Test with Detailed Answer Explanations
(2025/2026)
Description:
Get fully prepared with this updated set of 55 practice questions for NUR 6531. Each question
includes detailed explanations to help you understand the why behind the answers, covering key
areas like differential diagnosis, treatment guidelines, and patient education. Simulate the actual
exam and boost your confidence.
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, Nurse Practitioner Exam Questions: Practice Test & Answers
2025/2026
1. The most common cancer found on the auricle is:
a. Malignant melanoma
b. Squamous cell carcinoma
c. Basal cell carcinoma
d. Actinic keratosis
Answer: c. Basal cell carcinoma
Explanation: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer overall and is frequently
found on sun-exposed areas like the face and auricle due to cumulative ultraviolet radiation
exposure.
2. Which of the following medication classes should be avoided in patients with acute or chronic
bronchitis because it can contribute to ventilation-perfusion mismatch?
a. Expectorants
b. Bronchodilators
c. Antihistamines
d. Corticosteroids
Answer: c. Antihistamines
Explanation: Antihistamines can thicken and dry respiratory secretions, impairing the
mucociliary clearance mechanism. This can lead to plugging of airways and worsen ventilation-
perfusion (V/Q) mismatch.
3. A 47-year-old male patient presents to the clinic with a single episode of a moderate amount of
bright red rectal bleeding. On examination, external hemorrhoids are noted. How should the
nurse practitioner proceed?
a. Prescribe a hydrocortisone suppository and recommend a high-fiber diet.
b. Refer the patient for a colonoscopy.
c. Reassure the patient that this is from hemorrhoids and schedule a follow-up in 6 months.
d. Order a barium enema.
, Answer: b. Refer the patient for a colonoscopy.
Explanation: While hemorrhoids are a common cause of bright red blood per rectum (BRBPR),
the new onset of a moderate amount of bleeding in a 47-year-old warrants a colonoscopy to rule
out a more serious etiology, such as colorectal cancer or polyps, in accordance with cancer
screening guidelines.
4. Which of the following patient characteristics are associated with chronic bronchitis?
a. Thin, tachycardic, with pursed-lip breathing
b. Barrel-chested, tachycardic, with cyanosis
c. Overweight, cyanotic, and normal or slightly increased respiratory rate
d. Cachectic, pink complexion, with accessory muscle use
Answer: c. Overweight, cyanotic, and normal or slightly increased respiratory rate
Explanation: The "blue bloater" phenotype of COPD is classically associated with chronic
bronchitis. Patients are often overweight, cyanotic due to hypoxemia, and have a productive
cough without a significantly increased respiratory rate until later stages.
5. A 65-year-old female with a past medical history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and
polymyalgia rheumatica on prednisone 12mg daily presents with new onset left lower quadrant
pain. The nurse practitioner suspects acute diverticulitis and possibly an abscess. The most
appropriate diagnostic test for this patient at this time is:
a. Abdominal ultrasound
b. Barium enema
c. CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast
d. Colonoscopy
Answer: c. CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast
Explanation: A CT scan with IV and oral contrast is the gold standard for diagnosing acute
diverticulitis. It can confirm the diagnosis, identify complications like abscesses or perforations,
and guide management decisions, including the need for percutaneous drainage or surgery.