NU 650 CORE EXAM SET 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔You are performing a routine check-up on an 81-year-old retired cotton farmer in the
vascular surgery clinic. You note that he has a history of chronic arterial insufficiency.
Which of the following physical examination findings in the lower extremities would be
expected with this disease?
A) Normal pulsation
B) Normal temperature
C) Marked edema
D) Thin, shiny, atrophic Skin - ✔✔D
✔✔A 77-year-old retired nurse has an ulcer on a lower extremity that you are asked to
evaluate when you do your weekly rounds at a local long-term care facility. All of the
following are responsible for causing ulcers in the lower extremities except for which
condition?
A) Arterial insufficiency
B) Venous insufficiency
C) Diminished sensation in pressure points
D) Hypertension - ✔✔D
✔✔As the internal diameter of a blood vessel changes, the resistance also changes.
Which of the following descriptions depicts this relationship?
A) Resistance varies linearly with the diameter.
B) Resistance varies proportionally to the second power of the diameter.
C) Resistance varies proportionally to the third power of the diameter.
D) Resistance varies proportionally to the fourth power of the diameter. - ✔✔D
✔✔Which area of the arm drains to the epitrochlear nodes?
A) Ulnar surface of the forearm and hand, little and ring fingers, and ulnar middle finger
B) Radial surface of the forearm and hand, thumb and index fingers, and radial middle
finger
C) Ulnar surface of the forearm and hand; second, third, and fourth fingers
D) Radial surface of the forearm and hand; second, third, and fourth fingers - ✔✔A
✔✔Mr. E complains of cramps and difficulties with walking. The cramps occur in his
calves consistently after walking about 100 yards. After a period of rest, he can start to
walk again, but after 100 yards these same symptoms recur. Which of the following
would suggest spinal stenosis as a cause of this pain?
A) Coldness and pallor of the legs
B) Relief of the pain with bending at the waist
C) Color changes of the skin
D) Swelling with tenderness of the skin - ✔✔B
, ✔✔Which of the following pairs of ischemic symptoms versus vascular supply is
correct?
A) Lower calf/superficial femoral
B) Erectile dysfunction/iliac or pudendal
C) Buttock/common femoral
D) Upper calf/tibial or peroneal - ✔✔B
✔✔The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is calculated by dividing the systolic BP at the
dorsalis pedis by the systolic BP at the brachial artery. Which of the following values
would be consistent with mild peripheral arterial disease?
A) 1.1
B) 0.85
C) 0.65
D) 0.35 - ✔✔B
✔✔Asymmetric BPs are seen in which of the following conditions?
A) Coronary artery disease
B) Congenital narrowing of the aorta
C) Diffuse atherosclerosis
D) Vasculitis, as seen in systemic lupus erythematous - ✔✔B
✔✔Diminished radial pulses may be seen in patients with which of the following?
A) Aortic insufficiency
B) Hyperthyroidism
C) Arterial emboli
D) Early "warm" septic shock - ✔✔C
✔✔When assessing skin temperature, which portion of your hand should be used?
A) Fingertips
B) Palms
C) Backs of fingers
D) Ulnar aspect of the hand - ✔✔C
✔✔A patient presents with claudication symptoms and diminished pulses. Which of the
following is consistent with chronic arterial insufficiency?
A) Pallor of the foot when raised to 60 degrees for one minute
B) Return of color to the skin within 5 seconds of allowing legs to dangle
C) Filling of the veins of the ankles within 10 seconds of allowing the legs to dangle
D) Hyperpigmentation of the skin - ✔✔A
✔✔You note a painful ulcerative lesion near the medial malleolus, with accompanying
hyperpigmentation. Which of the following etiologies is most likely?
A) Arterial insufficiency
B) Neuropathic ulcer
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔You are performing a routine check-up on an 81-year-old retired cotton farmer in the
vascular surgery clinic. You note that he has a history of chronic arterial insufficiency.
Which of the following physical examination findings in the lower extremities would be
expected with this disease?
A) Normal pulsation
B) Normal temperature
C) Marked edema
D) Thin, shiny, atrophic Skin - ✔✔D
✔✔A 77-year-old retired nurse has an ulcer on a lower extremity that you are asked to
evaluate when you do your weekly rounds at a local long-term care facility. All of the
following are responsible for causing ulcers in the lower extremities except for which
condition?
A) Arterial insufficiency
B) Venous insufficiency
C) Diminished sensation in pressure points
D) Hypertension - ✔✔D
✔✔As the internal diameter of a blood vessel changes, the resistance also changes.
Which of the following descriptions depicts this relationship?
A) Resistance varies linearly with the diameter.
B) Resistance varies proportionally to the second power of the diameter.
C) Resistance varies proportionally to the third power of the diameter.
D) Resistance varies proportionally to the fourth power of the diameter. - ✔✔D
✔✔Which area of the arm drains to the epitrochlear nodes?
A) Ulnar surface of the forearm and hand, little and ring fingers, and ulnar middle finger
B) Radial surface of the forearm and hand, thumb and index fingers, and radial middle
finger
C) Ulnar surface of the forearm and hand; second, third, and fourth fingers
D) Radial surface of the forearm and hand; second, third, and fourth fingers - ✔✔A
✔✔Mr. E complains of cramps and difficulties with walking. The cramps occur in his
calves consistently after walking about 100 yards. After a period of rest, he can start to
walk again, but after 100 yards these same symptoms recur. Which of the following
would suggest spinal stenosis as a cause of this pain?
A) Coldness and pallor of the legs
B) Relief of the pain with bending at the waist
C) Color changes of the skin
D) Swelling with tenderness of the skin - ✔✔B
, ✔✔Which of the following pairs of ischemic symptoms versus vascular supply is
correct?
A) Lower calf/superficial femoral
B) Erectile dysfunction/iliac or pudendal
C) Buttock/common femoral
D) Upper calf/tibial or peroneal - ✔✔B
✔✔The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is calculated by dividing the systolic BP at the
dorsalis pedis by the systolic BP at the brachial artery. Which of the following values
would be consistent with mild peripheral arterial disease?
A) 1.1
B) 0.85
C) 0.65
D) 0.35 - ✔✔B
✔✔Asymmetric BPs are seen in which of the following conditions?
A) Coronary artery disease
B) Congenital narrowing of the aorta
C) Diffuse atherosclerosis
D) Vasculitis, as seen in systemic lupus erythematous - ✔✔B
✔✔Diminished radial pulses may be seen in patients with which of the following?
A) Aortic insufficiency
B) Hyperthyroidism
C) Arterial emboli
D) Early "warm" septic shock - ✔✔C
✔✔When assessing skin temperature, which portion of your hand should be used?
A) Fingertips
B) Palms
C) Backs of fingers
D) Ulnar aspect of the hand - ✔✔C
✔✔A patient presents with claudication symptoms and diminished pulses. Which of the
following is consistent with chronic arterial insufficiency?
A) Pallor of the foot when raised to 60 degrees for one minute
B) Return of color to the skin within 5 seconds of allowing legs to dangle
C) Filling of the veins of the ankles within 10 seconds of allowing the legs to dangle
D) Hyperpigmentation of the skin - ✔✔A
✔✔You note a painful ulcerative lesion near the medial malleolus, with accompanying
hyperpigmentation. Which of the following etiologies is most likely?
A) Arterial insufficiency
B) Neuropathic ulcer
