NSG 6020 Final Exam – Question and Answers- South University
1. A 22-year-old advertising copywriter presents for evaluation of joint pain. The pain is
new, located in the wrists and fingers bilaterally, with some subjective fever. The patient
denies a rash; she also denies recent travel or camping activities. She has a family history
significant for rheumatoid arthritis. Based on this information, which of the following
pathologic processes would be the most correct?
A) Infectious
B) Inflammatory
C) Hematologic
D) Traumatic
2. A 35-year-old archaeologist comes to your office (located in Phoenix, Arizona) for a
regular skin check-up. She has just returned from her annual dig site in Greece. She has
fair skin and reddish-blonde hair. She has a family history of melanoma. She has many
freckles scattered across her skin. From this description, which of the following is not a
risk factor for melanoma in this patient?
A) Age
B) Hair color
C) Actinic lentigines
D) Heavy sun exposure
3. A 15-year-old high school sophomore and her mother come to your clinic because the
mother is concerned about her daughter's weight. You measure her daughter's height and
weight and obtain a BMI of 19.5 kg/m2. Based on this information, which of the
following is appropriate?
A) Refer the patient to a nutritionist and a psychologist because the patient is anorexic.
B) Reassure the mother that this is a normal body weight.
C) Give the patient information about exercise because the patient is obese.
D) Give the patient information concerning reduction of fat and cholesterol in her diet
because she is obese.
4. A middle-aged man comes in because he has noticed multiple small, blood-red, raised
lesions over his anterior chest and abdomen for the past several months. They are not
painful and he has not noted any bleeding or bruising. He is concerned this may be
consistent with a dangerous condition. What should you do?
A) Reassure him that there is nothing to worry about.
B) Do laboratory work to check for platelet problems.
C) Obtain an extensive history regarding blood problems and bleeding disorders.
D) Do a skin biopsy in the office.
5. Jacob, a 33-year-old construction worker, complains of a "lump on his back" over his
scapula. It has been there for about a year and is getting larger. He says his wife has been
able to squeeze out a cheesy-textured substance on occasion. He worries this may be
cancer. When gently pinched from the side, a prominent dimple forms in the middle of
the mass. What is most likely?
, A) An enlarged lymph node
B) A sebaceous cyst
C) An actinic keratosis
D) A malignant lesion
6. A patient comes to you for the appearance of red patches on his forearms that have
been present for several months. They remain for several weeks. He denies a history of
trauma. Which of the following is likely?
A) Actinic keratoses
B) Pseudoscars
C) Actinic purpura
D) Cherry angiomas
7. A 19-year old-college student presents to the emergency room with fever, headache,
and neck pain/stiffness. She is concerned about the possibility of meningococcal
meningitis. Several of her dorm mates have been vaccinated, but she hasn't been. Which
of the following physical examination descriptions is most consistent with meningitis?
A) Head is normocephalic and atraumatic, fundi with sharp discs, neck supple with full
range of motion
B) Head is normocephalic and atraumatic, fundi with sharp discs, neck with paraspinous
muscle spasm and limited range of motion to the right
C) Head is normocephalic and atraumatic, fundi with blurred disc margins, neck tender to
palpation, unable to perform range of motion
D) Head is normocephalic and atraumatic, fundi with blurred disc margins, neck supple
with full range of motion
8. A 58-year-old gardener comes to your office for evaluation of a new lesion on her
upper chest. The lesion appears to be "stuck on" and is oval, brown, and slightly elevated
with a flat surface. It has a rough, wartlike texture on palpation. Based on this
description, what is your most likely diagnosis?
A) Actinic keratosis
B) Seborrheic keratosis
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Squamous cell carcinoma
9. A patient presents for evaluation of a cough. Which of the following anatomic regions
can be responsible for a cough?
A) Ophthalmologic
B) Auditory
C) Cardiac
D) Endocrine
10. A 72-year-old retired truck driver comes to the clinic with his wife for evaluation of
hearing loss. He has noticed some decreased ability to hear what his wife and
grandchildren are saying to him. He admits to lip-reading more. He has a history of noise
exposure in his young adult years: He worked as a sound engineer at a local arena and
1. A 22-year-old advertising copywriter presents for evaluation of joint pain. The pain is
new, located in the wrists and fingers bilaterally, with some subjective fever. The patient
denies a rash; she also denies recent travel or camping activities. She has a family history
significant for rheumatoid arthritis. Based on this information, which of the following
pathologic processes would be the most correct?
A) Infectious
B) Inflammatory
C) Hematologic
D) Traumatic
2. A 35-year-old archaeologist comes to your office (located in Phoenix, Arizona) for a
regular skin check-up. She has just returned from her annual dig site in Greece. She has
fair skin and reddish-blonde hair. She has a family history of melanoma. She has many
freckles scattered across her skin. From this description, which of the following is not a
risk factor for melanoma in this patient?
A) Age
B) Hair color
C) Actinic lentigines
D) Heavy sun exposure
3. A 15-year-old high school sophomore and her mother come to your clinic because the
mother is concerned about her daughter's weight. You measure her daughter's height and
weight and obtain a BMI of 19.5 kg/m2. Based on this information, which of the
following is appropriate?
A) Refer the patient to a nutritionist and a psychologist because the patient is anorexic.
B) Reassure the mother that this is a normal body weight.
C) Give the patient information about exercise because the patient is obese.
D) Give the patient information concerning reduction of fat and cholesterol in her diet
because she is obese.
4. A middle-aged man comes in because he has noticed multiple small, blood-red, raised
lesions over his anterior chest and abdomen for the past several months. They are not
painful and he has not noted any bleeding or bruising. He is concerned this may be
consistent with a dangerous condition. What should you do?
A) Reassure him that there is nothing to worry about.
B) Do laboratory work to check for platelet problems.
C) Obtain an extensive history regarding blood problems and bleeding disorders.
D) Do a skin biopsy in the office.
5. Jacob, a 33-year-old construction worker, complains of a "lump on his back" over his
scapula. It has been there for about a year and is getting larger. He says his wife has been
able to squeeze out a cheesy-textured substance on occasion. He worries this may be
cancer. When gently pinched from the side, a prominent dimple forms in the middle of
the mass. What is most likely?
, A) An enlarged lymph node
B) A sebaceous cyst
C) An actinic keratosis
D) A malignant lesion
6. A patient comes to you for the appearance of red patches on his forearms that have
been present for several months. They remain for several weeks. He denies a history of
trauma. Which of the following is likely?
A) Actinic keratoses
B) Pseudoscars
C) Actinic purpura
D) Cherry angiomas
7. A 19-year old-college student presents to the emergency room with fever, headache,
and neck pain/stiffness. She is concerned about the possibility of meningococcal
meningitis. Several of her dorm mates have been vaccinated, but she hasn't been. Which
of the following physical examination descriptions is most consistent with meningitis?
A) Head is normocephalic and atraumatic, fundi with sharp discs, neck supple with full
range of motion
B) Head is normocephalic and atraumatic, fundi with sharp discs, neck with paraspinous
muscle spasm and limited range of motion to the right
C) Head is normocephalic and atraumatic, fundi with blurred disc margins, neck tender to
palpation, unable to perform range of motion
D) Head is normocephalic and atraumatic, fundi with blurred disc margins, neck supple
with full range of motion
8. A 58-year-old gardener comes to your office for evaluation of a new lesion on her
upper chest. The lesion appears to be "stuck on" and is oval, brown, and slightly elevated
with a flat surface. It has a rough, wartlike texture on palpation. Based on this
description, what is your most likely diagnosis?
A) Actinic keratosis
B) Seborrheic keratosis
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Squamous cell carcinoma
9. A patient presents for evaluation of a cough. Which of the following anatomic regions
can be responsible for a cough?
A) Ophthalmologic
B) Auditory
C) Cardiac
D) Endocrine
10. A 72-year-old retired truck driver comes to the clinic with his wife for evaluation of
hearing loss. He has noticed some decreased ability to hear what his wife and
grandchildren are saying to him. He admits to lip-reading more. He has a history of noise
exposure in his young adult years: He worked as a sound engineer at a local arena and
