Questions & Expert Answers for Nurse
Practitioner Students (2026)
Description:
Ace your primary care and pharmacology exams with this definitive resource. Our expertly
curated NUR 6531 SET 1 exam bank provides 100 unique practice questions and detailed
explanations, directly aligned with the 2026 NP board standards.
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exam help," or "primary care certification review," this guide covers high-yield topics in
diagnosis, treatment, and patient management. Each answer includes a clear rationale to build
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, NUR 6531 SET 1 Exam: 100 Practice Q&A for NP Students | 2026
1. What is the most common type of cancer found on the outer ear?
a) Squamous cell carcinoma
b) Malignant melanoma
c) Actinic keratosis
d) Basal cell carcinoma
Answer: d) Basal cell carcinoma
Explanation: Basal cell carcinoma is the most frequently diagnosed skin cancer overall and is
particularly common on sun-exposed areas like the face and auricle, due to its high prevalence
and association with ultraviolet radiation damage.
2. Which class of medications is generally contraindicated in patients with acute or chronic
bronchitis as it can worsen ventilation-perfusion mismatch?
a) Antihistamines
b) Bronchodilators
c) Expectorants
d) Mucolytics
Answer: a) Antihistamines
Explanation: Antihistamines can thicken bronchial secretions and suppress the cough reflex,
potentially leading to mucus plugging and impaired gas exchange, thereby exacerbating
ventilation-perfusion mismatch in patients with bronchitis.
3. A 47-year-old male presents with a single episode of moderate bright red rectal bleeding,
and external hemorrhoids are noted on exam. What is the appropriate next step?
a) Prescribe a steroid cream and fiber supplements
b) Refer for barium enema and sigmoidoscopy
c) Schedule a colonoscopy
d) Order a fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
Answer: c) Schedule a colonoscopy
Explanation: In a patient over 45 (updated per current screening guidelines) with rectal
bleeding, a structural evaluation of the colon is necessary to rule out more serious pathology like
colorectal cancer or polyps, even with an obvious source like hemorrhoids.
,4. Which set of patient characteristics is most classically associated with chronic
bronchitis?
a) Thin build, pursed-lip breathing, barrel chest
b) Overweight, cyanosis ("blue bloater"), normal or slightly increased respiratory rate
c) Digital clubbing, significant weight loss, accessory muscle use
d) Profound dyspnea at rest, hyperresonance to percussion
Answer: b) Overweight, cyanosis ("blue bloater"), normal or slightly increased respiratory rate
Explanation: The classic "blue bloater" phenotype of chronic bronchitis includes features of
chronic hypoxemia (cyanosis), often with obesity, and a respiratory pattern that may not be
dramatically tachypsic at rest compared to the "pink puffer" of emphysema.
5. A 65-year-old female with PMH of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and polymyalgia
rheumatica on prednisone presents with new LLQ pain. Suspecting acute diverticulitis
with possible abscess, what is the most appropriate initial diagnostic test?
a) Abdominal ultrasound
b) Barium enema
c) CT scan of the abdomen/pelvis with contrast
d) Plain abdominal X-ray
Answer: c) CT scan of the abdomen/pelvis with contrast
Explanation: CT scan is the imaging modality of choice for suspected acute diverticulitis. It can
confirm the diagnosis, identify complications like abscess or perforation, and guide management
decisions.
6. A patient reports a foreign body sensation in the eye after chopping wood. Which finding
would NOT be expected with a simple corneal foreign body?
a) Photophobia
b) Excessive tearing
c) Purulent drainage
d) Conjunctival injection
Answer: c) Purulent drainage
Explanation: Purulent drainage suggests a bacterial infection (e.g., bacterial conjunctivitis). A
, corneal foreign body typically causes pain, tearing, redness, and photophobia, but not purulent
exudate unless a secondary infection has developed.
7. A 21-year-old college student presents with copious, markedly purulent discharge from
one eye. What should be suspected?
a) Allergic conjunctivitis
b) Viral conjunctivitis
c) Gonococcal conjunctivitis
d) Blepharitis
Answer: c) Gonococcal conjunctivitis
Explanation: Gonococcal conjunctivitis is characterized by a hyperacute onset with profuse,
purulent discharge. It is an ophthalmologic emergency due to the risk of rapid corneal
perforation and requires immediate systemic and topical antibiotic treatment.
8. A 35-year-old man presents with radicular pain followed by grouped vesicles across
three thoracic dermatomes, with pain, burning, and itching. What is the suspected
diagnosis and an important consideration?
a) Impetigo; consider poor hygiene
b) Herpes zoster (shingles); consider possible immunocompromised state
c) Contact dermatitis; consider allergen exposure
d) Herpes simplex; consider sexual transmission
Answer: b) Herpes zoster (shingles); consider possible immunocompromised state
Explanation: The presentation of painful, dermatomal, vesicular lesions is classic for herpes
zoster reactivation. Occurrence in a young adult or across multiple dermatomes should raise
suspicion for an underlying immunocompromising condition.
9. Which type of lung cancer typically has the most aggressive course and poorest
prognosis?
a) Adenocarcinoma
b) Large cell carcinoma
c) Small cell lung carcinoma
d) Squamous cell carcinoma