Practice Test GeeksNP - Nurse Practitioner Practice Test
← All NP Flashcard Decks

NP Diagnosis & Clinical Decision-Making Flashcards

6 cards from real NP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 NP Diagnosis & Clinical Decision-Making flashcards as text

  1. A 40-year-old woman presents with fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, constipation, and dry skin. TSH is elevated at 9.2 mIU/L with low free T4. The diagnosis is:

    Answer: Primary hypothyroidism

    Elevated TSH with low free T4 confirms primary hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland is not producing adequate hormone despite pituitary stimulation.

  2. A patient presents with a painful, well-demarcated, erythematous rash with vesicles following a dermatomal distribution on the right flank. The NP diagnoses:

    Answer: Herpes zoster (shingles)

    Dermatomal distribution of vesicular rash with pain is the characteristic presentation of herpes zoster, caused by reactivation of varicella-zoster virus.

  3. A 60-year-old male reports rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits, and a 20-pound weight loss over three months. The NP's highest-priority action is:

    Answer: Order urgent colonoscopy to rule out colorectal cancer

    Rectal bleeding, altered bowel habits, and unexplained weight loss in a 60-year-old are red-flag symptoms requiring urgent endoscopic evaluation to exclude colorectal malignancy.

  4. A patient presents with unilateral leg swelling, warmth, and redness after a long flight. Duplex ultrasound is ordered to evaluate for:

    Answer: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

    Unilateral leg swelling with warmth and erythema following prolonged immobility is a classic DVT presentation; duplex ultrasound is the gold standard diagnostic test.

  5. Which finding on a knee examination is most consistent with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear?

    Answer: Positive Lachman test with loss of firm endpoint

    The Lachman test, which demonstrates anterior tibial translation without a firm endpoint, is the most sensitive physical examination test for ACL injury.

  6. A urine pregnancy test is positive and the patient has severe lower abdominal pain, shoulder pain, and vaginal spotting. The NP should immediately suspect:

    Answer: Ectopic pregnancy

    A positive pregnancy test with pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, and diaphragmatic irritation (shoulder pain) is an ectopic pregnancy until proven otherwise—a surgical emergency.