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NURS 605 -Advanced Pathophysiology Test Guide
|Exam Questions & Correct Detailed Answers
|Already Rated A+ 2026 (BRAND NEW!!!)
Patients with seizure disorders need careful monitoring if prescribed progestins because increased fluid
retention may have which effect?
Patients can experience increased fluid retention with the use of progestins. Patients who have seizure disorders
require careful monitoring because the increased fluid retention may lower the seizure threshold.
A patient presents today for a follow-up visit to receive her third Depo-Provera injection. The APN notes
that she is 16 days late in receiving her scheduled Depo-Provera injection. Which statement by the APN is
most appropriate?
“You will need a repeat pregnancy test prior to restarting injections.” - The injectable form requires
administration every 12 weeks. If a woman is outside the 2-week window to receive the Depo-Provera
injection, she must repeat a pregnancy test with a negative result.
A patient has had long-term use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Which of these should be
ordered as part of monitoring?
Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans - Ongoing treatment of GnRH may result in bone
demineralization. DEXA scans should be ordered to monitor for bone demineralization in any patient
undergoing long-term use.
Which information should the APN include in patient education before prescribing a phosphodiesterase
type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor?
Patients should be educated that there is an absolute contraindication with concomitant use with any form of
nitrates because of the risk of severe hypotension, cardiovascular collapse, and death.
Which of these represents the main difference among the different phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5)
inhibitors?
All PDE5 inhibitors have been shown to have equal efficacy in treating erectile dysfunction. The main
difference between the agents is the duration of action.
Estrogen-only replacement therapy (ERT) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are used to prevent
which chronic illness in postmenopausal women?
ERT and HRT are no longer used to treat and prevent other chronic illnesses; the exception is osteoporosis.
,2|Page
Which of these is an effect of progestin on the reproductive system?
The effect of progestin is to thicken the endometrium and increase its complexity in preparation of pregnancy.
Which of these causes vasomotor symptoms in the perimenopausal transition period?
Vasomotor symptoms in the perimenopausal transition period are caused by rapid changes in estrogen level and
will lessen gradually over time for postmenopausal women.
Which of these represents a mechanism of pregnancy prevention of progestin?
One of the mechanisms of pregnancy prevention of progestins is to exhibit a negative effect in the
hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis to suppress the LH surge.
A female patient presents today for evaluation of vomiting and diarrhea associated with a recent
gastrointestinal illness. She uses combination oral contraception as her only method of contraception.
Which action taken by the APN is most appropriate?
Vomiting and diarrhea that accompany gastrointestinal illness can decrease oral contraceptive effectiveness by
decreasing absorption. An important part of patient education is to use a backup method for at least 7 days after
a gastrointestinal illness.
A 19-year-old female patient is being treated today for bacterial vaginosis (BV). Which information would
the APN include in patient education?
Patients should be educated to avoid consuming alcohol during and for at least 1 day following completion of
metronidazole therapy due to a possible disulfiram-like reaction.
The APN is treating a pregnant patient who has recently been diagnosed with syphilis. Which drug is the
preferred drug of treatment for this patient?
Benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units intramuscularly (IM) in a single dose - Parenteral penicillin G
(rather than oral penicillin) has been used effectively for 50 years and is the preferred drug of choice for
the treatment of all stages of syphilis. It is the only therapy with documented efficacy during pregnancy. If a
woman has a penicillin allergy, the recommendation is that she should be desensitized and treated with
penicillin.
A patient has a chlamydia infection and is allergic to erythromycin and penicillin. Which drug is most
appropriate for this patient?
Doxycycline
Pregnant patients diagnosed with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) should use which therapy?
7 day topical azoles therapy; oral azoles are contraindicated in pregnancies.
,3|Page
Which drug is the drug of choice for the treatment of scabies, especially in pregnant women or young
children older than 2 months?
Permethrin 5% cream is the drug of choice for the treatment of scabies, especially in pregnant women or young
children older than age 2 months.
Patients treated for gonorrhea should also receive treatment for which sexually transmitted infection
(STI)?
Many patients who are infected with gonorrhea are often coinfected with chlamydia. This led to the
recommendation that patients being treated for gonorrhea should also be treated for chlamydia.
Which statement is correct regarding treatment of herpes simplex virus (HSV)?
Episodic therapy is effective in shortening the duration of outbreaks if started within the first 24 hours of lesion
appearance or during the prodromal phase.
The APN has diagnosed a patient with trichomonas who has no insurance and has expressed worry about
the cost of a prescription. Which drug is most appropriate for this patient?
Although oral metronidazole is not as effective than tinidazole and has more side effects, it is less costly
and should be prescribed in this scenario.
Which information should be included in the education of a patient who has been diagnosed with
pediculosis pubis (pubic lice)?
Treatment of sexual partners should take place at the same time to avoid reinfection and recurrence of
symptoms.
Emergency contraception after improperly protected intercourse may be initiated up to how long after
intercourse?
It is recommended that emergency contraception be initiated as soon as possible. This provides the most
potential benefit. It can be initiated within 120 hours (5 days).
The APN is seeing a 6-year-old female patient in the clinic who presents with an amber-crusted rash on
the left nasolabial fold and her Cupid's bow. Her grandmother reports the rash is spreading quickly and
seems to have gotten much worse overnight. Upon assessment, you note nine distinct lesions. Which
treatment choice is most appropriate?
Mupirocin three times a day, plus oral antibiotics -Patients who have numerous lesions or who are not
responding to topical agents should receive oral antimicrobials effective against both S. aureus and S. pyogenes.
Which of these is recommended to eradicate nasal colonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA)?
, 4|Page
Mupirocin nasal ointment to both nares twice a day for 5 days
The APN is seeing a 5-year-old patient in the clinic who presents with numerous ruptured vesicles covered
with a honey-colored crust on the chin and mouth area. Which oral antimicrobial option would be the
best treatment for this patient?
Oral antibiotics, such as cephalexin or dicloxacillin, are indicated if the patient has more than five lesions or if
the lesions continue to worsen after 2 to 3 days of topical therapy.
Which of these is first-line therapy for a mild case of impetigo with fewer than five 2-cm lesions on the left
leg of a 10-year-old patient?
First-line therapy for impetigo is mupirocin unless it is a moderate to severe case.
How many grams of a topical ointment or cream are needed to cover one hand for a dose to be
administered twice a day for 7 days?
One fingertip unit (FTU) weighs approximately 0.5 g. One FTU is estimated to be appropriate for covering one
hand. For one 0.5 g dose to be administered twice a day for 7 days, 7 g is appropriate.
How many grams of a topical ointment or cream are needed to cover the legs for a dose to be
administered twice a day for 7 days?
One fingertip unit (FTU) weighs approximately 0.5 g. Six FTUs are estimated to be appropriate for covering one
leg. For 12 0.5-g doses to be administered twice a day for 7 days, 84 g is appropriate.
About how many grams of a topical ointment or cream are needed to cover the head, neck, and torso
(front and back) for a dose to be administered twice a day for 7 days?
One fingertip unit (FTU) weighs approximately 0.5 g. Approximately 4.5 FTUs are appropriate for the head and
neck, and 7 FTUs are appropriate for the front or back of the trunk. For 18.5 0.5-g doses to be administered to
the head, neck, and torso, about 130 g is appropriate.
Which topical medication emollient offers the greatest amount of absorption?
Ointment
Which area would the APN expect to provide the greatest rate of absorption when a topical agent is
applied?
Low-potency topical corticosteroids should be used on body sites with a thinner stratum corneum layer (face,
scrotum, axilla, and skinfolds), because these provide the greatest absorption.
NURS 605 -Advanced Pathophysiology Test Guide
|Exam Questions & Correct Detailed Answers
|Already Rated A+ 2026 (BRAND NEW!!!)
Patients with seizure disorders need careful monitoring if prescribed progestins because increased fluid
retention may have which effect?
Patients can experience increased fluid retention with the use of progestins. Patients who have seizure disorders
require careful monitoring because the increased fluid retention may lower the seizure threshold.
A patient presents today for a follow-up visit to receive her third Depo-Provera injection. The APN notes
that she is 16 days late in receiving her scheduled Depo-Provera injection. Which statement by the APN is
most appropriate?
“You will need a repeat pregnancy test prior to restarting injections.” - The injectable form requires
administration every 12 weeks. If a woman is outside the 2-week window to receive the Depo-Provera
injection, she must repeat a pregnancy test with a negative result.
A patient has had long-term use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Which of these should be
ordered as part of monitoring?
Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans - Ongoing treatment of GnRH may result in bone
demineralization. DEXA scans should be ordered to monitor for bone demineralization in any patient
undergoing long-term use.
Which information should the APN include in patient education before prescribing a phosphodiesterase
type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor?
Patients should be educated that there is an absolute contraindication with concomitant use with any form of
nitrates because of the risk of severe hypotension, cardiovascular collapse, and death.
Which of these represents the main difference among the different phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5)
inhibitors?
All PDE5 inhibitors have been shown to have equal efficacy in treating erectile dysfunction. The main
difference between the agents is the duration of action.
Estrogen-only replacement therapy (ERT) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are used to prevent
which chronic illness in postmenopausal women?
ERT and HRT are no longer used to treat and prevent other chronic illnesses; the exception is osteoporosis.
,2|Page
Which of these is an effect of progestin on the reproductive system?
The effect of progestin is to thicken the endometrium and increase its complexity in preparation of pregnancy.
Which of these causes vasomotor symptoms in the perimenopausal transition period?
Vasomotor symptoms in the perimenopausal transition period are caused by rapid changes in estrogen level and
will lessen gradually over time for postmenopausal women.
Which of these represents a mechanism of pregnancy prevention of progestin?
One of the mechanisms of pregnancy prevention of progestins is to exhibit a negative effect in the
hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis to suppress the LH surge.
A female patient presents today for evaluation of vomiting and diarrhea associated with a recent
gastrointestinal illness. She uses combination oral contraception as her only method of contraception.
Which action taken by the APN is most appropriate?
Vomiting and diarrhea that accompany gastrointestinal illness can decrease oral contraceptive effectiveness by
decreasing absorption. An important part of patient education is to use a backup method for at least 7 days after
a gastrointestinal illness.
A 19-year-old female patient is being treated today for bacterial vaginosis (BV). Which information would
the APN include in patient education?
Patients should be educated to avoid consuming alcohol during and for at least 1 day following completion of
metronidazole therapy due to a possible disulfiram-like reaction.
The APN is treating a pregnant patient who has recently been diagnosed with syphilis. Which drug is the
preferred drug of treatment for this patient?
Benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units intramuscularly (IM) in a single dose - Parenteral penicillin G
(rather than oral penicillin) has been used effectively for 50 years and is the preferred drug of choice for
the treatment of all stages of syphilis. It is the only therapy with documented efficacy during pregnancy. If a
woman has a penicillin allergy, the recommendation is that she should be desensitized and treated with
penicillin.
A patient has a chlamydia infection and is allergic to erythromycin and penicillin. Which drug is most
appropriate for this patient?
Doxycycline
Pregnant patients diagnosed with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) should use which therapy?
7 day topical azoles therapy; oral azoles are contraindicated in pregnancies.
,3|Page
Which drug is the drug of choice for the treatment of scabies, especially in pregnant women or young
children older than 2 months?
Permethrin 5% cream is the drug of choice for the treatment of scabies, especially in pregnant women or young
children older than age 2 months.
Patients treated for gonorrhea should also receive treatment for which sexually transmitted infection
(STI)?
Many patients who are infected with gonorrhea are often coinfected with chlamydia. This led to the
recommendation that patients being treated for gonorrhea should also be treated for chlamydia.
Which statement is correct regarding treatment of herpes simplex virus (HSV)?
Episodic therapy is effective in shortening the duration of outbreaks if started within the first 24 hours of lesion
appearance or during the prodromal phase.
The APN has diagnosed a patient with trichomonas who has no insurance and has expressed worry about
the cost of a prescription. Which drug is most appropriate for this patient?
Although oral metronidazole is not as effective than tinidazole and has more side effects, it is less costly
and should be prescribed in this scenario.
Which information should be included in the education of a patient who has been diagnosed with
pediculosis pubis (pubic lice)?
Treatment of sexual partners should take place at the same time to avoid reinfection and recurrence of
symptoms.
Emergency contraception after improperly protected intercourse may be initiated up to how long after
intercourse?
It is recommended that emergency contraception be initiated as soon as possible. This provides the most
potential benefit. It can be initiated within 120 hours (5 days).
The APN is seeing a 6-year-old female patient in the clinic who presents with an amber-crusted rash on
the left nasolabial fold and her Cupid's bow. Her grandmother reports the rash is spreading quickly and
seems to have gotten much worse overnight. Upon assessment, you note nine distinct lesions. Which
treatment choice is most appropriate?
Mupirocin three times a day, plus oral antibiotics -Patients who have numerous lesions or who are not
responding to topical agents should receive oral antimicrobials effective against both S. aureus and S. pyogenes.
Which of these is recommended to eradicate nasal colonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA)?
, 4|Page
Mupirocin nasal ointment to both nares twice a day for 5 days
The APN is seeing a 5-year-old patient in the clinic who presents with numerous ruptured vesicles covered
with a honey-colored crust on the chin and mouth area. Which oral antimicrobial option would be the
best treatment for this patient?
Oral antibiotics, such as cephalexin or dicloxacillin, are indicated if the patient has more than five lesions or if
the lesions continue to worsen after 2 to 3 days of topical therapy.
Which of these is first-line therapy for a mild case of impetigo with fewer than five 2-cm lesions on the left
leg of a 10-year-old patient?
First-line therapy for impetigo is mupirocin unless it is a moderate to severe case.
How many grams of a topical ointment or cream are needed to cover one hand for a dose to be
administered twice a day for 7 days?
One fingertip unit (FTU) weighs approximately 0.5 g. One FTU is estimated to be appropriate for covering one
hand. For one 0.5 g dose to be administered twice a day for 7 days, 7 g is appropriate.
How many grams of a topical ointment or cream are needed to cover the legs for a dose to be
administered twice a day for 7 days?
One fingertip unit (FTU) weighs approximately 0.5 g. Six FTUs are estimated to be appropriate for covering one
leg. For 12 0.5-g doses to be administered twice a day for 7 days, 84 g is appropriate.
About how many grams of a topical ointment or cream are needed to cover the head, neck, and torso
(front and back) for a dose to be administered twice a day for 7 days?
One fingertip unit (FTU) weighs approximately 0.5 g. Approximately 4.5 FTUs are appropriate for the head and
neck, and 7 FTUs are appropriate for the front or back of the trunk. For 18.5 0.5-g doses to be administered to
the head, neck, and torso, about 130 g is appropriate.
Which topical medication emollient offers the greatest amount of absorption?
Ointment
Which area would the APN expect to provide the greatest rate of absorption when a topical agent is
applied?
Low-potency topical corticosteroids should be used on body sites with a thinner stratum corneum layer (face,
scrotum, axilla, and skinfolds), because these provide the greatest absorption.
