NURS 5315
NURS 5315 Shock, Shock Advanced Patho Exam
Questions with Correct Answers 2026-2027
What is the primary characteristic of shock?
A) Hypertension
B) Inadequate tissue perfusion
C) Increased oxygen delivery
D) Increased cardiac output
B) Inadequate tissue perfusion
Rationale: Shock is defined by inadequate tissue perfusion, leading to decreased
oxygen and nutrient delivery to cells.
Which of the following best describes the primary consequence of anaerobic
metabolism in shock?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Increased oxygen consumption
C) Lactic acid accumulation
D) Enhanced cellular function
C) Lactic acid accumulation
Rationale: Anaerobic metabolism results in lactic acid accumulation, leading to
metabolic acidosis and further impairing cellular function.
What is the major cause of metabolic acidosis in shock?
A) Hypoventilation
B) Excessive bicarbonate production
C) Lactic acid accumulation
D) Hyperkalemia
C) Lactic acid accumulation
Rationale: Inadequate oxygen delivery forces cells into anaerobic metabolism, leading
to lactic acid accumulation and metabolic acidosis.
Which type of shock is caused by reduced blood volume?
A) Cardiogenic shock
B) Hypovolemic shock
C) Distributive shock
D) Neurogenic shock
B) Hypovolemic shock
Rationale: Hypovolemic shock results from a significant decrease in blood volume,
leading to inadequate perfusion.
Which type of shock is primarily caused by heart failure?
A) Cardiogenic shock
B) Hypovolemic shock
C) Septic shock
D) Neurogenic shock
NURS 5315
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A) Cardiogenic shock
Rationale: Cardiogenic shock results from decreased cardiac output due to heart
dysfunction, leading to poor tissue perfusion.
What happens to sodium and water balance in cells during shock?
A) Sodium moves out of the cells
B) Water moves out of the cells
C) Sodium and water accumulate inside the cells
D) There is no change in sodium and water balance
C) Sodium and water accumulate inside the cells
Rationale: ATP depletion leads to Na+/K+ pump failure, causing sodium and water to
accumulate inside cells, leading to cellular swelling.
Why does tachycardia occur in shock?
A) To compensate for decreased cardiac output
B) To decrease oxygen demand
C) To reduce metabolic rate
D) To increase waste removal
A) To compensate for decreased cardiac output
Rationale: The body increases heart rate to compensate for low cardiac output and
maintain blood flow to vital organs.
What is the major cause of organ dysfunction in shock?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Impaired oxygen and nutrient delivery
C) Enhanced cellular metabolism
D) Excessive waste removal
B) Impaired oxygen and nutrient delivery
Rationale: Organ dysfunction results from inadequate oxygen and nutrient supply,
leading to cellular injury and failure.
Which type of shock is most commonly associated with systemic infections?
A) Hypovolemic shock
B) Cardiogenic shock
C) Septic shock
D) Neurogenic shock
C) Septic shock
Rationale: Septic shock is caused by widespread infection, leading to vasodilation,
increased capillary permeability, and decreased perfusion.
Which metabolic process is most impaired during shock?
A) Protein synthesis
B) Glycolysis
C) Oxidative phosphorylation
D) Lipid metabolism
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C) Oxidative phosphorylation
Rationale: Inadequate oxygen delivery impairs oxidative phosphorylation, leading to
decreased ATP production and reliance on anaerobic metabolism.
What is the primary effect of metabolic acidosis in shock?
A) Increased enzyme function
B) Decreased pH and cellular dysfunction
C) Increased ATP production
D) Enhanced protein synthesis
B) Decreased pH and cellular dysfunction
Rationale: Metabolic acidosis lowers blood pH, impairing enzyme function and cellular
activities, worsening shock progression.
What is the most common cause of hypovolemic shock?
A) Myocardial infarction
B) Hemorrhage
C) Sepsis
D) Spinal cord injury
B) Hemorrhage
Rationale: Hypovolemic shock occurs due to significant blood or fluid loss, often from
hemorrhage.
What is the Bohr effect in the context of shock?
A) Increased oxygen binding to hemoglobin
B) Decreased oxygen release to tissues
C) Enhanced oxygen release due to acidosis
D) Reduced hemoglobin production
C) Enhanced oxygen release due to acidosis
Rationale: Acidosis shifts the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to the right, promoting
oxygen release to tissues but also increasing tissue hypoxia.
What is the effect of shock on renal function?
A) Increased urine output
B) Decreased urine output (oliguria)
C) Enhanced filtration rate
D) Increased sodium excretion
B) Decreased urine output (oliguria)
Rationale: Renal hypoperfusion leads to oliguria, reflecting inadequate blood flow to the
kidneys.
Which compensatory mechanism is activated first in shock?
A) Increased diuresis
B) Baroreceptor activation and tachycardia
C) Increased insulin release
D) Vasodilation
NURS 5315
NURS 5315 Shock, Shock Advanced Patho Exam
Questions with Correct Answers 2026-2027
What is the primary characteristic of shock?
A) Hypertension
B) Inadequate tissue perfusion
C) Increased oxygen delivery
D) Increased cardiac output
B) Inadequate tissue perfusion
Rationale: Shock is defined by inadequate tissue perfusion, leading to decreased
oxygen and nutrient delivery to cells.
Which of the following best describes the primary consequence of anaerobic
metabolism in shock?
A) Increased ATP production
B) Increased oxygen consumption
C) Lactic acid accumulation
D) Enhanced cellular function
C) Lactic acid accumulation
Rationale: Anaerobic metabolism results in lactic acid accumulation, leading to
metabolic acidosis and further impairing cellular function.
What is the major cause of metabolic acidosis in shock?
A) Hypoventilation
B) Excessive bicarbonate production
C) Lactic acid accumulation
D) Hyperkalemia
C) Lactic acid accumulation
Rationale: Inadequate oxygen delivery forces cells into anaerobic metabolism, leading
to lactic acid accumulation and metabolic acidosis.
Which type of shock is caused by reduced blood volume?
A) Cardiogenic shock
B) Hypovolemic shock
C) Distributive shock
D) Neurogenic shock
B) Hypovolemic shock
Rationale: Hypovolemic shock results from a significant decrease in blood volume,
leading to inadequate perfusion.
Which type of shock is primarily caused by heart failure?
A) Cardiogenic shock
B) Hypovolemic shock
C) Septic shock
D) Neurogenic shock
NURS 5315
,NURS 5315
A) Cardiogenic shock
Rationale: Cardiogenic shock results from decreased cardiac output due to heart
dysfunction, leading to poor tissue perfusion.
What happens to sodium and water balance in cells during shock?
A) Sodium moves out of the cells
B) Water moves out of the cells
C) Sodium and water accumulate inside the cells
D) There is no change in sodium and water balance
C) Sodium and water accumulate inside the cells
Rationale: ATP depletion leads to Na+/K+ pump failure, causing sodium and water to
accumulate inside cells, leading to cellular swelling.
Why does tachycardia occur in shock?
A) To compensate for decreased cardiac output
B) To decrease oxygen demand
C) To reduce metabolic rate
D) To increase waste removal
A) To compensate for decreased cardiac output
Rationale: The body increases heart rate to compensate for low cardiac output and
maintain blood flow to vital organs.
What is the major cause of organ dysfunction in shock?
A) Increased blood pressure
B) Impaired oxygen and nutrient delivery
C) Enhanced cellular metabolism
D) Excessive waste removal
B) Impaired oxygen and nutrient delivery
Rationale: Organ dysfunction results from inadequate oxygen and nutrient supply,
leading to cellular injury and failure.
Which type of shock is most commonly associated with systemic infections?
A) Hypovolemic shock
B) Cardiogenic shock
C) Septic shock
D) Neurogenic shock
C) Septic shock
Rationale: Septic shock is caused by widespread infection, leading to vasodilation,
increased capillary permeability, and decreased perfusion.
Which metabolic process is most impaired during shock?
A) Protein synthesis
B) Glycolysis
C) Oxidative phosphorylation
D) Lipid metabolism
NURS 5315
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C) Oxidative phosphorylation
Rationale: Inadequate oxygen delivery impairs oxidative phosphorylation, leading to
decreased ATP production and reliance on anaerobic metabolism.
What is the primary effect of metabolic acidosis in shock?
A) Increased enzyme function
B) Decreased pH and cellular dysfunction
C) Increased ATP production
D) Enhanced protein synthesis
B) Decreased pH and cellular dysfunction
Rationale: Metabolic acidosis lowers blood pH, impairing enzyme function and cellular
activities, worsening shock progression.
What is the most common cause of hypovolemic shock?
A) Myocardial infarction
B) Hemorrhage
C) Sepsis
D) Spinal cord injury
B) Hemorrhage
Rationale: Hypovolemic shock occurs due to significant blood or fluid loss, often from
hemorrhage.
What is the Bohr effect in the context of shock?
A) Increased oxygen binding to hemoglobin
B) Decreased oxygen release to tissues
C) Enhanced oxygen release due to acidosis
D) Reduced hemoglobin production
C) Enhanced oxygen release due to acidosis
Rationale: Acidosis shifts the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to the right, promoting
oxygen release to tissues but also increasing tissue hypoxia.
What is the effect of shock on renal function?
A) Increased urine output
B) Decreased urine output (oliguria)
C) Enhanced filtration rate
D) Increased sodium excretion
B) Decreased urine output (oliguria)
Rationale: Renal hypoperfusion leads to oliguria, reflecting inadequate blood flow to the
kidneys.
Which compensatory mechanism is activated first in shock?
A) Increased diuresis
B) Baroreceptor activation and tachycardia
C) Increased insulin release
D) Vasodilation
NURS 5315
