, requiring further workup including chest x-
ray.
9. Which findings warrant a chest x-ray when an acute cough is present? (Select all
that apply.)
A) Temp 100.4°F
B) HR 86
C) Rales, consolidation
D) >65 years of age
E) RR 26
Rationale: Chest x-ray is indicated for acute cough with abnormal vital signs (RR >24,
HR >100, temp >100.4°F), abnormal lung findings, or age ≥65 years.
10. A 76-year-old male has a chest x-ray showing infiltrates. Which medication is the
most appropriate first-line treatment for otherwise healthy elderly patient?
A) Amoxicillin 1 gram TID
B) Doxycycline 100 mg BID
C) Azithromycin 500 mg then 250 mg daily
D) Clarithromycin 500 mg BID
Rationale: For community-acquired pneumonia in healthy patients without comorbidities,
amoxicillin is first-line therapy.
