NUR 6121 Exam 1 | Actual Questions and
Answers | 2026 Update | 100% Correct -
William Paterson University.
Question 1
A patient with left-sided heart failure presents with dyspnea and
orthopnea. What is the primary pathophysiologic mechanism causing
these symptoms?
Answer: Pulmonary venous congestion leading to increased hydrostatic
pressure in pulmonary capillaries.
Rationale: Left ventricular failure causes blood to back up into
pulmonary circulation, increasing capillary pressure and causing fluid
leakage into alveoli.
Question 2
Which electrolyte abnormality is most associated with peaked T waves
on ECG?
Answer: Hyperkalemia.
Rationale: Elevated serum potassium accelerates myocardial
repolarization, producing peaked T waves.
Question 3
Insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes primarily results from:
,Answer: Decreased cellular response to insulin at receptor and post-
receptor levels.
Rationale: Cells fail to respond adequately to insulin, impairing glucose
uptake despite normal or elevated insulin levels.
Question 4
What is the primary cause of prerenal acute kidney injury (AKI)?
Answer: Decreased renal perfusion.
Rationale: Reduced blood flow lowers GFR without intrinsic kidney
damage.
Question 5
The most common cause of metabolic acidosis in hospitalized patients
is:
Answer: Lactic acidosis.
Rationale: Tissue hypoxia increases anaerobic metabolism, producing
excess lactate.
Question 6
In COPD, chronic hypercapnia leads to:
Answer: Renal compensation via bicarbonate retention.
Rationale: Kidneys retain HCO₃⁻ to buffer respiratory acidosis.
, Question 7
Which cytokine is primarily responsible for fever production?
Answer: Interleukin-1 (IL-1).
Rationale: IL-1 acts on the hypothalamus to increase prostaglandin
production and raise body temperature.
Question 8
Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by:
Answer: Proteinuria >3.5 g/day.
Rationale: Increased glomerular permeability causes large protein
losses.
Question 9
The hallmark of systolic heart failure is:
Answer: Reduced ejection fraction.
Rationale: Impaired contractility decreases stroke volume.
Question 10
A low TSH and elevated T4 indicate:
Answer: Primary hyperthyroidism.
Answers | 2026 Update | 100% Correct -
William Paterson University.
Question 1
A patient with left-sided heart failure presents with dyspnea and
orthopnea. What is the primary pathophysiologic mechanism causing
these symptoms?
Answer: Pulmonary venous congestion leading to increased hydrostatic
pressure in pulmonary capillaries.
Rationale: Left ventricular failure causes blood to back up into
pulmonary circulation, increasing capillary pressure and causing fluid
leakage into alveoli.
Question 2
Which electrolyte abnormality is most associated with peaked T waves
on ECG?
Answer: Hyperkalemia.
Rationale: Elevated serum potassium accelerates myocardial
repolarization, producing peaked T waves.
Question 3
Insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes primarily results from:
,Answer: Decreased cellular response to insulin at receptor and post-
receptor levels.
Rationale: Cells fail to respond adequately to insulin, impairing glucose
uptake despite normal or elevated insulin levels.
Question 4
What is the primary cause of prerenal acute kidney injury (AKI)?
Answer: Decreased renal perfusion.
Rationale: Reduced blood flow lowers GFR without intrinsic kidney
damage.
Question 5
The most common cause of metabolic acidosis in hospitalized patients
is:
Answer: Lactic acidosis.
Rationale: Tissue hypoxia increases anaerobic metabolism, producing
excess lactate.
Question 6
In COPD, chronic hypercapnia leads to:
Answer: Renal compensation via bicarbonate retention.
Rationale: Kidneys retain HCO₃⁻ to buffer respiratory acidosis.
, Question 7
Which cytokine is primarily responsible for fever production?
Answer: Interleukin-1 (IL-1).
Rationale: IL-1 acts on the hypothalamus to increase prostaglandin
production and raise body temperature.
Question 8
Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by:
Answer: Proteinuria >3.5 g/day.
Rationale: Increased glomerular permeability causes large protein
losses.
Question 9
The hallmark of systolic heart failure is:
Answer: Reduced ejection fraction.
Rationale: Impaired contractility decreases stroke volume.
Question 10
A low TSH and elevated T4 indicate:
Answer: Primary hyperthyroidism.
