EXAM 3
Diagnostic Reasoning
Actual Questions with Verified Answers
Wilkes University
Pass the Exam with Confidence
What You Will Get:
➢100 Exam Questions w/ Answers
➢Expert Rationales included.
➢Exam 3 Comprehensive Study
Guide
,PREVIEW ACCESS
Preview Pages
Below
Get the Complete PDF
After Purchase
NEED HELP OR MORE STUDY RESOURCES?
"If you require further clarification or in need of any study
resources, feel free to Message me."
,Table of Contents
NSG 550 Exam 3 .................................................. 2
NSG 550 Exam 3 Study Guide ............................. 51
NSG 550 Exam 3
Question 1
A 72-year-old female is brought to the clinic by her daughter, who reports that
her mother has had progressive memory loss over the past 3 years. She forgets
recent conversations, misplaces items daily, and recently got lost driving home
from the grocery store. She denies visual hallucinations or movement disorders.
Her MRI shows cortical atrophy and hippocampal volume loss.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
• A. Vascular dementia
• B. Alzheimer's disease ✅ CORRECT
• C. Lewy body dementia
• D. Parkinsonism
Rationale: Alzheimer's disease (B) is the most common form of dementia,
characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and changes in
behavior. The patient's gradual onset over years, prominent memory impairment,
and cortical atrophy on imaging are classic. Vascular dementia (A) typically has a
stepwise decline with focal neurologic deficits. Lewy body dementia (C) presents
with cognitive fluctuations, visual hallucinations, and movement disorders
, (Parkinsonism). Parkinsonism (D) is a syndrome of tremors, rigidity, and
bradykinesia, not primarily a dementia diagnosis.
Question 2
A 68-year-old male with a history of hypertension and two prior strokes presents
with abrupt onset of cognitive decline. His family notes that his memory and
executive function worsened stepwise after each cerebrovascular event. He has
no visual hallucinations.
Which type of dementia is most consistent with this presentation?
• A. Alzheimer's disease
• B. Lewy body dementia
• C. Vascular dementia ✅ CORRECT
• D. Frontotemporal dementia
Rationale: Vascular dementia (C) is the second most common type of dementia,
caused by reduced blood flow to the brain from cerebrovascular disease. The
stepwise decline correlating with stroke events is pathognomonic. Alzheimer's (A)
has a gradual, continuous decline. Lewy body dementia (B) features visual
hallucinations and fluctuating cognition. Frontotemporal dementia (D) presents
with personality/behavior changes and language impairment rather than
stepwise decline.
Question 3 (SATA)
A 65-year-old male presents with cognitive fluctuations, vivid visual
hallucinations of small animals in his home, and Parkinsonian features including
rigidity and bradykinesia. His symptoms fluctuate dramatically from hour to hour.
Which of the following are characteristic features of this patient's most likely
diagnosis? Select all that apply.
• A. Abnormal protein deposits (Lewy bodies) in the brain ✅ CORRECT
• B. Cognitive fluctuations ✅ CORRECT
• C. Visual hallucinations ✅ CORRECT