NURS 5315 FINAL EXAM (UTA) NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM TEST BANK| NURS5315 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM REVIEW WITH
COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
The nurse practitioner notes that a patient has a pH of 7.25 and a
bicarbonate of 10. Which of following laboratory tests is most important
for the nurse practitioner to review?
A. sodium
B. magnesium
C. potassium
D. creatinine – Correct Answer - C
The pH and bicarbonate in this question are consistent with a metabolic
acidosis. The nurse practitioner should review the potassium level.
Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte imbalance seen in a metabolic
acidosis. During a metabolic acidosis, hydrogen (a positive ion) shifts
into the intracellular space. In order to maintain the ionic balance,
potassium (a positive ion) shifts to the extracellular space and results in
a hyperkalemia. None of the other labs are affected by a metabolic
acidosis.
A patient is noted to have a high anion gap metabolic acidosis. Which of
the following is the most likely etiology of the acidosis?
A. CO2 retention
B. Ethanol ingestion
C. Vomiting
D. Diuretic use – Correct Answer - B
pg. 1
,The elevated anion gap in the setting of a metabolic acidosis is
consistent with ethanol ingestion. CO2 retention results in an altered
mental status and a respiratory acidosis not a metabolic acidosis.
Diuretic use and vomiting may cause a metabolic alkalosis.
Upon examining a paraplegic patient the nurse practitioner notes that the
patient's lower extremities are thin and wasted. This is an example of
which cellular adaptation pattern?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia – Correct Answer - A
The patient in this scenario has experienced muscle wasting (atrophy)
secondary to the loss of use of their lower extremities. Hypertrophy is an
enlargement of the cells in a tissue secondary to the increased demands
on the cells. This type of response occurs in weightlifters or in the heart
from increased blood pressure. Hyperplasia is the increased in the
number of cells in a tissue. The cell size and organization are completely
normal; however, the number of cells present in the tissue is more than
normal. This is seen in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Dysplasia is an
erratic arrangement in the cell's organization, sizes, and shape in a tissue.
This is a pre-cancerous state seen in cervical dysplasia.
A patient with a long-standing history of GERD is at greater risk of
which cellular adaptation pattern?
A. Esophageal hypertrophy
B. Esophageal metaplasia
C. Esophageal atrophy
D. Esophageal dysplasia – Correct Answer - B
pg. 2
,Long-standing GERD predisposed the esophageal cells to undergo a
metaplasia. In esophageal metaplasia the normal esophageal squamous
epithelial cells are replaced by intestinal-like columnar cells under the
influence of the refluxed gastric acid. The columnar cells are better
equipped to handle the refluxed hydrochloric acid. It is pre-cancerous
condition. None of the other adaptation patterns are pertinent.
A 50-year-old male is diagnosed with primary lung adenocarcinoma.
From which tissue did this cancer originate?
A. Glandular epithelial
B. Deep Connective Tissue
C. Superficial connective
D. Muscle tissue – Correct Answer - A
The prefix "adeno" refers to epithelial tissue. There is no special
designation for cancers which originate in deep or superficial connective
tissues. The prefix "myo" is used to denoted cancers which originate
from the muscle.
Which pathological process is caused by hypoxic cellular injury?
A. Increased anabolism metabolism
B. Increased aerobic metabolism
C. Increased catabolic metabolism
D. Impaired protein synthesis – Correct Answer - D
Impaired protein synthesis is the only correct answer. Anabolic, aerobic,
& catabolic metabolism are all decreased by hypoxic injury.
A patient with chronically uncontrolled hypertension should be screened
for which cellular adaptative pattern?
pg. 3
, A. Ventricular hypertrophy
B. Renal dysplasia
C. Ventricular hyperplasia
D. Cardiac Atrophy – Correct Answer - A
Left ventricular hypertrophy occurs secondary to hypertension cardiac
cells do not undergo hyperplasia or atrophy. Renal dysplasia does not
occur.
The nurse practitioner is seeing a new patient with a history of HIV for
three years. The patient reports a history of pneumocystis jiroveci
pneumonia (PCP) three years ago. His labs show a CD4 count of 500
and a viral load of 25,000. Which of the following diagnoses should the
NP assign the patient?
A. AIDS
B. HIV infection
C. PCP
D. HIV related syndrome – Correct Answer - A
The most appropriate diagnosis is AIDS. AIDS is defined by the
presence of HIV and either a history of an opportunistic infection or the
presence of a current opportunistic infection. PCP is an opportunistic
infection and a history of it changes the diagnosis from HIV positive to
AIDS. An individual with HIV infection can also meet the criteria for an
AIDS diagnosis if their CD4 count drops below 200 even if it is a
temporary drop. The patient is not currently experiencing PCP so this is
not an appropriate diagnosis. If the patient did not have a history of PCP
then HIV infection would be an appropriate diagnosis. HIV related
syndrome is a false diagnosis.
pg. 4
EXAM TEST BANK| NURS5315 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM REVIEW WITH
COMPLETE REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
The nurse practitioner notes that a patient has a pH of 7.25 and a
bicarbonate of 10. Which of following laboratory tests is most important
for the nurse practitioner to review?
A. sodium
B. magnesium
C. potassium
D. creatinine – Correct Answer - C
The pH and bicarbonate in this question are consistent with a metabolic
acidosis. The nurse practitioner should review the potassium level.
Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte imbalance seen in a metabolic
acidosis. During a metabolic acidosis, hydrogen (a positive ion) shifts
into the intracellular space. In order to maintain the ionic balance,
potassium (a positive ion) shifts to the extracellular space and results in
a hyperkalemia. None of the other labs are affected by a metabolic
acidosis.
A patient is noted to have a high anion gap metabolic acidosis. Which of
the following is the most likely etiology of the acidosis?
A. CO2 retention
B. Ethanol ingestion
C. Vomiting
D. Diuretic use – Correct Answer - B
pg. 1
,The elevated anion gap in the setting of a metabolic acidosis is
consistent with ethanol ingestion. CO2 retention results in an altered
mental status and a respiratory acidosis not a metabolic acidosis.
Diuretic use and vomiting may cause a metabolic alkalosis.
Upon examining a paraplegic patient the nurse practitioner notes that the
patient's lower extremities are thin and wasted. This is an example of
which cellular adaptation pattern?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia – Correct Answer - A
The patient in this scenario has experienced muscle wasting (atrophy)
secondary to the loss of use of their lower extremities. Hypertrophy is an
enlargement of the cells in a tissue secondary to the increased demands
on the cells. This type of response occurs in weightlifters or in the heart
from increased blood pressure. Hyperplasia is the increased in the
number of cells in a tissue. The cell size and organization are completely
normal; however, the number of cells present in the tissue is more than
normal. This is seen in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Dysplasia is an
erratic arrangement in the cell's organization, sizes, and shape in a tissue.
This is a pre-cancerous state seen in cervical dysplasia.
A patient with a long-standing history of GERD is at greater risk of
which cellular adaptation pattern?
A. Esophageal hypertrophy
B. Esophageal metaplasia
C. Esophageal atrophy
D. Esophageal dysplasia – Correct Answer - B
pg. 2
,Long-standing GERD predisposed the esophageal cells to undergo a
metaplasia. In esophageal metaplasia the normal esophageal squamous
epithelial cells are replaced by intestinal-like columnar cells under the
influence of the refluxed gastric acid. The columnar cells are better
equipped to handle the refluxed hydrochloric acid. It is pre-cancerous
condition. None of the other adaptation patterns are pertinent.
A 50-year-old male is diagnosed with primary lung adenocarcinoma.
From which tissue did this cancer originate?
A. Glandular epithelial
B. Deep Connective Tissue
C. Superficial connective
D. Muscle tissue – Correct Answer - A
The prefix "adeno" refers to epithelial tissue. There is no special
designation for cancers which originate in deep or superficial connective
tissues. The prefix "myo" is used to denoted cancers which originate
from the muscle.
Which pathological process is caused by hypoxic cellular injury?
A. Increased anabolism metabolism
B. Increased aerobic metabolism
C. Increased catabolic metabolism
D. Impaired protein synthesis – Correct Answer - D
Impaired protein synthesis is the only correct answer. Anabolic, aerobic,
& catabolic metabolism are all decreased by hypoxic injury.
A patient with chronically uncontrolled hypertension should be screened
for which cellular adaptative pattern?
pg. 3
, A. Ventricular hypertrophy
B. Renal dysplasia
C. Ventricular hyperplasia
D. Cardiac Atrophy – Correct Answer - A
Left ventricular hypertrophy occurs secondary to hypertension cardiac
cells do not undergo hyperplasia or atrophy. Renal dysplasia does not
occur.
The nurse practitioner is seeing a new patient with a history of HIV for
three years. The patient reports a history of pneumocystis jiroveci
pneumonia (PCP) three years ago. His labs show a CD4 count of 500
and a viral load of 25,000. Which of the following diagnoses should the
NP assign the patient?
A. AIDS
B. HIV infection
C. PCP
D. HIV related syndrome – Correct Answer - A
The most appropriate diagnosis is AIDS. AIDS is defined by the
presence of HIV and either a history of an opportunistic infection or the
presence of a current opportunistic infection. PCP is an opportunistic
infection and a history of it changes the diagnosis from HIV positive to
AIDS. An individual with HIV infection can also meet the criteria for an
AIDS diagnosis if their CD4 count drops below 200 even if it is a
temporary drop. The patient is not currently experiencing PCP so this is
not an appropriate diagnosis. If the patient did not have a history of PCP
then HIV infection would be an appropriate diagnosis. HIV related
syndrome is a false diagnosis.
pg. 4
