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WGU D115 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
2025/2026 LATEST UPDATE WITH WGU D115
ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY STUDY GUIDE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS EXAM
A child presents to a clinic with a fever, conjunctivitis, and a strawberry tongue.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) assesses the patient, and stage IV
Kawasaki disease is suspected.
What is the pathological mechanism of this disorder? -- ANSWER--Intimal
thickening and stenosis of coronary arteries
A two-month-old infant presents to a rural healthcare clinic for a routine well-
child check. A medical assistant alerts an advanced practice registered nurse
(APRN) after assessing vital signs with a HR of 200 bmp, RR of 40 bmp, and
dropping percentiles on the growth chart.
Upon entering the room, the APRN notes increased breathing effort, nasal
flaring, and suprasternal retractions when the infant's mother is attempting to
feed the infant a bottle. Upon further assessment, the APRN notes a grade 4
holosystolic murmur and cool extremities.
What is the probable diagnosis? -- ANSWER--Hypoplastic left heart
A patient presents in the clinic with a chief complaint of numbness and tingling
in the hands and fingertips that is relieved by warmth. The patient reports
fingers turning blue and white and has no other medical history.
Which condition is the patient describing? -- ANSWER--Raynaud disease
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A 56-year-old patient presents to an emergency department with acute chest pain
on the day after the funeral of a spouse. Diagnostic results reveal ST elevation
and elevated troponins.
What is the probable diagnosis of these symptoms? -- ANSWER--Takotsubo
cardiomyopathy
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is meeting with an older adult
with complicated hypertension and a strong family history of cardiovascular
disease. The patient is reluctant to consider medications for blood pressure
control and would like to know the anticipated effect if the blood pressure
remains moderately elevated.
What is the anticipated pathological outcome for this patient if this condition
continues? -- ANSWER--Development of type 2 diabetes mellitus
A 34-year-old patient is diagnosed with primary hypertension, and an advanced
practice registered nurse (APRN) is reviewing the causes of the problem with the
patient.
What is a cause of this diagnosis? -- ANSWER--Genetics
A patient presents to an emergency department with complaints of shortness
of breath and confusion. An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)
assesses the patient, reviews the lab results, and diagnoses the patient with
hypoxia due to anemia.
Which compensatory mechanism supports this diagnosis? -- ANSWER--Increased
heart rate
A patient presents to a clinic with complaints of frequent nosebleeds. An
advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) does an assessment and notes
areas of ecchymosis and petechiae. The APRN questions the patient about
current activities and medications and orders lab studies.
Which lab exam should the APRN order for this patient? -- ANSWER--Platelet
count
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is evaluating an anemic patient
with stage 4 renal disease.
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Which pathological mechanism should the APRN note? -- ANSWER--Suppressed
production of erythropoietin
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is caring for an adult patient who
fell off a ladder and has a T5 compression and a compound fracture of the femur.
The following assessment data is noted:
Vital signs: BP 102/52
Apical pulse: 48
Weak peripheral pulses
Flaccid lower extremities
Severe bruising of the
femur
Which type of shock should the APRN suspect? -- ANSWER--Neurogenic
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is caring for a patient who
experienced a 20% total body surface area (TBSA) burn injury. Current
assessment findings include massive evaporative water losses, a flux of large
amounts of fluid and electrolytes in the tissues, generalized edema, and
circulatory hypovolemia. The APRN needs to take immediate action to prevent
irreversible hypovolemic shock and death.
Which priority action should be taken by the APRN? -- ANSWER--Administer up to
30 L of lactated ringer solution over 24 hours
An adult patient has experienced a third-degree burn. An advanced practice
registered nurse (APRN) is attempting to calculate the total body surface area
affected using the rule of nines. The areas involved include the anterior and
posterior right arm and leg and the groin.
What is the estimated total body surface area that will be assigned by
the APRN? -- ANSWER--28%
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An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) assesses a school-aged child with
sepsis who is experiencing new symptoms of hyperthermia, tachycardia, and
tachypnea.
Which additional diagnosis should the APRN consider? -- ANSWER--Systemic
inflammatory response syndrome
A female patient presents with abnormal hair growth on the face and body and
reports that the hair on her head is receding. An advanced practice registered
nurse (APRN) determines that the patient has hirsutism.
Which other diagnosis associated with this condition should be considered by
the APRN? -- ANSWER--Polycystic ovarian syndrome
When discussing sun protection with an older patient, an advanced practice
registered nurse recommends the importance of using sunblock to protect aging
skin from ultraviolet exposure when the patient will be in the sun.
Which pathologic changes due to aging of the integumentary system is this
recommendation based on? -- ANSWER--Decreased melanocytes and clearance
of oxidative substances from the dermis
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is working with a bedbound
patient who has an area of skin tissue obscured by slough or eschar over the
left greater trochanter.
Which way should this pressure injury be staged by the APRN for treatment? --
ANSWER-- Unstageable
A five-year-old child presents to a clinic with right inner thigh and groin pain
that radiates to the knee. The parents report to an advanced practice registered
nurse (APRN) that activity aggravates the pain, but rest relieves it. The APRN
notes the child's Trendelenburg gait.
Radiographic examination confirms a diagnosis of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
(LCPD).
What is the pathologic cause of this disorder? -- ANSWER--Recurrent
interruption of the blood supply to the femoral head
WGU D115 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
2025/2026 LATEST UPDATE WITH WGU D115
ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY STUDY GUIDE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS EXAM
A child presents to a clinic with a fever, conjunctivitis, and a strawberry tongue.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) assesses the patient, and stage IV
Kawasaki disease is suspected.
What is the pathological mechanism of this disorder? -- ANSWER--Intimal
thickening and stenosis of coronary arteries
A two-month-old infant presents to a rural healthcare clinic for a routine well-
child check. A medical assistant alerts an advanced practice registered nurse
(APRN) after assessing vital signs with a HR of 200 bmp, RR of 40 bmp, and
dropping percentiles on the growth chart.
Upon entering the room, the APRN notes increased breathing effort, nasal
flaring, and suprasternal retractions when the infant's mother is attempting to
feed the infant a bottle. Upon further assessment, the APRN notes a grade 4
holosystolic murmur and cool extremities.
What is the probable diagnosis? -- ANSWER--Hypoplastic left heart
A patient presents in the clinic with a chief complaint of numbness and tingling
in the hands and fingertips that is relieved by warmth. The patient reports
fingers turning blue and white and has no other medical history.
Which condition is the patient describing? -- ANSWER--Raynaud disease
,Page 2 of 54
A 56-year-old patient presents to an emergency department with acute chest pain
on the day after the funeral of a spouse. Diagnostic results reveal ST elevation
and elevated troponins.
What is the probable diagnosis of these symptoms? -- ANSWER--Takotsubo
cardiomyopathy
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is meeting with an older adult
with complicated hypertension and a strong family history of cardiovascular
disease. The patient is reluctant to consider medications for blood pressure
control and would like to know the anticipated effect if the blood pressure
remains moderately elevated.
What is the anticipated pathological outcome for this patient if this condition
continues? -- ANSWER--Development of type 2 diabetes mellitus
A 34-year-old patient is diagnosed with primary hypertension, and an advanced
practice registered nurse (APRN) is reviewing the causes of the problem with the
patient.
What is a cause of this diagnosis? -- ANSWER--Genetics
A patient presents to an emergency department with complaints of shortness
of breath and confusion. An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)
assesses the patient, reviews the lab results, and diagnoses the patient with
hypoxia due to anemia.
Which compensatory mechanism supports this diagnosis? -- ANSWER--Increased
heart rate
A patient presents to a clinic with complaints of frequent nosebleeds. An
advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) does an assessment and notes
areas of ecchymosis and petechiae. The APRN questions the patient about
current activities and medications and orders lab studies.
Which lab exam should the APRN order for this patient? -- ANSWER--Platelet
count
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is evaluating an anemic patient
with stage 4 renal disease.
,Page 3 of 54
Which pathological mechanism should the APRN note? -- ANSWER--Suppressed
production of erythropoietin
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is caring for an adult patient who
fell off a ladder and has a T5 compression and a compound fracture of the femur.
The following assessment data is noted:
Vital signs: BP 102/52
Apical pulse: 48
Weak peripheral pulses
Flaccid lower extremities
Severe bruising of the
femur
Which type of shock should the APRN suspect? -- ANSWER--Neurogenic
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is caring for a patient who
experienced a 20% total body surface area (TBSA) burn injury. Current
assessment findings include massive evaporative water losses, a flux of large
amounts of fluid and electrolytes in the tissues, generalized edema, and
circulatory hypovolemia. The APRN needs to take immediate action to prevent
irreversible hypovolemic shock and death.
Which priority action should be taken by the APRN? -- ANSWER--Administer up to
30 L of lactated ringer solution over 24 hours
An adult patient has experienced a third-degree burn. An advanced practice
registered nurse (APRN) is attempting to calculate the total body surface area
affected using the rule of nines. The areas involved include the anterior and
posterior right arm and leg and the groin.
What is the estimated total body surface area that will be assigned by
the APRN? -- ANSWER--28%
, Page 4 of 54
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) assesses a school-aged child with
sepsis who is experiencing new symptoms of hyperthermia, tachycardia, and
tachypnea.
Which additional diagnosis should the APRN consider? -- ANSWER--Systemic
inflammatory response syndrome
A female patient presents with abnormal hair growth on the face and body and
reports that the hair on her head is receding. An advanced practice registered
nurse (APRN) determines that the patient has hirsutism.
Which other diagnosis associated with this condition should be considered by
the APRN? -- ANSWER--Polycystic ovarian syndrome
When discussing sun protection with an older patient, an advanced practice
registered nurse recommends the importance of using sunblock to protect aging
skin from ultraviolet exposure when the patient will be in the sun.
Which pathologic changes due to aging of the integumentary system is this
recommendation based on? -- ANSWER--Decreased melanocytes and clearance
of oxidative substances from the dermis
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is working with a bedbound
patient who has an area of skin tissue obscured by slough or eschar over the
left greater trochanter.
Which way should this pressure injury be staged by the APRN for treatment? --
ANSWER-- Unstageable
A five-year-old child presents to a clinic with right inner thigh and groin pain
that radiates to the knee. The parents report to an advanced practice registered
nurse (APRN) that activity aggravates the pain, but rest relieves it. The APRN
notes the child's Trendelenburg gait.
Radiographic examination confirms a diagnosis of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
(LCPD).
What is the pathologic cause of this disorder? -- ANSWER--Recurrent
interruption of the blood supply to the femoral head
