FNP 654 FINAL EXAM (GCU) | 315 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | 2025/26 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTION
A patient with a family history of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) begins to
have symptoms that include asymmetric weakness in the arms and difficulty
walking. The neurologist recognizes these symptoms as characteristic of
involvement of which portion of the nervous system? Answer - Lower motor
neurons
The spouse of a patient newly-diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS) asks about long-term care. What will the provider include when teaching
the family about this disease? Answer - Preventing malnutrition is a key
element in care.
Which symptoms may occur with Bell's palsy?
Select all that apply. Answer - Alteration in taste, Drooling, Tinnitus
A 35-year-old patient reports suddenly experiencing an asymmetric smile along
with drooping and tearing in one eye. The patient has a history of a recent viral
illness, but is otherwise healthy. During the exam, the provider notes that there
is unilateral full face paralysis on the right side. What is the initial intervention
for this patient? Answer - Prescribe oral prednisolone
What is recommended to prevent ophthalmic complications in patients with
Bell's palsy? Answer - Lubricating eye drops
,A patient reports a recurrent sensation of spinning associated with nausea and
vomiting. Which test will the provider order to confirm a diagnosis for this
patient? Answer - The Hallpike-Dix positioning maneuver
An elderly patient reports sensations of being off balance when walking, but
does not experience dizziness. The provider will refer this patient to which
specialist for further evaluation? Answer - Neurologist
Which diagnostic test helps confirm a diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome in a
patient who is developing muscle weakness and paresthesias? Answer -
Lumbar puncture
Which monitoring parameters are necessary when caring for a patient with
Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Select all that apply. Answer - Bladder scans
Cardiac telemetry
Fever
Vital capacity measures
Following an upper respiratory infection, a patient begins to develop ataxia and
distal paresthesias, along with oculomotor symptoms and double vision. Based
on these presenting symptoms which type of GBS does this patient have?
Answer - Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS)
A patient has recurrent cluster headaches and asks about abortive therapy.
Which therapy is effective for a majority of patients with cluster headaches?
Answer - Oxygen
A patient reports recurrent headaches occurring 1 or 2 times per month that
generally occur with weather changes or when sleep patterns are disrupted
,and describes them as severe, with throbbing on one side of the head and
sometimes accompanied by nausea. What is the recommended treatment for
this type of headache? Answer - Rizatriptan
Which medications may be useful in treating tension-type headache?
Select all that apply. Answer - Antiemetics
Muscle relaxants
NSAIDs
A provider suspects that a patient has bacterial meningitis. When should
antibiotics be given? Answer - Prior to obtaining a CT scan or lumbar puncture
A patient is brought to the emergency department with fever, lethargy, and
headache without meningeal signs. The examination reveals hypotension and
lethargy and the examiner notes petechiae on the patient's trunk. What do
these findings indicate? Answer - A poor prognosis
A patient reports two episodes of visual disturbances and eye pain that lasted 1
to 2 days each about 2 months apart. Which diagnostic testing will the provider
order initially? Answer - Magnetic resonance imaging
A patient diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and begins disease modulating
therapy drugs. As part of the counseling about this therapy, the provider will
tell the patient that this regimen will Answer - reduce the exacerbation rate.
A patient who has a seizure disorder and who takes levetiracetam is brought to
an emergency department with a seizure which has persisted for15 minutes
and which immediately followed another 15 minute seizure. What is the
priority action for this patient? Answer - Administer lorazepam and monitor
cardiorespiratory status
, A patient with a seizure disorder has seizures which begin with eye twitching
and occasionally visual hallucinations. Which site in the brain is the seizure
focus? Answer - Occipital
Which drug is used to treat patients with focal epilepsy and complex partial
seizures? Answer - Carbamazepine
A patient reports paroxysms of burning, shock-like pain on both sides of the
face usually triggered by chewing or talking. The provider suspects trigeminal
neuralgia. Based on these presenting symptoms, what testing is indicated?
Answer - Magnetic resonance imaging
A patient with trigeminal neuralgia has tried several medication regimens to
control pain without success. What is the next step in management for this
condition? Answer - Referral to a neurosurgeon
A patient is diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia and reports having paroxysms
several times each day. What is the initial treatment for this patient? Answer -
A high dose of carbamazepine with subsequent titration downward
A patient develops a gait disorder and the patient's spouse reports noticing
recent personality changes. The provider suspects a brain lesion. Which
evaluation is especially important in the initial physical examination? Answer -
Examination of the optic fundi
Which is the preferred treatment for primary brain tumors? Answer - Surgical
resection
A patient is diagnosed with panic disorder and begins taking a selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication. Six weeks later, the patient reports
ANSWERS | 2025/26 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTION
A patient with a family history of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) begins to
have symptoms that include asymmetric weakness in the arms and difficulty
walking. The neurologist recognizes these symptoms as characteristic of
involvement of which portion of the nervous system? Answer - Lower motor
neurons
The spouse of a patient newly-diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS) asks about long-term care. What will the provider include when teaching
the family about this disease? Answer - Preventing malnutrition is a key
element in care.
Which symptoms may occur with Bell's palsy?
Select all that apply. Answer - Alteration in taste, Drooling, Tinnitus
A 35-year-old patient reports suddenly experiencing an asymmetric smile along
with drooping and tearing in one eye. The patient has a history of a recent viral
illness, but is otherwise healthy. During the exam, the provider notes that there
is unilateral full face paralysis on the right side. What is the initial intervention
for this patient? Answer - Prescribe oral prednisolone
What is recommended to prevent ophthalmic complications in patients with
Bell's palsy? Answer - Lubricating eye drops
,A patient reports a recurrent sensation of spinning associated with nausea and
vomiting. Which test will the provider order to confirm a diagnosis for this
patient? Answer - The Hallpike-Dix positioning maneuver
An elderly patient reports sensations of being off balance when walking, but
does not experience dizziness. The provider will refer this patient to which
specialist for further evaluation? Answer - Neurologist
Which diagnostic test helps confirm a diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome in a
patient who is developing muscle weakness and paresthesias? Answer -
Lumbar puncture
Which monitoring parameters are necessary when caring for a patient with
Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Select all that apply. Answer - Bladder scans
Cardiac telemetry
Fever
Vital capacity measures
Following an upper respiratory infection, a patient begins to develop ataxia and
distal paresthesias, along with oculomotor symptoms and double vision. Based
on these presenting symptoms which type of GBS does this patient have?
Answer - Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS)
A patient has recurrent cluster headaches and asks about abortive therapy.
Which therapy is effective for a majority of patients with cluster headaches?
Answer - Oxygen
A patient reports recurrent headaches occurring 1 or 2 times per month that
generally occur with weather changes or when sleep patterns are disrupted
,and describes them as severe, with throbbing on one side of the head and
sometimes accompanied by nausea. What is the recommended treatment for
this type of headache? Answer - Rizatriptan
Which medications may be useful in treating tension-type headache?
Select all that apply. Answer - Antiemetics
Muscle relaxants
NSAIDs
A provider suspects that a patient has bacterial meningitis. When should
antibiotics be given? Answer - Prior to obtaining a CT scan or lumbar puncture
A patient is brought to the emergency department with fever, lethargy, and
headache without meningeal signs. The examination reveals hypotension and
lethargy and the examiner notes petechiae on the patient's trunk. What do
these findings indicate? Answer - A poor prognosis
A patient reports two episodes of visual disturbances and eye pain that lasted 1
to 2 days each about 2 months apart. Which diagnostic testing will the provider
order initially? Answer - Magnetic resonance imaging
A patient diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and begins disease modulating
therapy drugs. As part of the counseling about this therapy, the provider will
tell the patient that this regimen will Answer - reduce the exacerbation rate.
A patient who has a seizure disorder and who takes levetiracetam is brought to
an emergency department with a seizure which has persisted for15 minutes
and which immediately followed another 15 minute seizure. What is the
priority action for this patient? Answer - Administer lorazepam and monitor
cardiorespiratory status
, A patient with a seizure disorder has seizures which begin with eye twitching
and occasionally visual hallucinations. Which site in the brain is the seizure
focus? Answer - Occipital
Which drug is used to treat patients with focal epilepsy and complex partial
seizures? Answer - Carbamazepine
A patient reports paroxysms of burning, shock-like pain on both sides of the
face usually triggered by chewing or talking. The provider suspects trigeminal
neuralgia. Based on these presenting symptoms, what testing is indicated?
Answer - Magnetic resonance imaging
A patient with trigeminal neuralgia has tried several medication regimens to
control pain without success. What is the next step in management for this
condition? Answer - Referral to a neurosurgeon
A patient is diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia and reports having paroxysms
several times each day. What is the initial treatment for this patient? Answer -
A high dose of carbamazepine with subsequent titration downward
A patient develops a gait disorder and the patient's spouse reports noticing
recent personality changes. The provider suspects a brain lesion. Which
evaluation is especially important in the initial physical examination? Answer -
Examination of the optic fundi
Which is the preferred treatment for primary brain tumors? Answer - Surgical
resection
A patient is diagnosed with panic disorder and begins taking a selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication. Six weeks later, the patient reports
