1
NSG 3280 Exam 1 – Pathophysiology for Nurses \
Comprehensive Study Guide | Questions & Answers |
Latest 2026 Update | Galen College of Nursing | 100%
Verified Content
This guide covers the essential concepts for NSG 3280 Exam 1 based on the official Galen curriculum.
Exam 1 focuses on Fundamentals of Pathophysiology, Cellular Regulation, and Alterations in Glucose
Metabolism (Chapters 1-4, 41, & 42).
EXAM OVERVIEW
Topic Area Percentage Key Chapters
Introduction to Pathophysiology Concepts 25% Chapter 1
Cellular Adaptation & Injury 35% Chapters 2-3
Stress & Allostasis 15% Chapter 4
Diabetes Mellitus & Glucose Metabolism 25% Chapters 41-42
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (Chapter 1)
Question 1:
What is pathophysiology?
A. The study of the structure of the human body
B. The study of abnormalities in the physiologic functioning of living beings
C. The study of drug interactions within the body
D. The study of psychological responses to illness
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
,2
Rationale: Pathophysiology is defined as the study of abnormalities in the physiologic functioning of
living beings. It seeks to reveal the physiologic responses of an organism to disruptions in its internal or
external environment.
Question 2:
The nurse is caring for a patient and notes that the cause of the patient's disease is unknown. How
should the nurse document this etiology?
A. Iatrogenic
B. Idiopathic
C. Nosocomial
D. Pathogenic
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Idiopathic refers to a disease where the cause is unknown. Iatrogenic refers to causes
resulting from unintended medical treatment. Nosocomial refers to hospital-acquired infections.
Pathogenic refers to disease-causing microorganisms.
Question 3:
A patient develops a urinary tract infection following insertion of a urinary catheter. This is an example
of which type of etiology?
A. Idiopathic
B. Congenital
C. Iatrogenic
D. Genetic
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ C
Rationale: Iatrogenic conditions result from unintended or unwanted medical treatment. The catheter
insertion was a medical intervention that led to an adverse outcome.
Question 4:
Which term describes the development or evolution of a disease from the initial stimulus to the ultimate
expression of manifestations?
A. Etiology
B. Pathogenesis
C. Epidemiology
D. Prognosis
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
,3
Rationale: Pathogenesis is the development or evolution of a disease from the initial stimulus to the
ultimate expression of manifestations of the disease. It describes how etiologic factors alter physiologic
function.
Question 5:
A patient has a temperature of 102°F and a white blood cell count of 15,000/mm³. These are examples
of:
A. Symptoms
B. Signs
C. Syndromes
D. Risk factors
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Signs are objective data that can be observed and measured (e.g., elevated temperature,
laboratory values). Symptoms are subjective data reported by the patient (e.g., pain, nausea).
Question 6:
A patient reports feeling nauseated and having a headache. These are examples of:
A. Signs
B. Symptoms
C. Diagnostic criteria
D. Objective data
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Symptoms are subjective data that can only be reported by the affected individual. They
cannot be directly observed or measured by others.
Question 7:
The period between exposure to an injurious agent and the first appearance of signs and symptoms is
called the:
A. Prodromal period
B. Latent period
C. Convalescent period
D. Acute phase
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: The latent period is the time between exposure to an injurious agent and the first
appearance of signs and symptoms. In infectious diseases, this is called the incubation period.
, 4
Question 8:
A patient develops a fever and general malaise, indicating the onset of illness. This is known as the:
A. Latent period
B. Subclinical stage
C. Prodromal period
D. Convalescent stage
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ C
Rationale: The prodromal period is characterized by the appearance of the first signs and symptoms
indicating the onset of a disease. These early symptoms are often nonspecific (e.g., malaise, headache).
Question 9:
A patient with hypertension has no symptoms and functions normally, but the disease process is well
established. This is referred to as the:
A. Latent stage
B. Prodromal stage
C. Subclinical stage
D. Acute stage
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ C
Rationale: The subclinical stage occurs when the patient functions normally, although the disease
processes are well established. The patient may not be aware of the disease.
Question 10:
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis experiences a sudden increase in joint pain and swelling. This is
known as:
A. Remission
B. Exacerbation
C. Convalescence
D. Sequela
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Exacerbation is a relatively sudden increase in the severity of a disease or its signs and
symptoms. Remission is a decrease in severity.
Question 11:
When a disease's signs and symptoms have decreased in severity, the patient is said to be in:
A. Exacerbation
B. Latent period
NSG 3280 Exam 1 – Pathophysiology for Nurses \
Comprehensive Study Guide | Questions & Answers |
Latest 2026 Update | Galen College of Nursing | 100%
Verified Content
This guide covers the essential concepts for NSG 3280 Exam 1 based on the official Galen curriculum.
Exam 1 focuses on Fundamentals of Pathophysiology, Cellular Regulation, and Alterations in Glucose
Metabolism (Chapters 1-4, 41, & 42).
EXAM OVERVIEW
Topic Area Percentage Key Chapters
Introduction to Pathophysiology Concepts 25% Chapter 1
Cellular Adaptation & Injury 35% Chapters 2-3
Stress & Allostasis 15% Chapter 4
Diabetes Mellitus & Glucose Metabolism 25% Chapters 41-42
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (Chapter 1)
Question 1:
What is pathophysiology?
A. The study of the structure of the human body
B. The study of abnormalities in the physiologic functioning of living beings
C. The study of drug interactions within the body
D. The study of psychological responses to illness
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
,2
Rationale: Pathophysiology is defined as the study of abnormalities in the physiologic functioning of
living beings. It seeks to reveal the physiologic responses of an organism to disruptions in its internal or
external environment.
Question 2:
The nurse is caring for a patient and notes that the cause of the patient's disease is unknown. How
should the nurse document this etiology?
A. Iatrogenic
B. Idiopathic
C. Nosocomial
D. Pathogenic
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Idiopathic refers to a disease where the cause is unknown. Iatrogenic refers to causes
resulting from unintended medical treatment. Nosocomial refers to hospital-acquired infections.
Pathogenic refers to disease-causing microorganisms.
Question 3:
A patient develops a urinary tract infection following insertion of a urinary catheter. This is an example
of which type of etiology?
A. Idiopathic
B. Congenital
C. Iatrogenic
D. Genetic
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ C
Rationale: Iatrogenic conditions result from unintended or unwanted medical treatment. The catheter
insertion was a medical intervention that led to an adverse outcome.
Question 4:
Which term describes the development or evolution of a disease from the initial stimulus to the ultimate
expression of manifestations?
A. Etiology
B. Pathogenesis
C. Epidemiology
D. Prognosis
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
,3
Rationale: Pathogenesis is the development or evolution of a disease from the initial stimulus to the
ultimate expression of manifestations of the disease. It describes how etiologic factors alter physiologic
function.
Question 5:
A patient has a temperature of 102°F and a white blood cell count of 15,000/mm³. These are examples
of:
A. Symptoms
B. Signs
C. Syndromes
D. Risk factors
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Signs are objective data that can be observed and measured (e.g., elevated temperature,
laboratory values). Symptoms are subjective data reported by the patient (e.g., pain, nausea).
Question 6:
A patient reports feeling nauseated and having a headache. These are examples of:
A. Signs
B. Symptoms
C. Diagnostic criteria
D. Objective data
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Symptoms are subjective data that can only be reported by the affected individual. They
cannot be directly observed or measured by others.
Question 7:
The period between exposure to an injurious agent and the first appearance of signs and symptoms is
called the:
A. Prodromal period
B. Latent period
C. Convalescent period
D. Acute phase
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: The latent period is the time between exposure to an injurious agent and the first
appearance of signs and symptoms. In infectious diseases, this is called the incubation period.
, 4
Question 8:
A patient develops a fever and general malaise, indicating the onset of illness. This is known as the:
A. Latent period
B. Subclinical stage
C. Prodromal period
D. Convalescent stage
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ C
Rationale: The prodromal period is characterized by the appearance of the first signs and symptoms
indicating the onset of a disease. These early symptoms are often nonspecific (e.g., malaise, headache).
Question 9:
A patient with hypertension has no symptoms and functions normally, but the disease process is well
established. This is referred to as the:
A. Latent stage
B. Prodromal stage
C. Subclinical stage
D. Acute stage
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ C
Rationale: The subclinical stage occurs when the patient functions normally, although the disease
processes are well established. The patient may not be aware of the disease.
Question 10:
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis experiences a sudden increase in joint pain and swelling. This is
known as:
A. Remission
B. Exacerbation
C. Convalescence
D. Sequela
✔✔Correct Answer✔✔ B
Rationale: Exacerbation is a relatively sudden increase in the severity of a disease or its signs and
symptoms. Remission is a decrease in severity.
Question 11:
When a disease's signs and symptoms have decreased in severity, the patient is said to be in:
A. Exacerbation
B. Latent period
