FNP 654 APEA PRE PREDICTOR EXAM (2026-
2027) VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+ GCU
A patient is diagnosed with tinea pedis. A microscopic examination of the sample
taken from the infected area would likely demonstrate:
hyphae
Under microscopic exam, hyphae are long, thin and branching, and indicate
dermatophytic infections. Hyphae are typical in tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and tinea
corporis. Yeasts are usually seen in candidal infections. Cocci and rods are specific
to bacterial infections.
Which of the following antibiotics may increase the likelihood of photosensitivity?
Fluoroquinolones
Many medications can produce a phototoxic reaction when a patient is exposed to
sunlight. Antibiotics are especially notable for this. Common antibiotics associated
with photosensitivity are tetracyclines, sulfa drugs, and fluoroquinolones. Other
common medications that increase photosensitivity are hydrochlorothiazide,
diltiazem, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antihistamines, ibuprofen, and
naproxen.
The agent commonly used to treat patients with scabies is permethrin. How often is
it applied to eradicate scabies?
,Once
A single whole body application of permethrin is usually successful in eradicating
infection with scabies. It is applied over the entire body from the neck down. The
lotion is left on and then showered off 8-12 hours later. All contacts must be
treated at the same time and all potential fomites (bed linen, mattresses, cloth
furniture, etc.) must be treated as well. Permethrin can be sprayed on cloth fomites
or they can be bagged for several days, washed and dried in washing machine and
dryer. Ironing clothes after washing them is acceptable.
Most cases of atopic dermatitis exacerbation are treated with:
topical steroids
An exacerbation of atopic dermatitis is termed eczema. Under normal conditions,
the skin should be kept well lubricated with emollients. These should be used
liberally as often as needed to prevent skin from becoming dry. Dry skin is more
prone to exacerbations. When an exacerbation occurs, topical steroids are very
effective and are commonly used. The lowest potency steroid that resolves the
exacerbation should be used.
A patient has used a high potency topical steroid cream for years to treat psoriasis
exacerbations when they occur. She presents today and states that this cream "just
doesn't work anymore." What word describes this?
Tachyphylaxis
Tachyphylaxis is the word used to describe a gradual and progressively poorer
clinical response to a treatment or medication. This is particularly true of topical
glucocorticoids, bronchodilators, nitroglycerine, and antihistamines when they are
,overused. The rebound effect describes a condition where initial clinical
improvement occurred, but worsening now has occurred. Lichenification refers to
a thickening of the skin. Drug free intervals are important to prevent tachyphylaxis.
A 3 year-old female had a fever of 102 degrees F for 3 days. Today she woke up
from a nap and is afebrile. She has a maculopapular rash. Which statement is true?
The rash will blanch.
This describes a patient with roseola or exanthem subitum. This is a common viral
exanthem found in young children caused by the Human Herpes Virus 6B. It is
characterized by high fever for 3 days followed by the abrupt cessation of fever
and the appearance of a maculopapular rash. This usually resolves in a few days.
The child may return to school or daycare when he has been fever free for 24
hours.
A topical treatment for basal cell carcinoma is:
5-fluorouracil.
Several treatments exist for basal and squamous cell carcinoma. The majority are
simple procedures like cryotherapy, electrodessication, surgical excision, and a
topical treatment like 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The other agents listed are not used to
treat basal or squamous cell carcinoma. 5-FU works by inhibiting DNA synthesis.
It is effective if used for superficial basal cell carcinomas. It is available in cream
and solution and is usually applied twice daily for 3-6 weeks.
A child with a sandpaper textured rash probably has:
strept infection
, Streptococcal infections can present as a sandpaper textured rash that initially is
felt on the trunk. Rubeola, measles, produces a blanching erythematous "brick-red"
maculopapular rash that begins on the back of the neck and spreads around the
trunk and then extremities. Varicella infection produces the classic crops of
eruptions on the trunk that spread to the face. The rash is maculopapular initially
and then crusts. Roseola produces a generalized maculopapular rash preceded by 3
days of high fever.
A 6 year-old patient with sore throat has coryza, hoarseness, and diarrhea. What is
the likely etiology?
Viral etiology
This constellation of symptoms is typical of a viral infection. Group A
Streptococcus is usually not accompanied by coryza. H. parainfluenzae is not a
common cause of pharyngitis. Mycoplasma usually is associated with lower
respiratory tract infections
A patient has been diagnosed with MRSA. She is sulfa allergic. Which medication
could be used to treat her?
Doxycycline
MRSA is methicillin resistant Staph aureus. This is very common in the
community and is typically treated with sulfa medications like TMPS (Bactrim DS
and Septra DS). If the patient is sulfa allergic, this could not be used. A narrow
spectrum antibiotic that can be used is doxycycline or minocycline. It is given
twice daily and is generally well tolerated. MRSA is resistant to the antibiotics
mentioned and so they should NOT be used to treat it.
2027) VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+ GCU
A patient is diagnosed with tinea pedis. A microscopic examination of the sample
taken from the infected area would likely demonstrate:
hyphae
Under microscopic exam, hyphae are long, thin and branching, and indicate
dermatophytic infections. Hyphae are typical in tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and tinea
corporis. Yeasts are usually seen in candidal infections. Cocci and rods are specific
to bacterial infections.
Which of the following antibiotics may increase the likelihood of photosensitivity?
Fluoroquinolones
Many medications can produce a phototoxic reaction when a patient is exposed to
sunlight. Antibiotics are especially notable for this. Common antibiotics associated
with photosensitivity are tetracyclines, sulfa drugs, and fluoroquinolones. Other
common medications that increase photosensitivity are hydrochlorothiazide,
diltiazem, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antihistamines, ibuprofen, and
naproxen.
The agent commonly used to treat patients with scabies is permethrin. How often is
it applied to eradicate scabies?
,Once
A single whole body application of permethrin is usually successful in eradicating
infection with scabies. It is applied over the entire body from the neck down. The
lotion is left on and then showered off 8-12 hours later. All contacts must be
treated at the same time and all potential fomites (bed linen, mattresses, cloth
furniture, etc.) must be treated as well. Permethrin can be sprayed on cloth fomites
or they can be bagged for several days, washed and dried in washing machine and
dryer. Ironing clothes after washing them is acceptable.
Most cases of atopic dermatitis exacerbation are treated with:
topical steroids
An exacerbation of atopic dermatitis is termed eczema. Under normal conditions,
the skin should be kept well lubricated with emollients. These should be used
liberally as often as needed to prevent skin from becoming dry. Dry skin is more
prone to exacerbations. When an exacerbation occurs, topical steroids are very
effective and are commonly used. The lowest potency steroid that resolves the
exacerbation should be used.
A patient has used a high potency topical steroid cream for years to treat psoriasis
exacerbations when they occur. She presents today and states that this cream "just
doesn't work anymore." What word describes this?
Tachyphylaxis
Tachyphylaxis is the word used to describe a gradual and progressively poorer
clinical response to a treatment or medication. This is particularly true of topical
glucocorticoids, bronchodilators, nitroglycerine, and antihistamines when they are
,overused. The rebound effect describes a condition where initial clinical
improvement occurred, but worsening now has occurred. Lichenification refers to
a thickening of the skin. Drug free intervals are important to prevent tachyphylaxis.
A 3 year-old female had a fever of 102 degrees F for 3 days. Today she woke up
from a nap and is afebrile. She has a maculopapular rash. Which statement is true?
The rash will blanch.
This describes a patient with roseola or exanthem subitum. This is a common viral
exanthem found in young children caused by the Human Herpes Virus 6B. It is
characterized by high fever for 3 days followed by the abrupt cessation of fever
and the appearance of a maculopapular rash. This usually resolves in a few days.
The child may return to school or daycare when he has been fever free for 24
hours.
A topical treatment for basal cell carcinoma is:
5-fluorouracil.
Several treatments exist for basal and squamous cell carcinoma. The majority are
simple procedures like cryotherapy, electrodessication, surgical excision, and a
topical treatment like 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The other agents listed are not used to
treat basal or squamous cell carcinoma. 5-FU works by inhibiting DNA synthesis.
It is effective if used for superficial basal cell carcinomas. It is available in cream
and solution and is usually applied twice daily for 3-6 weeks.
A child with a sandpaper textured rash probably has:
strept infection
, Streptococcal infections can present as a sandpaper textured rash that initially is
felt on the trunk. Rubeola, measles, produces a blanching erythematous "brick-red"
maculopapular rash that begins on the back of the neck and spreads around the
trunk and then extremities. Varicella infection produces the classic crops of
eruptions on the trunk that spread to the face. The rash is maculopapular initially
and then crusts. Roseola produces a generalized maculopapular rash preceded by 3
days of high fever.
A 6 year-old patient with sore throat has coryza, hoarseness, and diarrhea. What is
the likely etiology?
Viral etiology
This constellation of symptoms is typical of a viral infection. Group A
Streptococcus is usually not accompanied by coryza. H. parainfluenzae is not a
common cause of pharyngitis. Mycoplasma usually is associated with lower
respiratory tract infections
A patient has been diagnosed with MRSA. She is sulfa allergic. Which medication
could be used to treat her?
Doxycycline
MRSA is methicillin resistant Staph aureus. This is very common in the
community and is typically treated with sulfa medications like TMPS (Bactrim DS
and Septra DS). If the patient is sulfa allergic, this could not be used. A narrow
spectrum antibiotic that can be used is doxycycline or minocycline. It is given
twice daily and is generally well tolerated. MRSA is resistant to the antibiotics
mentioned and so they should NOT be used to treat it.
