1
Comprehensive Barkley-Style FNP Practice
Questions with Detailed Rationales: A
High-Yield Review for the 2026 Post-Test,
Covering Musculoskeletal, Pediatric,
Women's Health, and More
Musculoskeletal System
1. A 20-year-old patient is brought to the
clinic after crushing his finger in a door. The
blow has caused throbbing in the finger,
blue and black discoloration of the nail,
and bleeding from the nail bed. Which of
the following methods of management
would be least appropriate at this time?
• a. Hydrocodone and acetaminophen
• b. Naproxen
,2
• c. Triamcinolone hexacetonide
• d. Ibuprofen
Rationale: Triamcinolone hexacetonide is a
corticosteroid used for intra-articular
injections in conditions like osteoarthritis or
rheumatoid arthritis. It is not appropriate
for an acute subungual hematoma from a
crush injury. The other options
(hydrocodone/acetaminophen, naproxen,
ibuprofen) are appropriate for pain
management.
2. A 19-year-old male athlete complains of
acute knee pain after a football game. The
nurse practitioner elicits McMurray's sign,
which is positive on the patient's injured
knee. This is a test for:
,3
• a. Meniscal injury
• b. Inflammation of the knee joint
• c. Osteophytes of the knee joint
• d. Tenosynovitis
Rationale: A positive McMurray's sign
indicates a meniscal injury. Inflammation of
the knee, osteophytes, and tenosynovitis
would not elicit a positive McMurray's sign.
3. For which of these musculoskeletal
disorders would antimalarial agents most
likely be indicated?
• a. Rheumatoid arthritis
• b. Costochondritis
• c. Polymyalgia rheumatica
• d. Bursitis
, 4
Rationale: Antimalarial medications, such as
hydroxychloroquine, are disease-modifying
antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) used to
control inflammation in rheumatoid
arthritis. They are not standard treatments
for the other conditions listed.
4. An adolescent has experienced a tibial
tubercle apophyseal traction injury as a
result of stress on the patellar tendon. In
educating the patient on the resulting
condition, which of these statements
would you most likely make?
• a. "The pain may be worse in the
morning but may subside as the day
progresses."
Comprehensive Barkley-Style FNP Practice
Questions with Detailed Rationales: A
High-Yield Review for the 2026 Post-Test,
Covering Musculoskeletal, Pediatric,
Women's Health, and More
Musculoskeletal System
1. A 20-year-old patient is brought to the
clinic after crushing his finger in a door. The
blow has caused throbbing in the finger,
blue and black discoloration of the nail,
and bleeding from the nail bed. Which of
the following methods of management
would be least appropriate at this time?
• a. Hydrocodone and acetaminophen
• b. Naproxen
,2
• c. Triamcinolone hexacetonide
• d. Ibuprofen
Rationale: Triamcinolone hexacetonide is a
corticosteroid used for intra-articular
injections in conditions like osteoarthritis or
rheumatoid arthritis. It is not appropriate
for an acute subungual hematoma from a
crush injury. The other options
(hydrocodone/acetaminophen, naproxen,
ibuprofen) are appropriate for pain
management.
2. A 19-year-old male athlete complains of
acute knee pain after a football game. The
nurse practitioner elicits McMurray's sign,
which is positive on the patient's injured
knee. This is a test for:
,3
• a. Meniscal injury
• b. Inflammation of the knee joint
• c. Osteophytes of the knee joint
• d. Tenosynovitis
Rationale: A positive McMurray's sign
indicates a meniscal injury. Inflammation of
the knee, osteophytes, and tenosynovitis
would not elicit a positive McMurray's sign.
3. For which of these musculoskeletal
disorders would antimalarial agents most
likely be indicated?
• a. Rheumatoid arthritis
• b. Costochondritis
• c. Polymyalgia rheumatica
• d. Bursitis
, 4
Rationale: Antimalarial medications, such as
hydroxychloroquine, are disease-modifying
antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) used to
control inflammation in rheumatoid
arthritis. They are not standard treatments
for the other conditions listed.
4. An adolescent has experienced a tibial
tubercle apophyseal traction injury as a
result of stress on the patellar tendon. In
educating the patient on the resulting
condition, which of these statements
would you most likely make?
• a. "The pain may be worse in the
morning but may subside as the day
progresses."
