NSG 555 CORE EXAM TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔Differential diagnoses for fatigue - ✔✔Endocrine: Hypothyroidism, adrenal
insufficiency; Metabolic: Anemia, CKD; Psychiatric: Depression, anxiety; Infectious:
Mono, HIV, hepatitis; Medication-related: Beta-blockers, sedatives.
✔✔Management of fatigue - ✔✔Address underlying cause (e.g., treat anemia, manage
thyroid disease); Lifestyle: Sleep hygiene, physical activity, balanced diet;
Psychological: CBT for depression/anxiety.
✔✔Antidepressants for fatigue - ✔✔SSRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline).
✔✔Thyroid replacement - ✔✔Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism.
✔✔Iron supplements - ✔✔Ferrous sulfate for IDA.
✔✔Stimulants for chronic fatigue syndrome - ✔✔Modafinil (off-label).
✔✔CBC with differential - ✔✔A blood test that provides information about the cells in a
person's blood.
✔✔Monospot - ✔✔A test used to detect heterophile antibodies, commonly associated
with infectious mononucleosis.
✔✔HIV test - ✔✔A test that determines if a person is infected with the human
immunodeficiency virus.
✔✔TB screening - ✔✔A test to determine if a person has been infected with
tuberculosis.
✔✔Biopsy for nodes >2 cm lasting >4 weeks - ✔✔A procedure to remove a sample of
tissue from a lymph node that is larger than 2 cm and has persisted for more than 4
weeks.
✔✔Differential Diagnoses - ✔✔A list of potential conditions that could cause the
symptoms observed.
✔✔Infectious causes of lymphadenopathy - ✔✔Mononucleosis, HIV, TB.
✔✔Malignant causes of lymphadenopathy - ✔✔Lymphoma, leukemia, metastatic
cancer.
✔✔Autoimmune causes of lymphadenopathy - ✔✔SLE, RA.
, ✔✔Drug-related causes of lymphadenopathy - ✔✔Phenytoin, allopurinol.
✔✔Management of lymphadenopathy - ✔✔Treat underlying cause; monitor for
regression.
✔✔Empiric antibiotics - ✔✔Antibiotics given when a bacterial infection is suspected.
✔✔Antibiotics - ✔✔Amoxicillin-clavulanate, clindamycin.
✔✔Antivirals - ✔✔Acyclovir for viral cause.
✔✔Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - ✔✔A sleep disorder characterized by repeated
interruptions in breathing during sleep.
✔✔Prevalence of OSA - ✔✔10-20% of adults; more common in obese males.
✔✔Pathophysiology of OSA - ✔✔Upper airway collapse during sleep leading to
hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and arousals.
✔✔Clinical Presentation of OSA - ✔✔Loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, morning
headaches, witnessed apneas.
✔✔Polysomnography - ✔✔A sleep study that diagnoses OSA with an AHI ≥5 with
symptoms.
✔✔Management of OSA - ✔✔Weight loss, avoid alcohol, sleep on side, CPAP (first-
line), surgery if refractory.
✔✔Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) - ✔✔A condition characterized by an uncontrollable
urge to move the legs, often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations.
✔✔Common causes of RLS - ✔✔Common in women, older adults, iron deficiency.
✔✔Pathophysiology of RLS - ✔✔Dopamine dysfunction in the central nervous system.
✔✔Clinical Presentation of RLS - ✔✔Uncomfortable leg sensations relieved by
movement, worse at rest/night.
✔✔Management of RLS - ✔✔Treat underlying iron deficiency, nonpharmacologic
measures like stretching and sleep hygiene, and pharmacologic treatments including
dopamine agonists and gabapentin.
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔Differential diagnoses for fatigue - ✔✔Endocrine: Hypothyroidism, adrenal
insufficiency; Metabolic: Anemia, CKD; Psychiatric: Depression, anxiety; Infectious:
Mono, HIV, hepatitis; Medication-related: Beta-blockers, sedatives.
✔✔Management of fatigue - ✔✔Address underlying cause (e.g., treat anemia, manage
thyroid disease); Lifestyle: Sleep hygiene, physical activity, balanced diet;
Psychological: CBT for depression/anxiety.
✔✔Antidepressants for fatigue - ✔✔SSRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline).
✔✔Thyroid replacement - ✔✔Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism.
✔✔Iron supplements - ✔✔Ferrous sulfate for IDA.
✔✔Stimulants for chronic fatigue syndrome - ✔✔Modafinil (off-label).
✔✔CBC with differential - ✔✔A blood test that provides information about the cells in a
person's blood.
✔✔Monospot - ✔✔A test used to detect heterophile antibodies, commonly associated
with infectious mononucleosis.
✔✔HIV test - ✔✔A test that determines if a person is infected with the human
immunodeficiency virus.
✔✔TB screening - ✔✔A test to determine if a person has been infected with
tuberculosis.
✔✔Biopsy for nodes >2 cm lasting >4 weeks - ✔✔A procedure to remove a sample of
tissue from a lymph node that is larger than 2 cm and has persisted for more than 4
weeks.
✔✔Differential Diagnoses - ✔✔A list of potential conditions that could cause the
symptoms observed.
✔✔Infectious causes of lymphadenopathy - ✔✔Mononucleosis, HIV, TB.
✔✔Malignant causes of lymphadenopathy - ✔✔Lymphoma, leukemia, metastatic
cancer.
✔✔Autoimmune causes of lymphadenopathy - ✔✔SLE, RA.
, ✔✔Drug-related causes of lymphadenopathy - ✔✔Phenytoin, allopurinol.
✔✔Management of lymphadenopathy - ✔✔Treat underlying cause; monitor for
regression.
✔✔Empiric antibiotics - ✔✔Antibiotics given when a bacterial infection is suspected.
✔✔Antibiotics - ✔✔Amoxicillin-clavulanate, clindamycin.
✔✔Antivirals - ✔✔Acyclovir for viral cause.
✔✔Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - ✔✔A sleep disorder characterized by repeated
interruptions in breathing during sleep.
✔✔Prevalence of OSA - ✔✔10-20% of adults; more common in obese males.
✔✔Pathophysiology of OSA - ✔✔Upper airway collapse during sleep leading to
hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and arousals.
✔✔Clinical Presentation of OSA - ✔✔Loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, morning
headaches, witnessed apneas.
✔✔Polysomnography - ✔✔A sleep study that diagnoses OSA with an AHI ≥5 with
symptoms.
✔✔Management of OSA - ✔✔Weight loss, avoid alcohol, sleep on side, CPAP (first-
line), surgery if refractory.
✔✔Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) - ✔✔A condition characterized by an uncontrollable
urge to move the legs, often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations.
✔✔Common causes of RLS - ✔✔Common in women, older adults, iron deficiency.
✔✔Pathophysiology of RLS - ✔✔Dopamine dysfunction in the central nervous system.
✔✔Clinical Presentation of RLS - ✔✔Uncomfortable leg sensations relieved by
movement, worse at rest/night.
✔✔Management of RLS - ✔✔Treat underlying iron deficiency, nonpharmacologic
measures like stretching and sleep hygiene, and pharmacologic treatments including
dopamine agonists and gabapentin.
