MN551 Final Exam 2025: Complete Study Guide,
Practice Questions, Key Concepts & Proven Strategies
to Pass the MN551 Graduate Nursing Exam
Prepare for the MN551 Final Exam with this comprehensive study guide featuring practice questions, key
graduate nursing concepts, and exam-focused strategies. Designed to help MSN students master MN551
content and pass the final exam with confidence.
• MN551 final exam
• MN551 exam questions
• MN551 nursing course
• MN551 study guide
Which structures are part of the brain stem? Select all that apply.
a) Pons
b) Midbrain
c) Cerebellum
d) Medulla oblongata - ANSWER-• Medulla oblongata
• Pons
• Midbrain
The term brain stem is often used to include the medulla, pons, and midbrain. The cerebellum is not part
of the brain stem.
Which drug, administered by the nurse to a client with a heart rate of 40 and syncope, is a muscarinic
blocking drug that will increase the heart rate?
,a) Atropine
b) Dopamine
c) Lidocaine
d) Epinephrine - ANSWER-• Atropine
The drug atropine is an antimuscarinic or muscarinic cholinergic blocking drug that prevents the action
of acetylcholine at excitatory and inhibitory muscarinic receptor sites. Because it is a muscarinic blocking
drug, it exerts little effect at nicotinic receptor sites.
While explaining the role of skeletal muscle relaxants, such as succinylcholine, used during anesthesia,
the faculty mentions that these effects are caused by blocking:
a) N2, neuronal-type receptor, a type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
b) Norepinephrine
c) Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, muscle-type receptor (NM)
d) Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors - ANSWER-Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, muscle-type receptor
(NM)
Some skeletal muscle relaxants, such as succinylcholine, can be used to induce muscle relaxation and
short-term paralysis in anesthesia by blocking NM receptors at the neuromuscular junction. The drug
atropine is a competitive antagonist for the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor that prevents the action of
acetylcholine at excitatory and inhibitory muscarinic receptor sites. Norepinephrine is released at most
sympathetic nerve endings.
The bidirectional axonal transport system allows for the transport of molecular materials (as opposed to
electrical impulses); anterograde transport has both slow and fast components.
Which of the following characterizes a function of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)?
a) Conservation of energy
b) Blood sugar increase
,c) Constriction of the stomach and intestine sphincters
d) Blood flow shifting from the skin and gastrointestinal tract to the skeletal muscles and brain -
ANSWER-Conservation of energy
The functions of the PNS are concerned with conservation of energy, resource replenishment and
storage, and maintenance of organ function during periods of minimal activity—the rest-digest response.
All other options are functions of the sympathetic nervous system
The nurse is aware that some drugs may be prevented from entering the brain as a function of:
a) Elimination by the kidneys
b) Rapid absorption in the gastric mucosa
c) Detoxification by the liver
d) The blood-brain barrier - ANSWER-The blood-brain barrier
The blood-brain barrier prevents many drugs from entering the brain. Most highly water-soluble
components are excluded from the brain, especially molecules with high ionic charge, such as many of
the catecholamines.
An increased blood pressure is detected by the carotid sinus baroreceptor and results in stimulation of
the vagus nerve to decrease the heart rate. At which of the following levels of the nervous system does
this reflex adjustment occur?
a) Spinal cord
b) Brain stem (medulla and pons)
c) Cerebral cortex
d) Hypothalumus - ANSWER-Brain stem (medulla and pons)
Reflex adjustment of cardiovascular and respiratory function occur at the level of the brain stem
(medulla and pons). The other options do not provide autonomic control of the cardiovascular system.
, A client is having an upper endoscopy to determine the presence of a gastric ulcer. After the procedure is
performed, the nurse instructs the client that he cannot have anything to eat or drink until the return of
the gag reflex. Which nerve is the nurse testing for return of function?
a) Hypoglossal
b) Glossopharyngeal
c) Trigeminal
d) Abducens - ANSWER-Glossopharyngeal
The glossopharyngeal nerve innervates the stylophargeus muscle, posterior external ear, taste buds of
posterior half of tongue, oral pharynx, parotid gland, pharyngeal muscles, and the stylopharyngeus
muscle. It affects the function of proprioception, somesthesia, taste, gag reflex, salivary reflex, and
assists in swallowing.
The nurse is aware that the primary function of the sympathetic nervous system is:
a) Maintenance of organ function during periods of minimal activity
b) Conservation of energy and resource replenishment
c) Suppression of responses during threatened periods
d) Maintenance of vital functions and responding when there is a critical threat to the integrity of the
individual - ANSWER-Maintenance of vital functions and responding when there is a critical threat to the
integrity of the individual
The sympathetic division maintains vital functions and responds when there is a critical threat to the
integrity of the individual—the "fight-or-flight" response. The parasympathetic nervous system is
concerned with conservation of energy, resource replenishment, and maintenance of organ function
during periods of minimal activity.
The vertebral column provides protection of: Select all that apply.
a) Supporting structures
b) Tendons
Practice Questions, Key Concepts & Proven Strategies
to Pass the MN551 Graduate Nursing Exam
Prepare for the MN551 Final Exam with this comprehensive study guide featuring practice questions, key
graduate nursing concepts, and exam-focused strategies. Designed to help MSN students master MN551
content and pass the final exam with confidence.
• MN551 final exam
• MN551 exam questions
• MN551 nursing course
• MN551 study guide
Which structures are part of the brain stem? Select all that apply.
a) Pons
b) Midbrain
c) Cerebellum
d) Medulla oblongata - ANSWER-• Medulla oblongata
• Pons
• Midbrain
The term brain stem is often used to include the medulla, pons, and midbrain. The cerebellum is not part
of the brain stem.
Which drug, administered by the nurse to a client with a heart rate of 40 and syncope, is a muscarinic
blocking drug that will increase the heart rate?
,a) Atropine
b) Dopamine
c) Lidocaine
d) Epinephrine - ANSWER-• Atropine
The drug atropine is an antimuscarinic or muscarinic cholinergic blocking drug that prevents the action
of acetylcholine at excitatory and inhibitory muscarinic receptor sites. Because it is a muscarinic blocking
drug, it exerts little effect at nicotinic receptor sites.
While explaining the role of skeletal muscle relaxants, such as succinylcholine, used during anesthesia,
the faculty mentions that these effects are caused by blocking:
a) N2, neuronal-type receptor, a type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
b) Norepinephrine
c) Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, muscle-type receptor (NM)
d) Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors - ANSWER-Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, muscle-type receptor
(NM)
Some skeletal muscle relaxants, such as succinylcholine, can be used to induce muscle relaxation and
short-term paralysis in anesthesia by blocking NM receptors at the neuromuscular junction. The drug
atropine is a competitive antagonist for the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor that prevents the action of
acetylcholine at excitatory and inhibitory muscarinic receptor sites. Norepinephrine is released at most
sympathetic nerve endings.
The bidirectional axonal transport system allows for the transport of molecular materials (as opposed to
electrical impulses); anterograde transport has both slow and fast components.
Which of the following characterizes a function of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)?
a) Conservation of energy
b) Blood sugar increase
,c) Constriction of the stomach and intestine sphincters
d) Blood flow shifting from the skin and gastrointestinal tract to the skeletal muscles and brain -
ANSWER-Conservation of energy
The functions of the PNS are concerned with conservation of energy, resource replenishment and
storage, and maintenance of organ function during periods of minimal activity—the rest-digest response.
All other options are functions of the sympathetic nervous system
The nurse is aware that some drugs may be prevented from entering the brain as a function of:
a) Elimination by the kidneys
b) Rapid absorption in the gastric mucosa
c) Detoxification by the liver
d) The blood-brain barrier - ANSWER-The blood-brain barrier
The blood-brain barrier prevents many drugs from entering the brain. Most highly water-soluble
components are excluded from the brain, especially molecules with high ionic charge, such as many of
the catecholamines.
An increased blood pressure is detected by the carotid sinus baroreceptor and results in stimulation of
the vagus nerve to decrease the heart rate. At which of the following levels of the nervous system does
this reflex adjustment occur?
a) Spinal cord
b) Brain stem (medulla and pons)
c) Cerebral cortex
d) Hypothalumus - ANSWER-Brain stem (medulla and pons)
Reflex adjustment of cardiovascular and respiratory function occur at the level of the brain stem
(medulla and pons). The other options do not provide autonomic control of the cardiovascular system.
, A client is having an upper endoscopy to determine the presence of a gastric ulcer. After the procedure is
performed, the nurse instructs the client that he cannot have anything to eat or drink until the return of
the gag reflex. Which nerve is the nurse testing for return of function?
a) Hypoglossal
b) Glossopharyngeal
c) Trigeminal
d) Abducens - ANSWER-Glossopharyngeal
The glossopharyngeal nerve innervates the stylophargeus muscle, posterior external ear, taste buds of
posterior half of tongue, oral pharynx, parotid gland, pharyngeal muscles, and the stylopharyngeus
muscle. It affects the function of proprioception, somesthesia, taste, gag reflex, salivary reflex, and
assists in swallowing.
The nurse is aware that the primary function of the sympathetic nervous system is:
a) Maintenance of organ function during periods of minimal activity
b) Conservation of energy and resource replenishment
c) Suppression of responses during threatened periods
d) Maintenance of vital functions and responding when there is a critical threat to the integrity of the
individual - ANSWER-Maintenance of vital functions and responding when there is a critical threat to the
integrity of the individual
The sympathetic division maintains vital functions and responds when there is a critical threat to the
integrity of the individual—the "fight-or-flight" response. The parasympathetic nervous system is
concerned with conservation of energy, resource replenishment, and maintenance of organ function
during periods of minimal activity.
The vertebral column provides protection of: Select all that apply.
a) Supporting structures
b) Tendons
