MSN 624 CORE EXAM TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔Syncope Diagnostics - ✔✔- ECG with QT level monitoring
- EEG for possible seizure disorder
- orthostatics
- pulse ox
- cardiac enzymes with positive history
- CXR, ECG
- lab testing NOT recommended
✔✔ Hypertension - ✔✔Defined by determining the level of blood pressure that caused
target organ damage, morbidity, and mortality as arterial flow is delivered.
✔✔Blood Pressure - ✔✔Force in arterial structures created by an interplay of flow,
volume, and constriction
✔✔Primary HTN - ✔✔No known cause (95% of cases)
✔✔Secondary HTN - ✔✔directly related to structural, circulatory, or chemical
abnormalities (5% of cases)
✔✔HTN Risk Factors - ✔✔- CAD
- CHF
- CVA
- PAD
- Kidney disease
- Retinopathy
✔✔HTN Incidence - ✔✔- men > women (until mid 50s)
- 55-64 y/o prevalence equalizes in women and men
- 65-74 y/o women > men
- > 74 y/o equalizes for both women and men
- Blacks have greater incidence of CVD, CVA, renal complications, and death than other
ethnicities
✔✔Prevalence of HTN - ✔✔- lower SES (poor diet, stress, etc.)
- African Americans > Whites or Hispanics
✔✔Secondary HTN Causes - ✔✔- renal artery stenosis
- pheochromocytoma
- hyperaldosteronism
- coarctation of aorta
- cushing's syndrome
- sleep apnea (OSA)
, - thyroid disease
- alcohol
- certain medications (steroids, OCPs, NSAIDs)
- genetics
- renal parenchymal disease
✔✔Pheochromocytoma - ✔✔Catecholamine producing tumor
✔✔Normal BP - ✔✔<120 systolic < 80 diastolic
✔✔Elevated BP - ✔✔120-129 systolic <80 diastolic
✔✔HTN Stage 1 - ✔✔130-139 systolic 80-89 diastolic
✔✔HTN Stage 2 - ✔✔≥ 140 systolic ≥ 90 diastolic
✔✔How to diagnose HTN - ✔✔- based on 2 blood pressures at least 1-2 minutes apart
and on 2 separate occasions to diagnose HTN
- <150/90 = patients ≥ 60 y/o
- <140/90 = patients with kidney disease (also for patients < 60 y/o)
✔✔Nonpharmacologic HTN Treatment - ✔✔- weight management
- sodium restriction (< 2g/day)
- heart healthy diet (DASH)
- stop smoking
- increased physical activity
- limit alcohol intake (< 2 drinks/day for men and 1 drink/day for women)
- reassess in 3-6 months THEN consider medications
✔✔10 year CVD risk for 40-79 y/o with total cholesterol <320 mg/dL - ✔✔- stage 1 HTN:
<10% risk (reassess in 3-6 months - no medication)
- stage 1 HTN: >10% risk (start med and reassess in 1 month)
- stage 2 HTN: no calculation needed, begin 2 meds from different classes; reassess 1
month
✔✔First Line HTN Medication - ✔✔- thiazide OR
- CCB OR
- ACE OR
- ARB
✔✔Thiazide - ✔✔[first line treatment]
- chlorthalidone 12.5-100mg daily
✔✔Calcium Channel Blocker (CCB) - ✔✔[first line treatment]
- amlodipine
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔Syncope Diagnostics - ✔✔- ECG with QT level monitoring
- EEG for possible seizure disorder
- orthostatics
- pulse ox
- cardiac enzymes with positive history
- CXR, ECG
- lab testing NOT recommended
✔✔ Hypertension - ✔✔Defined by determining the level of blood pressure that caused
target organ damage, morbidity, and mortality as arterial flow is delivered.
✔✔Blood Pressure - ✔✔Force in arterial structures created by an interplay of flow,
volume, and constriction
✔✔Primary HTN - ✔✔No known cause (95% of cases)
✔✔Secondary HTN - ✔✔directly related to structural, circulatory, or chemical
abnormalities (5% of cases)
✔✔HTN Risk Factors - ✔✔- CAD
- CHF
- CVA
- PAD
- Kidney disease
- Retinopathy
✔✔HTN Incidence - ✔✔- men > women (until mid 50s)
- 55-64 y/o prevalence equalizes in women and men
- 65-74 y/o women > men
- > 74 y/o equalizes for both women and men
- Blacks have greater incidence of CVD, CVA, renal complications, and death than other
ethnicities
✔✔Prevalence of HTN - ✔✔- lower SES (poor diet, stress, etc.)
- African Americans > Whites or Hispanics
✔✔Secondary HTN Causes - ✔✔- renal artery stenosis
- pheochromocytoma
- hyperaldosteronism
- coarctation of aorta
- cushing's syndrome
- sleep apnea (OSA)
, - thyroid disease
- alcohol
- certain medications (steroids, OCPs, NSAIDs)
- genetics
- renal parenchymal disease
✔✔Pheochromocytoma - ✔✔Catecholamine producing tumor
✔✔Normal BP - ✔✔<120 systolic < 80 diastolic
✔✔Elevated BP - ✔✔120-129 systolic <80 diastolic
✔✔HTN Stage 1 - ✔✔130-139 systolic 80-89 diastolic
✔✔HTN Stage 2 - ✔✔≥ 140 systolic ≥ 90 diastolic
✔✔How to diagnose HTN - ✔✔- based on 2 blood pressures at least 1-2 minutes apart
and on 2 separate occasions to diagnose HTN
- <150/90 = patients ≥ 60 y/o
- <140/90 = patients with kidney disease (also for patients < 60 y/o)
✔✔Nonpharmacologic HTN Treatment - ✔✔- weight management
- sodium restriction (< 2g/day)
- heart healthy diet (DASH)
- stop smoking
- increased physical activity
- limit alcohol intake (< 2 drinks/day for men and 1 drink/day for women)
- reassess in 3-6 months THEN consider medications
✔✔10 year CVD risk for 40-79 y/o with total cholesterol <320 mg/dL - ✔✔- stage 1 HTN:
<10% risk (reassess in 3-6 months - no medication)
- stage 1 HTN: >10% risk (start med and reassess in 1 month)
- stage 2 HTN: no calculation needed, begin 2 meds from different classes; reassess 1
month
✔✔First Line HTN Medication - ✔✔- thiazide OR
- CCB OR
- ACE OR
- ARB
✔✔Thiazide - ✔✔[first line treatment]
- chlorthalidone 12.5-100mg daily
✔✔Calcium Channel Blocker (CCB) - ✔✔[first line treatment]
- amlodipine
