MSN 570 PROFESSORS NOTES MIDTERM
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ A 35-year-old male weighs 70 kg. Approximately how much of this
weight is ICF? Answer: 42 L- the total volume of body water for a 70
kg person is about 42 L (60%)
◉ While planning care for elderly individuals, the nurse remembers
the elderly are at a higher risk for developing dehydration because
they have a(n): Answer: decreased muscle mass
◉ Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for a
decreased oncotic pressure in the capillaries? A patient with:
Answer: liver failure
◉ Water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments is
determined by: Answer: osmotic forces
◉ An experiment was designed to test the effects of the Starling
forces on fluid movement. Which of the following alterations would
result in fluid moving into the interstitial space? Answer: Increased
interstitial oncotic pressure
,◉ When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse
remembers the principle of water balance is closely related to _____
balance. Answer: Sodium
◉ A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with
edema. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this
condition? Answer: Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
◉ A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room (ER)
because he is incoherent and semiconscious. CT scan reveals that he
is suffering from cerebral edema. This type of edema is referred to
as: Answer: localized edema
◉ A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
Which information should the nurse include? Secretion of ADH is
stimulated by: Answer: increased plasma osmolality
◉ Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful
concerning aldosterone? Secretion of aldosterone results in:
Answer: increased blood volume
◉ A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumor
of the adrenal cortex. Which finding would the nurse expect to see in
the lab results? Answer: Decreased blood K+ levels
,◉ A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic
hormones. When the patient asks the nurse what do these hormones
do, how should the nurse respond? Natriuretic hormones affect the
balance of: Answer: Sodium
◉ A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken
eyes. After diagnosing him with severe dehydration, the primary
care provider orders fluid replacement. The nurse administers a
hypertonic intravenous solution. Which of the following would be
expected? Answer: Intracellular dehydration
◉ Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing
hypernatremia? A patient with: Answer: dehydration
◉ The most common cause of pure water deficit is: Answer: A. renal
water loss
◉ Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with: Answer:
Hypertonic hyponatremia
◉ A 52-year-old diabetic male presents to the ER with lethargy,
confusion, and depressed reflexes. His wife indicates that he does
not follow the prescribed diet and takes his medication sporadically.
Lab results indicate hyperglycemia. Which assessment finding is
most likely to occur? Answer: decreased sodium
, ◉ When taking care of a patient with hyperkalemia, which principle
is priority? Hyperkalemia causes a(n) _____ in resting membrane
potential with _____ excitability of cardiac muscle. Answer: increase,
increased
◉ Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia?
A patient with: Answer: Increased bicarbonate intake
◉ Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to
monitor for hyperkalemia? Answer: Acute acidosis
◉ Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient
has long-term potassium deficits? Answer: kidneys
◉ A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider
reporting muscle weakness and cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory
tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of the following could
be the cause of her condition? Answer: Primary hyperaldosteronism
◉ A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider
reporting restlessness, muscle cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests
reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following could have
caused his condition? Answer: acidosis
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ A 35-year-old male weighs 70 kg. Approximately how much of this
weight is ICF? Answer: 42 L- the total volume of body water for a 70
kg person is about 42 L (60%)
◉ While planning care for elderly individuals, the nurse remembers
the elderly are at a higher risk for developing dehydration because
they have a(n): Answer: decreased muscle mass
◉ Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for a
decreased oncotic pressure in the capillaries? A patient with:
Answer: liver failure
◉ Water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments is
determined by: Answer: osmotic forces
◉ An experiment was designed to test the effects of the Starling
forces on fluid movement. Which of the following alterations would
result in fluid moving into the interstitial space? Answer: Increased
interstitial oncotic pressure
,◉ When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse
remembers the principle of water balance is closely related to _____
balance. Answer: Sodium
◉ A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with
edema. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this
condition? Answer: Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
◉ A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room (ER)
because he is incoherent and semiconscious. CT scan reveals that he
is suffering from cerebral edema. This type of edema is referred to
as: Answer: localized edema
◉ A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
Which information should the nurse include? Secretion of ADH is
stimulated by: Answer: increased plasma osmolality
◉ Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful
concerning aldosterone? Secretion of aldosterone results in:
Answer: increased blood volume
◉ A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumor
of the adrenal cortex. Which finding would the nurse expect to see in
the lab results? Answer: Decreased blood K+ levels
,◉ A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic
hormones. When the patient asks the nurse what do these hormones
do, how should the nurse respond? Natriuretic hormones affect the
balance of: Answer: Sodium
◉ A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken
eyes. After diagnosing him with severe dehydration, the primary
care provider orders fluid replacement. The nurse administers a
hypertonic intravenous solution. Which of the following would be
expected? Answer: Intracellular dehydration
◉ Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing
hypernatremia? A patient with: Answer: dehydration
◉ The most common cause of pure water deficit is: Answer: A. renal
water loss
◉ Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with: Answer:
Hypertonic hyponatremia
◉ A 52-year-old diabetic male presents to the ER with lethargy,
confusion, and depressed reflexes. His wife indicates that he does
not follow the prescribed diet and takes his medication sporadically.
Lab results indicate hyperglycemia. Which assessment finding is
most likely to occur? Answer: decreased sodium
, ◉ When taking care of a patient with hyperkalemia, which principle
is priority? Hyperkalemia causes a(n) _____ in resting membrane
potential with _____ excitability of cardiac muscle. Answer: increase,
increased
◉ Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia?
A patient with: Answer: Increased bicarbonate intake
◉ Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to
monitor for hyperkalemia? Answer: Acute acidosis
◉ Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient
has long-term potassium deficits? Answer: kidneys
◉ A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider
reporting muscle weakness and cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory
tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of the following could
be the cause of her condition? Answer: Primary hyperaldosteronism
◉ A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider
reporting restlessness, muscle cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests
reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following could have
caused his condition? Answer: acidosis
