3Ps Assessment- Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and
Physical Assessment Exam 2026/2027 Questions And
Correct Answers Graded A+
A 66-year-old woman presents with a complaint of a 4-day history of a unilateral
headache that will not go away despite taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen. She
has a history of hypertension that is usually well controlled with an ACE inhibitor,
but today her blood pressure is 162/92 mm Hg. During the HPI she admits that she
has had some transient visual loss over the few days, but it has been very short
lived and resolves completely. The next step in the evaluation of this patient should
include:
An erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Which information best describes the pathophysiology of most mental health
disorders?
Dysregulation of neurotransmitters in relevant pathways
The commonality among all seizure etiologies is:
Increased neuron excitability
,The NP is managing a patient newly diagnosed with essential tremor disorder and
prescribed propranolol. The patient did an internet search for the medication and
wants to know how a “heart medication” can make her stop having hand tremors.
What is the best explanation for this patient?
Propranolol blocks the action of the sympathetic nervous system in all body
systems and so it will calm many things, including the tremors
A 48-year-old man presents with a complaint of a 3-week history of intermittent
shooting pain that runs down the buttocks and left leg. Suspecting sciatica, the NP
would expect which of the following during physical examination?
Pain with straight leg raise
During the routine wellness examination of a 12-year-old male patient, the NP
appreciates a grade II/VI systolic murmur at the apex while the patient is lying on
the exam table. The murmur is louder when the patient moves to the sitting
position, appreciated at grade IV/VI. The cardiac history and review of symptoms
is negative. The appropriate approach to this patient is to:
Order an echocardiogram
,A 57-year-old woman presents with a 3-day history of fever, dyspnea, and a
purulent cough. Auscultation of the lungs identifies an area of egophony in the
lower left lobe. Palpation reveals increased tactile fremitus. The NP expects which
of the following percussion findings?
Dullness
The NP is learning about anginal chest pain unresponsive to nitroglycerin, when
does necrotic injury occur?
The mitochondrial membrane ruptures
A 35-year-old female is skiing fast down a steep trail. She falls forward and lands
on an abducted and extended arm. She immediately feels a pop, has exquisite pain
over her right upper shoulder, and has no sensation in her right hand. Her diagnosis
is most likely:
Anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint.
The NP is evaluating a patient with markedly elevated blood pressure that is
unresponsive to traditional medications. There is some mild pedal edema, but other
than the elevated BP, the physical exam is essentially normal. A metabolic panel
reveals the following:
, Na+ 151 mEq/LK+ 3.0 mEq/LCl- 114 mEq/LCO2 28 mEq/LBUN 10
mg/dLCreatinine 0.9 mg/dL
The NP considers which of the following as a secondary cause of hypertension in
this patient?
Hyperaldosteronism
Sarcomere stretch beyond 2.2 microns is the physiologic mechanism behind which
condition?
CHF
A female patient is taking amlodipine 10 mg daily, which controlled her blood
pressure, but she could not tolerate the side effects. She was switched to losartan
100 mg daily, but her blood pressure never achieved goal. Which statement best
characterizes the clinical comparison of these two medications?
Amlodipine is more efficacious than losartan
During a routine health assessment, the NP appreciates a decrease in peripheral
vision bilaterally while performing visual field assessment by confrontation.
Consequently, the NP anticipates which of the following findings during
fundoscopic assessment?
Physical Assessment Exam 2026/2027 Questions And
Correct Answers Graded A+
A 66-year-old woman presents with a complaint of a 4-day history of a unilateral
headache that will not go away despite taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen. She
has a history of hypertension that is usually well controlled with an ACE inhibitor,
but today her blood pressure is 162/92 mm Hg. During the HPI she admits that she
has had some transient visual loss over the few days, but it has been very short
lived and resolves completely. The next step in the evaluation of this patient should
include:
An erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Which information best describes the pathophysiology of most mental health
disorders?
Dysregulation of neurotransmitters in relevant pathways
The commonality among all seizure etiologies is:
Increased neuron excitability
,The NP is managing a patient newly diagnosed with essential tremor disorder and
prescribed propranolol. The patient did an internet search for the medication and
wants to know how a “heart medication” can make her stop having hand tremors.
What is the best explanation for this patient?
Propranolol blocks the action of the sympathetic nervous system in all body
systems and so it will calm many things, including the tremors
A 48-year-old man presents with a complaint of a 3-week history of intermittent
shooting pain that runs down the buttocks and left leg. Suspecting sciatica, the NP
would expect which of the following during physical examination?
Pain with straight leg raise
During the routine wellness examination of a 12-year-old male patient, the NP
appreciates a grade II/VI systolic murmur at the apex while the patient is lying on
the exam table. The murmur is louder when the patient moves to the sitting
position, appreciated at grade IV/VI. The cardiac history and review of symptoms
is negative. The appropriate approach to this patient is to:
Order an echocardiogram
,A 57-year-old woman presents with a 3-day history of fever, dyspnea, and a
purulent cough. Auscultation of the lungs identifies an area of egophony in the
lower left lobe. Palpation reveals increased tactile fremitus. The NP expects which
of the following percussion findings?
Dullness
The NP is learning about anginal chest pain unresponsive to nitroglycerin, when
does necrotic injury occur?
The mitochondrial membrane ruptures
A 35-year-old female is skiing fast down a steep trail. She falls forward and lands
on an abducted and extended arm. She immediately feels a pop, has exquisite pain
over her right upper shoulder, and has no sensation in her right hand. Her diagnosis
is most likely:
Anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint.
The NP is evaluating a patient with markedly elevated blood pressure that is
unresponsive to traditional medications. There is some mild pedal edema, but other
than the elevated BP, the physical exam is essentially normal. A metabolic panel
reveals the following:
, Na+ 151 mEq/LK+ 3.0 mEq/LCl- 114 mEq/LCO2 28 mEq/LBUN 10
mg/dLCreatinine 0.9 mg/dL
The NP considers which of the following as a secondary cause of hypertension in
this patient?
Hyperaldosteronism
Sarcomere stretch beyond 2.2 microns is the physiologic mechanism behind which
condition?
CHF
A female patient is taking amlodipine 10 mg daily, which controlled her blood
pressure, but she could not tolerate the side effects. She was switched to losartan
100 mg daily, but her blood pressure never achieved goal. Which statement best
characterizes the clinical comparison of these two medications?
Amlodipine is more efficacious than losartan
During a routine health assessment, the NP appreciates a decrease in peripheral
vision bilaterally while performing visual field assessment by confrontation.
Consequently, the NP anticipates which of the following findings during
fundoscopic assessment?
