D115 OA / WGU D115 OA PREP TEST BANK
2025/2026 WITH 450 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES/ WGU
D115 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OA
PREP(NEW!)
The FNP schedules a 38-year-old primigravida (first time pregnancy) for an amniocentesis at 16
weeks gestation. The FNP would explain that the purpose of this procedure is to:
A) Assess for the possibility of twins
B) Deterime the biliruben level
C) Perform genetic studies
D) Assess L/S ratio - CORRECT ANSWER-C) Perform genetic studies
This womans age puts her at risk for Down Syndrome
A 4-year old male is brought into a clinic with complaints of fever and sore throat for 2 days. The
Nurse Practitioner suspects a peritonsilar abscess and refers the patient to the ED. Which finding is
most consistent with this diagnosis?
A) soft palate is coated with a gray- to yellow-colored pseudomembrane
B) Drooling and "hot potato" voice
C) anterior cervical lympadenopathy
D) tonsilar swelling and exudate - CORRECT ANSWER-B) Drooling and "hot potato" voice
Symptoms and findings of peritonsillar abscess generally include fever, sore throat, dysphagia,
trismus, and a "hot potato" voice. Difficulty in swallowing can contribute to drooling and halitosis.
A 40-year old female presents with complaints of soreness when eating spicy foods. The Nurse
Practitioner observes that the patient has a "geographic tongue". What would be most appropriate
for the patient's plan of care?
A) Prescribe Nystatin swish and swallow for 10 days
B) Tell the patient to rinse with salt water and avoid spicy food until symptoms resolve
C) Refer the patient to an ENT physician
D) Encourage the patient to brush and floss more often and schedule with her Dentist - CORRECT
ANSWER-B) Tell the patient to rinse with salt water and avoid spicy food until symptoms resolve
,Geographic tongue is a harmless condition affecting the surface of the tongue.Symptoms include
smooth, red patches on the top or side of the tongue. The patches may change location, size, and
shape.Patches often heal and move elsewhere on the tongue before clearing up on their own. Pain
relievers and rinses might be used in rare instances to treat symptoms.
A 2-year old boy presents to the clinic with a fever. During the physical exam the NP observes
Koplik's spots inside of his buccal mucosa. Which would be the most important to assess on this
patient to aid in an appropriate diagnosis?
A) Vaccination status
B) Rapid strep test
C) Swallowing evaluation
D) Medication allergies - CORRECT ANSWER-A) Vaccination status
Koplik spots are seen with measles. They are small, white spots (often on a reddened background)
that occur on the inside of the cheeks early in the course of measles.
A 26-year old presents to a clinic with complaints of left eye pain. The NP performs fluorescent dye
staining which reveals fern-like lines in the corneal surface. Which would be the most appropriate
history question to ask the patient?
A) Do you wear contact lenses?
B) Have you ever had a cold sore?
C) Have you recently had an eye injury?
D) Have you recently experienced any dizziness? - CORRECT ANSWER-B) Have you ever had a cold
sore?
Ocular herpes is a viral infection of the eye that causes pain and can lead to scarring and reduced
vision. A fern-like pattern is visible under fluorescein dye. The virus is cause d by the same virus
which causes oral and genital herpes.
A 17-year old female was diagnosed with angular cheilitis. She had treatment failure after a course
of topical antibiotics, topical steroids, moisture barrier creams, and antifungals were prescribe d.
What would be the most appropriate next step in this patient's plan of care?
A) Refer the patient to an allergist
B) Refer the patient to a dermatologist
C) Check the patient's vitamin B12 level
D) Check the patient's ferritin level - CORRECT ANSWER-C) Check the patient's vitamin B12 level
,Angular cheilitis is a condition that causes red, swollen patches in the corners of the mouth. The
most common cause is a fungal infection. Other causes are vitamin B12 deficiency and bacterial
infections.
Which action is a purpose of the inflammatory process?
A) Create immunity against subsequent tissue injury
B) Provide specific responses toward antigens
C) Lyse cell membranes of microorganisms
D) Prevent infection of the injured tissue - CORRECT ANSWER-D) Prevent infection of the injured
tissue
The inflammatory response is a defense mechanism designed to remove damaged tissue so the body
can heal.
Which leukocytes are elevated in response to acute inflammatory reactions when considering white
blood cell differentials?
A) Neutrophils
B) Eosinophils
C) Basophils
D) Monocytes - CORRECT ANSWER-A) Neutrophils
Neutrophils are one of the first responders to acute inflammation, and an increase in neutrophils
demonstrates an acute inflammatory response.
Which type of immunity is produced by an individual after either natural exposure to the antigen or
after immunization against the antigen?
A) Active-acquired immunity
B) Passive-innate immunity
C) Active-innate immunity
D) Passive-acquired immunity - CORRECT ANSWER-A) Active-acquired immunity
Active-acquired immunity or naturally acquired active immunity occurs when an individual is
exposed to a live pathogen and develops the disease or becomes immune as a result of a vaccine.
Which characteristics do atopic individuals have that make them genetically predisposed to develop
allergies?
A) Deficiency in epinephrine
B) Greater quantities of IgE
, C) Greater quantities of histamine
D) More histamine receptors - CORRECT ANSWER-B) Greater quantities of IgE
The greater quantities of IgE in atopic individuals make them genetically predisposed to develop
allergies. IgE mediates the immune response to allergens; therefore, the more IgE one has, the
stronger the response can be to an allergen. Think of it as having more soldiers in the army to fight
the war.
A healthcare professional is conducting community education on vaccinations.
Which statement about vaccines should the professional include in the presentation?
A) Most bacterial vaccines contain attenuated organisms.
B) Vaccines require booster injections to maintain life-long protection.
C) Most viral vaccines are made by using dead organisms.
D) Vaccines provide effective protection against most infections. - CORRECT ANSWER-B) Vaccines
require booster injections to maintain life-long protection.
Most vaccines require a booster to increase immunity. The initial effects of a vaccine may diminish
over time, and boosters improve protection against disease.
Which term describes an agent's ability to produce disease?
A) Infectivity
B) Virulence
C) Pathogenicity
D) Immunogenicity - CORRECT ANSWER-C) Pathogenicity
Pathogenicity refers to an organism's ability to create or produce disease.
Conductive hearing loss involves the:
A) inner ear
B) middle ear
C) 5th cranial nerve
D) 8th cranial nerve - CORRECT ANSWER-B) middle ear
Conductive hearing loss involves the middle ear and is usually the result of one of the following:
blockage of the ear canal, a hole in the ear drum, problems with three small bones in the ear, or fluid
in the space between the ear drum and cochlea
2025/2026 WITH 450 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES/ WGU
D115 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OA
PREP(NEW!)
The FNP schedules a 38-year-old primigravida (first time pregnancy) for an amniocentesis at 16
weeks gestation. The FNP would explain that the purpose of this procedure is to:
A) Assess for the possibility of twins
B) Deterime the biliruben level
C) Perform genetic studies
D) Assess L/S ratio - CORRECT ANSWER-C) Perform genetic studies
This womans age puts her at risk for Down Syndrome
A 4-year old male is brought into a clinic with complaints of fever and sore throat for 2 days. The
Nurse Practitioner suspects a peritonsilar abscess and refers the patient to the ED. Which finding is
most consistent with this diagnosis?
A) soft palate is coated with a gray- to yellow-colored pseudomembrane
B) Drooling and "hot potato" voice
C) anterior cervical lympadenopathy
D) tonsilar swelling and exudate - CORRECT ANSWER-B) Drooling and "hot potato" voice
Symptoms and findings of peritonsillar abscess generally include fever, sore throat, dysphagia,
trismus, and a "hot potato" voice. Difficulty in swallowing can contribute to drooling and halitosis.
A 40-year old female presents with complaints of soreness when eating spicy foods. The Nurse
Practitioner observes that the patient has a "geographic tongue". What would be most appropriate
for the patient's plan of care?
A) Prescribe Nystatin swish and swallow for 10 days
B) Tell the patient to rinse with salt water and avoid spicy food until symptoms resolve
C) Refer the patient to an ENT physician
D) Encourage the patient to brush and floss more often and schedule with her Dentist - CORRECT
ANSWER-B) Tell the patient to rinse with salt water and avoid spicy food until symptoms resolve
,Geographic tongue is a harmless condition affecting the surface of the tongue.Symptoms include
smooth, red patches on the top or side of the tongue. The patches may change location, size, and
shape.Patches often heal and move elsewhere on the tongue before clearing up on their own. Pain
relievers and rinses might be used in rare instances to treat symptoms.
A 2-year old boy presents to the clinic with a fever. During the physical exam the NP observes
Koplik's spots inside of his buccal mucosa. Which would be the most important to assess on this
patient to aid in an appropriate diagnosis?
A) Vaccination status
B) Rapid strep test
C) Swallowing evaluation
D) Medication allergies - CORRECT ANSWER-A) Vaccination status
Koplik spots are seen with measles. They are small, white spots (often on a reddened background)
that occur on the inside of the cheeks early in the course of measles.
A 26-year old presents to a clinic with complaints of left eye pain. The NP performs fluorescent dye
staining which reveals fern-like lines in the corneal surface. Which would be the most appropriate
history question to ask the patient?
A) Do you wear contact lenses?
B) Have you ever had a cold sore?
C) Have you recently had an eye injury?
D) Have you recently experienced any dizziness? - CORRECT ANSWER-B) Have you ever had a cold
sore?
Ocular herpes is a viral infection of the eye that causes pain and can lead to scarring and reduced
vision. A fern-like pattern is visible under fluorescein dye. The virus is cause d by the same virus
which causes oral and genital herpes.
A 17-year old female was diagnosed with angular cheilitis. She had treatment failure after a course
of topical antibiotics, topical steroids, moisture barrier creams, and antifungals were prescribe d.
What would be the most appropriate next step in this patient's plan of care?
A) Refer the patient to an allergist
B) Refer the patient to a dermatologist
C) Check the patient's vitamin B12 level
D) Check the patient's ferritin level - CORRECT ANSWER-C) Check the patient's vitamin B12 level
,Angular cheilitis is a condition that causes red, swollen patches in the corners of the mouth. The
most common cause is a fungal infection. Other causes are vitamin B12 deficiency and bacterial
infections.
Which action is a purpose of the inflammatory process?
A) Create immunity against subsequent tissue injury
B) Provide specific responses toward antigens
C) Lyse cell membranes of microorganisms
D) Prevent infection of the injured tissue - CORRECT ANSWER-D) Prevent infection of the injured
tissue
The inflammatory response is a defense mechanism designed to remove damaged tissue so the body
can heal.
Which leukocytes are elevated in response to acute inflammatory reactions when considering white
blood cell differentials?
A) Neutrophils
B) Eosinophils
C) Basophils
D) Monocytes - CORRECT ANSWER-A) Neutrophils
Neutrophils are one of the first responders to acute inflammation, and an increase in neutrophils
demonstrates an acute inflammatory response.
Which type of immunity is produced by an individual after either natural exposure to the antigen or
after immunization against the antigen?
A) Active-acquired immunity
B) Passive-innate immunity
C) Active-innate immunity
D) Passive-acquired immunity - CORRECT ANSWER-A) Active-acquired immunity
Active-acquired immunity or naturally acquired active immunity occurs when an individual is
exposed to a live pathogen and develops the disease or becomes immune as a result of a vaccine.
Which characteristics do atopic individuals have that make them genetically predisposed to develop
allergies?
A) Deficiency in epinephrine
B) Greater quantities of IgE
, C) Greater quantities of histamine
D) More histamine receptors - CORRECT ANSWER-B) Greater quantities of IgE
The greater quantities of IgE in atopic individuals make them genetically predisposed to develop
allergies. IgE mediates the immune response to allergens; therefore, the more IgE one has, the
stronger the response can be to an allergen. Think of it as having more soldiers in the army to fight
the war.
A healthcare professional is conducting community education on vaccinations.
Which statement about vaccines should the professional include in the presentation?
A) Most bacterial vaccines contain attenuated organisms.
B) Vaccines require booster injections to maintain life-long protection.
C) Most viral vaccines are made by using dead organisms.
D) Vaccines provide effective protection against most infections. - CORRECT ANSWER-B) Vaccines
require booster injections to maintain life-long protection.
Most vaccines require a booster to increase immunity. The initial effects of a vaccine may diminish
over time, and boosters improve protection against disease.
Which term describes an agent's ability to produce disease?
A) Infectivity
B) Virulence
C) Pathogenicity
D) Immunogenicity - CORRECT ANSWER-C) Pathogenicity
Pathogenicity refers to an organism's ability to create or produce disease.
Conductive hearing loss involves the:
A) inner ear
B) middle ear
C) 5th cranial nerve
D) 8th cranial nerve - CORRECT ANSWER-B) middle ear
Conductive hearing loss involves the middle ear and is usually the result of one of the following:
blockage of the ear canal, a hole in the ear drum, problems with three small bones in the ear, or fluid
in the space between the ear drum and cochlea
