The NP sees a 74-year-old woman with a BMI=30 kg/m2 who has a 30-year history of type 2 diabetes, HTN, and dyslipidemia. Pertinent social history includes the following: a retired elementary school teacher who lives in a 1-story home with her spouse and adult child, nonsmoker, drinks approximately 2, 5 oz glasses of wine per month, and walks approximately 2 miles per day. Her current medications include telmisartan, HCTZ, rosuvastatin, metformin, semaglutide and canagliflozin at optimized doses, and current A1c=9.2%. Her current A1c= 9.2% and is at HTN and lipid goal. Prior mediations have included sitagliptin, with patient stating, “That medication did not help my sugar at all.” She states she is adherent to her medications and dietary advice. Her eGFR is within acceptable parameters and she is feeling well. Physical exams are unremarkable. 

Which of the following is the most appropriate next step? 

A. Advise that her A1c is at an age-acceptable level.  

B. Add post-meal sliding scale rapid acting insulin 

C. Prescribe basal and pre meal insulin. 

D. Add oral glipizide.  

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Mrs. Mahem is a 68-year-old patient with a 25-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the past year, her A1c remains at around 8.5% with the use of the following medications: metformin, sitagliptin, and canagliflozin, at optimized doses and with adherence.  She states, “ I haven’t changed the way I eat and I walk about ½ h a day, just like I have for years”. Additional health issues include HTN and dyslipidemia, treated with medications and at therapeutic goal, and obesity with a BMI= 33. Her eGFR is 65. 

Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the pharmacologic management of her diabetes?  

A. Add glyburide to enhance glycemic control.

B. Consider discontinuing metformin due to age and renal function.

C. Advise that her glycemic control is adequate for an older adult. 

D. Prescribe semaglutide to help her achieve A1c goal.  

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A patient presents with a chief complaint of a gradual onset vision change, present for the past 6 months, while denying eye pain, redness or trauma. The funduscopic exam, extraocular movements and pupillary reactions are within normal limits. When considering a diagnosis of presbyopia, which of the following best describes patient presentation? 

A. A 50-year-old who states, "I need to hold what I'm reading really far away in order to see it clearly". 

B. A 75-year-old who states,"When I look at a bright light, I see a colored halo around it".

C. An 80-year-old who states, "I have a blurry spot in the middle of my eyesight". 

D. A 17-year-old who states, "I went to get my driver’s license, but failed the distance vision exam".

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A 27-year-old woman presents as a new patient to your practice.  She is without chief complaint. She asks to, “get a refill on my birth control pills” , having used combined oral contraceptives for the past 12 years without adverse effects.  Social history reveals she is a nonsmoker, without recreational drug use, drinks approximately 1-2 mixed drinks per week, and runs 2-3 miles 5 days a week with reported excellent activity tolerance. Her health history is generally unremarkable, but with patient report of a “mild heart murmur that was picked up when I was a teenager during a physical I needed so I could run track. I was told not to worry about it.” Physical exam is unremarkable with the exception of a mid-systolic click followed by a grade II mid to late systolic murmur without radiation. The remainder of the cardiac exam is within normal limits. 

These findings most likely represent which type of murmur?

A. Physiologic

B. Aortic stenosis

C. Mitral regurgitation

D. Mitral valve prolapse
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A 29-year-old who is 8 weeks pregnant presents with a chief complaint of nausea and vomiting. She states, “I’ve been like this for three weeks. I don’t know why this is called morning sickness since I feel sick to my stomach almost all the time”, reporting that she vomits 2-3 times nearly every day, stating, “I was worse 2-3 weeks ago, when I was throwing up 4-5 times a day. I figured out what food really bothers my stomach and cut those out.” A 24-h dietary recall reveals frequent low-fat meals and consistent sipping of liquids. She denies thirst or infrequent urination, and reports, “I’m just tired of feeling this way. I’ve missed so much work and can hardly keep up with my 3-year-old.”  Physical exam reveals the following; Alert, appears fatigued, with moist mucous membranes,  a 1 lb. weight loss since last visit 4 weeks ago, and minimal epigastric tenderness without rebound.  

 The NP considers advising on the following:

A.  Initiate therapy with an oral  5HT-3 antagonist such as ondansetron (Zofran®).

B.  Referral to high-risk for advise on further management. 

C.  Advise on the use of daily dose of oral  vitamin B6  with doxylamine. 

D. Increase fluid and fiber intake.
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The NP sees  a 44-year-old male of African ancestry with a BMI=34 kg/m2 and recently diagnosed  type 2 diabetes mellitus. He works on a rotating shift in healthcare and reports eating irregularly. He was started on metformin therapy 4 months ago, is at maximum recommended dose, and states he is tolerating the medication well. His initial A1c was 9.8%, with today’s A1c=8.7%. eGFR is within acceptable parameters and he is feeling well, stating, 

“I was so thirsty and needed to urinate all the time before I started that pill”. Physical exam reveals extensive acanthosis nigricans.  He mentions that his health insurance. “Does not pay for all that much. I’m OK with paying for the pill I am taking now, but really cannot afford expensive medicines. “ Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?

A. Prescribe weekly injectable semaglutide. 

B. Adding post-meal sliding scale rapid acting insulin.

C. Add a daily dose of pioglitazone.

D. Add glipizide on days when his eating schedule is predictable. 
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyh0ld2l9_M&list=PLf0PFEPBXfq592b5zCthlxSNIEM-H-EtD&index=103

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As we step away for a holiday break, we’re excited to revisit some of the most popular episodes of the FNP Certification Q & A Podcast. These listener favorites have informed, inspired, and empowered aspiring NPs on their journey to certification success. Enjoy some of our favorites. We'll catch you in 2025 with fresh questions from Dr. Fitzgerald!

In evaluating a 66-year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure, the NP notes a grade 3/6 medium-pitched blowing systolic murmur that radiates to the axillae. What do these findings most likely represent?

A.Innocent murmur

B. Mitral stenosis

C. Aortic regurgitation

D. Mitral regurgitation
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhrYmC-kq6Y&list=PLf0PFEPBXfq592b5zCthlxSNIEM-H-EtD&index=102

Visit fhea.com to learn more!

As we step away for a holiday break, we’re excited to revisit some of the most popular episodes of the FNP Certification Q & A Podcast. These listener favorites have informed, inspired, and empowered aspiring NPs on their journey to certification success. Enjoy some of our favorites. We'll catch you in 2025 with fresh questions from Dr. Fitzgerald!

A 72-year-old woman with severe COPD, who uses an inhaled LAMA/ LAMA daily on a set schedule and SABA via MDI as needed for symptom relief, presents with a 4-day history of URI symptoms, starting with sore throat and clear nasal discharge, without fever. She denies N, V, or other GI upset. She now reports a 2-day history of increasing shortness of breath and production of clear to white sputum. SaO2= 97% and she is no acute distress. In considering the diagnosis of COPD exacerbation, which of the following best describes the role of imaging in the evaluation of COPD exacerbation?

A. A chest x-ray should be ordered in COPD exacerbation in the patient with fever and/or low SaO2 to help rule out concomitant pneumonia.

B.  A chest x-ray should be ordered routinely in the evaluation of a person with COPD exacerbation.

C. Given the frequency of COPD exacerbations that typically occur in a person with COPD, chest x-ray use should be limited due to radiation exposure risk.

D. A thoracic ultrasound is the preferred imaging study to order in a COPD exacerbation.
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3LrB-m6Q7g&list=PLf0PFEPBXfq592b5zCthlxSNIEM-H-EtD&index=101

Visit fhea.com to learn more!

As we step away for a holiday break, we’re excited to revisit some of the most popular episodes of the FNP Certification Q & A Podcast. These listener favorites have informed, inspired, and empowered aspiring NPs on their journey to certification success. Enjoy some of our favorites. We'll catch you in 2025 with fresh questions from Dr. Fitzgerald!

A  45-year-old woman with no chronic health problems presents a 6-month history increasing fatigue despite adequate opportunity for rest , worsening dry skin and increased menstrual flow volume. In analyzing the laboratory data below, which is most consistent with the diagnosis of hypothyroidism?

A. TSH <0.15 mIU/L (0.4–4.0 mIU/L), free T4=79 pmol/L (10–27 pmol/L)

B. TSH=8.9 mIU/L (0.4–4.0 mIU/L), free T4=15 pmol/L (10–27 pmol/L)

C. TSH=1.9 mIU/L (0.4–4.0 mIU/L), free T4=22 pmol/L (10–27 pmol/L)

D. TSH=64 mIU/L (0.4–4.0 mIU/L), free T4=3 pmol/L (10–27 pmol/L)
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As we step away for a holiday break, we’re excited to revisit some of the most popular episodes of the FNP Certification Q & A Podcast. These listener favorites have informed, inspired, and empowered aspiring NPs on their journey to certification success. Enjoy some of our favorites. We'll catch you in 2025 with fresh questions from Dr. Fitzgerald!

Saundra is a 72-year-old with hypertension who is on an appropriate dose of an ACE inhibitor with adherence. Today’s BP= 152/96 and is without HTN-related complaint.  Physical exam is unremarkable.She has a history of well-controlled asthma and is using ICS/LABA therapy.  Due to osteoarthritis, she reports, “I get up slowly. Sometimes I do not get the bathroom on time and I lose my urine control.” Which of the following represents the next best step in Saundra’s HTN therapy?

A.Advise that her BP is in an acceptable range

B. Thiazide diuretic therapy should be initiated

C. Add a CCB to her current therapy

D. A beta blocker represents the optimal additional therapy
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRjErXhuqpY&list=PLf0PFEPBXfq592b5zCthlxSNIEM-H-EtD&index=99

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