FNP Board review questions and
answers 2024\2025 A+ Grade
A 24-year old, otherwise healthy college student presents with c/o cough x 6 weeks. She has tried
several OTC cough meds with no improvement. What is the most important information to consider
when building your differential diagnoses?
A) Her age
B) Family hx
C) Ineffectiveness of OTC cough medicines
D) Length of time she has been coughing
- correct answer D) Length of time she has been coughing
Why? This information helps you build your ddx
Acute cough < 3 weeks: bronchitis, sinusitis, PND, exacerbation of COPD/asthma, pneumonia,
pulmonary embolism
Chronic cough (>8 weeks) GERD and Asthma are most common causes, also consider infection (e.g.
pertussis, atypical pneumonia), ACE inhibitors, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, lung ca)
According to the CDC, what drug class is considered first-line treatment for pertussis?
A) Sulfonamide
B) Tetracycline
C) Macrolide
D) Beta-lactam
- correct answer C) Macrolide antiobitic (e.g. Azithromycin, clarithromycin
Sulfonamides are second-line
,Match the antibiotics with the correct drug class:
1. Sulfonamide
2. Tetracycline
3. Macrolide
4. Beta-lactam
A. Doxycyline
B. Azithromycin
C. Penicillins
D.Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole
E. Cephalosporin
F. Clarithromycin
- correct answer 1. Sulfonamide - D.Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
2. Tetracycline - A. Doxycycline
3. Macrolide - B & F, Azithromycin and Clarithromycin
4. Beta-lactam - C & E, PCN and cephalosporins
What are the three most common bugs in community-acquired pneumonia?
- correct answer Streptococcus pneumoniae
Mycoplasma pneuomiae (atypical pathogen)
Chlamydophila pneumoniae (atypical pathogen)
What is the treatment for CAP caused by Strep pneumo?
- correct answer Respiratory quinolone (e.g. Levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, gemifloxacin) OR high-dose
amoxicillin OR amoxicillin with clavulanate
,What antibiotics are avoided in CAP caused by Strep pneumo due to high rates of resistance?
- correct answer Macrolides
What is the treatment for CAP caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae?
- correct answer Macrolide OR doxycycline
What antibiotics are avoided in CAP caused by atypical pathogens?
- correct answer Beta-lactams (ineffective)
A 38-year old mother of two teenagers recently recovered from Mycoplasma pneumonia a couple of
weeks ago. She asks if she should get the "pneumonia shot." She takes levothyroxine 88 mcg daily for
hypothyroidism, but is otherwise healthy. How do you respond?
A) No, it's too soon after your infection
B) No, it's not indicated
C) Yes, you can get it in about a month
D) Yes you can get it today
- correct answer B) No, it's not indicated
An otherwise healthy adult without immunocompromise or multiple comorbid conditions is not a
"vulnerable population"
The pneumonia vaccine does not prevent mycoplasma pneumonia
According to GOLD, what is required to establish the diagnosis of COPD?
- correct answer Spirometry (FEV1/FVC ratio < 70%)
A 70-year old house painter reports a 4-week history of exertional dyspnea, chest tightness, and cough
for the past 3 months. He has never smoked. What diagnoses are included in your differential? Select 4.
A) Asthma
B) Angina
C) COPD
, D) GERD
E) Pneumonia
F) Tuberculosis
G) Heart Failure
- correct answer B) Angina
C) COPD
F) Tuberculosis
G) Heart failure
How do inhaled anticholinergics work to treat shortness of breath in COPD?
A) They cause bronchodilation in the lungs
B) They block the action of acetylcholine and prevent bronchoconstriction
- correct answer B) They block the action of acetylcholine and prevent bronchconstriction
Name a short-acting inhaled anticholinergic:
- correct answer Ipratropium (Atrovent)
Name a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic:
- correct answer Tiotropium (Spiriva)
How do inhaled betá-agonists work to treat shortness of breath in COPD?
A) They cause bronchodilation in the lungs
B) They block the action of acetylcholine and prevent bronchoconstriction
- correct answer A) They cause bronchodilation in the lungs
What are the only 2 inhaled short-acting beta agonists (SABAs):
- correct answer Albuterol and levalbuterol
Name an inhaled long-acting beta agonists (LABAs):
- correct answer Salmeterol (Serevent)
answers 2024\2025 A+ Grade
A 24-year old, otherwise healthy college student presents with c/o cough x 6 weeks. She has tried
several OTC cough meds with no improvement. What is the most important information to consider
when building your differential diagnoses?
A) Her age
B) Family hx
C) Ineffectiveness of OTC cough medicines
D) Length of time she has been coughing
- correct answer D) Length of time she has been coughing
Why? This information helps you build your ddx
Acute cough < 3 weeks: bronchitis, sinusitis, PND, exacerbation of COPD/asthma, pneumonia,
pulmonary embolism
Chronic cough (>8 weeks) GERD and Asthma are most common causes, also consider infection (e.g.
pertussis, atypical pneumonia), ACE inhibitors, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, lung ca)
According to the CDC, what drug class is considered first-line treatment for pertussis?
A) Sulfonamide
B) Tetracycline
C) Macrolide
D) Beta-lactam
- correct answer C) Macrolide antiobitic (e.g. Azithromycin, clarithromycin
Sulfonamides are second-line
,Match the antibiotics with the correct drug class:
1. Sulfonamide
2. Tetracycline
3. Macrolide
4. Beta-lactam
A. Doxycyline
B. Azithromycin
C. Penicillins
D.Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole
E. Cephalosporin
F. Clarithromycin
- correct answer 1. Sulfonamide - D.Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
2. Tetracycline - A. Doxycycline
3. Macrolide - B & F, Azithromycin and Clarithromycin
4. Beta-lactam - C & E, PCN and cephalosporins
What are the three most common bugs in community-acquired pneumonia?
- correct answer Streptococcus pneumoniae
Mycoplasma pneuomiae (atypical pathogen)
Chlamydophila pneumoniae (atypical pathogen)
What is the treatment for CAP caused by Strep pneumo?
- correct answer Respiratory quinolone (e.g. Levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, gemifloxacin) OR high-dose
amoxicillin OR amoxicillin with clavulanate
,What antibiotics are avoided in CAP caused by Strep pneumo due to high rates of resistance?
- correct answer Macrolides
What is the treatment for CAP caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae?
- correct answer Macrolide OR doxycycline
What antibiotics are avoided in CAP caused by atypical pathogens?
- correct answer Beta-lactams (ineffective)
A 38-year old mother of two teenagers recently recovered from Mycoplasma pneumonia a couple of
weeks ago. She asks if she should get the "pneumonia shot." She takes levothyroxine 88 mcg daily for
hypothyroidism, but is otherwise healthy. How do you respond?
A) No, it's too soon after your infection
B) No, it's not indicated
C) Yes, you can get it in about a month
D) Yes you can get it today
- correct answer B) No, it's not indicated
An otherwise healthy adult without immunocompromise or multiple comorbid conditions is not a
"vulnerable population"
The pneumonia vaccine does not prevent mycoplasma pneumonia
According to GOLD, what is required to establish the diagnosis of COPD?
- correct answer Spirometry (FEV1/FVC ratio < 70%)
A 70-year old house painter reports a 4-week history of exertional dyspnea, chest tightness, and cough
for the past 3 months. He has never smoked. What diagnoses are included in your differential? Select 4.
A) Asthma
B) Angina
C) COPD
, D) GERD
E) Pneumonia
F) Tuberculosis
G) Heart Failure
- correct answer B) Angina
C) COPD
F) Tuberculosis
G) Heart failure
How do inhaled anticholinergics work to treat shortness of breath in COPD?
A) They cause bronchodilation in the lungs
B) They block the action of acetylcholine and prevent bronchoconstriction
- correct answer B) They block the action of acetylcholine and prevent bronchconstriction
Name a short-acting inhaled anticholinergic:
- correct answer Ipratropium (Atrovent)
Name a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic:
- correct answer Tiotropium (Spiriva)
How do inhaled betá-agonists work to treat shortness of breath in COPD?
A) They cause bronchodilation in the lungs
B) They block the action of acetylcholine and prevent bronchoconstriction
- correct answer A) They cause bronchodilation in the lungs
What are the only 2 inhaled short-acting beta agonists (SABAs):
- correct answer Albuterol and levalbuterol
Name an inhaled long-acting beta agonists (LABAs):
- correct answer Salmeterol (Serevent)
