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
A 70-year-old patient presents with a new murmur described as a harsh systolic ejection murmur radiating to the carotids, with exertional syncope and dyspnea. The most likely valvular pathology is:
Answer: Aortic stenosis
The classic triad of angina, syncope, and heart failure with a crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur radiating to the neck is the hallmark of severe aortic stenosis.
Which diagnostic criteria must be met for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD)?
Answer: Five or more DSM-5 criteria symptoms for at least 2 weeks, including depressed mood or anhedonia
DSM-5 requires five or more symptoms present for at least two weeks, with at least one being depressed mood or anhedonia, causing functional impairment.
A patient with known Addison's disease presents with hypotension, weakness, nausea, and hyperkalemia after a gastrointestinal illness. The NP recognizes this as:
Answer: Addisonian (adrenal) crisis
Physiologic stress in a patient with adrenal insufficiency can precipitate an adrenal crisis with life-threatening hypotension, electrolyte imbalances, and shock.
Which score is used at the bedside to predict 30-day mortality risk in community-acquired pneumonia to guide admission decisions?
Answer: CURB-65 score
CURB-65 assesses confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age ≥65 to stratify pneumonia severity and guide outpatient vs. inpatient vs. ICU management.
A patient with type 2 diabetes has an HbA1c of 9.8% and is on metformin alone. The NP decides to intensify therapy. According to ADA guidelines, which combination is most appropriate next?
Answer: Add a GLP-1 receptor agonist or SGLT-2 inhibitor, especially with cardiovascular or renal disease
ADA guidelines prioritize GLP-1 RAs or SGLT-2 inhibitors as add-on therapy after metformin, especially in patients with established ASCVD, heart failure, or CKD.
A patient presents with a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose, joint pain, and fatigue. ANA is positive at 1:320. Which diagnosis should the NP consider first?
Answer: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
The malar rash (butterfly rash), polyarthralgia, constitutional symptoms, and high-titer ANA are classic features of SLE requiring further workup with anti-dsDNA and complement levels.