ACADEMIC- 3PS ASSESSMENT-
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY,
PHARMACOLOGY, AND PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT. EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
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?
A cup-to-disk ratio of 70%.
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:
1 Copyright ©2025 SIRJOEL ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, 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?
2 Copyright ©2025 SIRJOEL ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY,
PHARMACOLOGY, AND PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT. EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
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?
A cup-to-disk ratio of 70%.
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:
1 Copyright ©2025 SIRJOEL ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, 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?
2 Copyright ©2025 SIRJOEL ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
