Page 1 of 52
08 June 2026
Wgu D115 master set-Advanced Pathophysiology for the
Advanced Practice Nurse 2026/2027 Exam Prep TestBank
with 350 Exam Questions and Correct Answers D115 master
set-Advanced pathophysiology Latest Exam Prep Test
Bank (New!)
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is caring for an older adult patient diagnosed with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The APRN is concerned about the patient's
increased risk for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and recommends the pneumococcal
vaccination.
Which etiologic microorganism will this vaccine protect against? - correct answer-The
pneumococcal vaccination protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a
communityacquired pneumonia.
A patient presents to a hospital complaining of coughing, dyspnea, fatigue, weight loss, chills, and
fever. The patient has been working as a painter for 25 years. An advanced practice registered
nurse (APRN) performs several diagnostic tests, which reveal a diagnosis of hypersensitivity
pneumonitis.
Which statement describes the mechanism of this condition? - correct answer-Hypersensitivity
pneumonitis is an autoimmune reaction initiated by alveolar macrophages and IgG antibody
production. Symptoms include cough, dyspnea, fatigue, weight loss, chills, and fever.
A patient of child-bearing age reports not being recently sexually active but is complaining of
lactating without breast pain or bleeding. A serum pregnancy test performed by an advanced
practice registered nurse (APRN) was negative. The patient is concerned about the possibility of
breast cancer.
Which problem should the APRN suspect? - correct answer-Complaints of lactation with a
negative blood pregnancy test is generally due to galactorrhea. Galactorrhea often results from
having too much prolactin—the hormone responsible for milk production after childbirth. It can be
caused by some medications, hypothyroid disease, chronic kidney disease, opioid use, spinal cord
injury, or even stress.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is caring for a six-week-old infant admitted for
difficulty breathing secondary to excessive upper respiratory secretions.
Which mechanism of the pulmonary system affects the severity of this problem? - correct
answer-Infants up to two or three months of age are "obligatory nose breathers" and have difficulty
inhaling through their mouths. This is why nasal congestion is a serious threat to young infants,
especially during sleep.
, Page 2 of 52
25 May 2026
A patient presents to an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with complaints of vaginal
discharge and pain upon urination. Upon assessment, the APRN notes a fever of 101.4°F and
uterine tenderness. Laboratory results reveal an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
What is the probable diagnosis? - correct answer-Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an acute
inflammatory process caused by infection and may involve any or all organs in the upper genital
tract, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries, and in its most severe form, the entire
peritoneal cavity. Patients may present with lower abdominal pain, dysuria, dyspareunia, and
irregular bleeding.
An adolescent patient reports to an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with a five-day
history of fever, malaise, pharyngitis, generalized aches, swollen lymph nodes, and an enlarged
spleen. The lab results indicate a positive monospot test.
Which infection should the APRN consider? - correct answer-The Epstein-Barr virus accounts for
85% of all cases of mononucleosis and would be the reason for a positive monospot test.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) in a newborn nursery is assessing an infant with
Down syndrome for a common congenital heart defect.
Which condition should this APRN be concerned about? - correct answer-Ventricular septal defect
(VSD) is a common cardiac anomaly found in Down syndrome. In a patient with VSD, blood can
travel across the hole from the left pumping chamber (left ventricle) to the right pumping chamber
(right ventricle) and out into the lung arteries.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is caring for a patient diagnosed with ovarian cancer
who is receiving chemotherapy. The APRN is providing education to the patient and family
regarding potential adverse effects of this medicine that would be of concern.
Which problem is common for these patients? - correct answer-Ovarian cancer treatment drugs
increase the chances of deep vein thrombosis.
A patient is in a hospital diagnosed with leukemia and has been receiving chemotherapy
treatments. An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) assesses petechiae, ecchymoses, large
purpuric spots, and bleeding from the mucous membranes.
Which lab finding should the APRN expect for this patient? - correct answer-Spontaneous
bleeding without apparent trauma can occur with platelet counts between 10,000 and 15,000/mm3,
resulting in petechiae, ecchymoses, larger purpuric spots, or frank bleeding from mucous
membranes. These symptoms are typical in a patient with leukemia being treated with
chemotherapy.
, Page 3 of 52
08 June 2026
A patient recovering from a coronary artery bypass graft reports to an advanced practice
registered nurse (APRN) with shortness of breath after the epicardial pacing wires are removed.
Assessment findings include muffled heart sounds and a narrow pulse pressure.
Which condition should the APRN suspect? - correct answer-Cardiac tamponade is a clinical
syndrome caused by the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space, resulting in reduced
ventricular filling and subsequent hemodynamic compromise. The condition is a medical emergency,
the complications of which include pulmonary edema, shock, and death.
A patient with untreated strep throat is more likely to have Choose...nephroticnephritic
(nephrotic/nephritic) syndrome. - correct answer-Nephritic syndrome is caused by an
antibody/antigen reaction seen after group a-beta hemolytic strep. Antistreptolysin is produced in
the antibody/antigen reaction. You can use the HAD STREP mnemonic to help you remember:
H = hypertension
A = +ASO (antistreptolysin O)
D = decreased GFR (glomerular filtration rate)
STREP = Streptococcus
DESCRIBE THE PATHOLOGY OF NEPHROTIC SYNDROME - correct answer-Nephrotic syndrome is
caused by damage to the filtering system in the kidney. Massive amounts of protein are lost in the
urine which depletes the blood of albumin. The patient often presents with frothy urine and
anasarca (not hematuria).
Why patients with Nephrotic syndrome are high risk for infection - correct answer-Nephrotic
syndrome is an idiopathic condition often treated with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants.
Massive swelling puts skin at risk for breakdown because the skin becomes friable and fluid filled
Explain why it is important for the patient to learn to increase her fluid intake to 8-10 glasses of
fluid per day - correct answer-Drinking 8-10 glasses of fluid per day will keep her urine dilute,
which will help keep renal calculi from forming and will help move stones along the passageway to
excretion should they recur.
what is Sequestrum - correct answer-Sequestrum is an area of necrotic bone that separates from
the healthy bone.
Previousquestion
, Page 4 of 52
25 May 2026
A two-month-old male has been hospitalized with dehydration due to diarrhea. He is fussy and
irritable and has poor oral intake, both breast and bottle feeding. When the infant opens his
mouth, you notice multiple white spots in his mouth, and the mucosa appears to be red and
tender. - correct answer-The infant most likely has a fungal infection caused by candida in the
mucous membranes of the mouth, also known as thrush. Thrush is characterized by the formation of
white plaques or spots in the mouth that lead to shallow ulcers caused by keratolytic proteases from
the microorganism. The tongue may have a dense, white covering. The underlying mucous
membrane is red and tender and may bleed when the plaques are removed. This is often
accompanied by fever and gastrointestinal irritation.
Treatment may be difficult and may include oral antifungal washes, such as nystatin oral suspension.
Simultaneous treatment of a candida nipple infection or vaginitis in the mother is helpful in reducing
the C. albicans surface colonization of the infant. Feeding bottles and nipples should be sterilized to
prevent reinfection. The diaper area should be kept clean and dry, as the infection commonly
spreads to the groin, buttocks, and other parts of the body.
A patient presents to an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) complaining of diarrhea, rectal
bleeding, and right lower quadrant tenderness. Diagnostic tests reveal deficiencies in folic acid,
vitamin D, and calcium. The APRN suspects Crohn disease.
What is the pathological mechanism of this disorder? - correct answer-Crohn disease can involve
any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the oropharynx to the perianal area. Diseased segments
frequently are separated by intervening normal bowel, leading to the term "skip areas."
Inflammation can be transmural, often extending through to the serosa, resulting in sinus tracts or
fistula formation.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is reviewing orders for a patient who passed a
calculi, which relieved the condition of compensatory hypertrophy. The APRN is aware that the
patient will need to be monitored closely due to a common condition associated with return to
bilateral function.
Which condition should the APRN anticipate? - correct answer-Post-obstructive diuresis, Patients
will have marked polyuria (> 4-5 L per day) after the release of bilateral obstruction. The
physiological factors include excess sodium and water retention and accumulation of urea and other
non-reabsorbable solutes, resulting in an osmotic diuresis.
A patient expresses concern to an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) about not being able
to complete an entire meal without experiencing acid reflux. The patient also reports new
symptoms including chest pain and dysphagia. The APRN suspects that the patient might have
cancer.
Which type of cancer is the APRN concerned about? - correct answer-The most common symptom
of esophageal cancer is a problem swallowing (dysphagia), with a feeling like the food is stuck in the
08 June 2026
Wgu D115 master set-Advanced Pathophysiology for the
Advanced Practice Nurse 2026/2027 Exam Prep TestBank
with 350 Exam Questions and Correct Answers D115 master
set-Advanced pathophysiology Latest Exam Prep Test
Bank (New!)
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is caring for an older adult patient diagnosed with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The APRN is concerned about the patient's
increased risk for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and recommends the pneumococcal
vaccination.
Which etiologic microorganism will this vaccine protect against? - correct answer-The
pneumococcal vaccination protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a
communityacquired pneumonia.
A patient presents to a hospital complaining of coughing, dyspnea, fatigue, weight loss, chills, and
fever. The patient has been working as a painter for 25 years. An advanced practice registered
nurse (APRN) performs several diagnostic tests, which reveal a diagnosis of hypersensitivity
pneumonitis.
Which statement describes the mechanism of this condition? - correct answer-Hypersensitivity
pneumonitis is an autoimmune reaction initiated by alveolar macrophages and IgG antibody
production. Symptoms include cough, dyspnea, fatigue, weight loss, chills, and fever.
A patient of child-bearing age reports not being recently sexually active but is complaining of
lactating without breast pain or bleeding. A serum pregnancy test performed by an advanced
practice registered nurse (APRN) was negative. The patient is concerned about the possibility of
breast cancer.
Which problem should the APRN suspect? - correct answer-Complaints of lactation with a
negative blood pregnancy test is generally due to galactorrhea. Galactorrhea often results from
having too much prolactin—the hormone responsible for milk production after childbirth. It can be
caused by some medications, hypothyroid disease, chronic kidney disease, opioid use, spinal cord
injury, or even stress.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is caring for a six-week-old infant admitted for
difficulty breathing secondary to excessive upper respiratory secretions.
Which mechanism of the pulmonary system affects the severity of this problem? - correct
answer-Infants up to two or three months of age are "obligatory nose breathers" and have difficulty
inhaling through their mouths. This is why nasal congestion is a serious threat to young infants,
especially during sleep.
, Page 2 of 52
25 May 2026
A patient presents to an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with complaints of vaginal
discharge and pain upon urination. Upon assessment, the APRN notes a fever of 101.4°F and
uterine tenderness. Laboratory results reveal an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
What is the probable diagnosis? - correct answer-Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an acute
inflammatory process caused by infection and may involve any or all organs in the upper genital
tract, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries, and in its most severe form, the entire
peritoneal cavity. Patients may present with lower abdominal pain, dysuria, dyspareunia, and
irregular bleeding.
An adolescent patient reports to an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with a five-day
history of fever, malaise, pharyngitis, generalized aches, swollen lymph nodes, and an enlarged
spleen. The lab results indicate a positive monospot test.
Which infection should the APRN consider? - correct answer-The Epstein-Barr virus accounts for
85% of all cases of mononucleosis and would be the reason for a positive monospot test.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) in a newborn nursery is assessing an infant with
Down syndrome for a common congenital heart defect.
Which condition should this APRN be concerned about? - correct answer-Ventricular septal defect
(VSD) is a common cardiac anomaly found in Down syndrome. In a patient with VSD, blood can
travel across the hole from the left pumping chamber (left ventricle) to the right pumping chamber
(right ventricle) and out into the lung arteries.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is caring for a patient diagnosed with ovarian cancer
who is receiving chemotherapy. The APRN is providing education to the patient and family
regarding potential adverse effects of this medicine that would be of concern.
Which problem is common for these patients? - correct answer-Ovarian cancer treatment drugs
increase the chances of deep vein thrombosis.
A patient is in a hospital diagnosed with leukemia and has been receiving chemotherapy
treatments. An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) assesses petechiae, ecchymoses, large
purpuric spots, and bleeding from the mucous membranes.
Which lab finding should the APRN expect for this patient? - correct answer-Spontaneous
bleeding without apparent trauma can occur with platelet counts between 10,000 and 15,000/mm3,
resulting in petechiae, ecchymoses, larger purpuric spots, or frank bleeding from mucous
membranes. These symptoms are typical in a patient with leukemia being treated with
chemotherapy.
, Page 3 of 52
08 June 2026
A patient recovering from a coronary artery bypass graft reports to an advanced practice
registered nurse (APRN) with shortness of breath after the epicardial pacing wires are removed.
Assessment findings include muffled heart sounds and a narrow pulse pressure.
Which condition should the APRN suspect? - correct answer-Cardiac tamponade is a clinical
syndrome caused by the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space, resulting in reduced
ventricular filling and subsequent hemodynamic compromise. The condition is a medical emergency,
the complications of which include pulmonary edema, shock, and death.
A patient with untreated strep throat is more likely to have Choose...nephroticnephritic
(nephrotic/nephritic) syndrome. - correct answer-Nephritic syndrome is caused by an
antibody/antigen reaction seen after group a-beta hemolytic strep. Antistreptolysin is produced in
the antibody/antigen reaction. You can use the HAD STREP mnemonic to help you remember:
H = hypertension
A = +ASO (antistreptolysin O)
D = decreased GFR (glomerular filtration rate)
STREP = Streptococcus
DESCRIBE THE PATHOLOGY OF NEPHROTIC SYNDROME - correct answer-Nephrotic syndrome is
caused by damage to the filtering system in the kidney. Massive amounts of protein are lost in the
urine which depletes the blood of albumin. The patient often presents with frothy urine and
anasarca (not hematuria).
Why patients with Nephrotic syndrome are high risk for infection - correct answer-Nephrotic
syndrome is an idiopathic condition often treated with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants.
Massive swelling puts skin at risk for breakdown because the skin becomes friable and fluid filled
Explain why it is important for the patient to learn to increase her fluid intake to 8-10 glasses of
fluid per day - correct answer-Drinking 8-10 glasses of fluid per day will keep her urine dilute,
which will help keep renal calculi from forming and will help move stones along the passageway to
excretion should they recur.
what is Sequestrum - correct answer-Sequestrum is an area of necrotic bone that separates from
the healthy bone.
Previousquestion
, Page 4 of 52
25 May 2026
A two-month-old male has been hospitalized with dehydration due to diarrhea. He is fussy and
irritable and has poor oral intake, both breast and bottle feeding. When the infant opens his
mouth, you notice multiple white spots in his mouth, and the mucosa appears to be red and
tender. - correct answer-The infant most likely has a fungal infection caused by candida in the
mucous membranes of the mouth, also known as thrush. Thrush is characterized by the formation of
white plaques or spots in the mouth that lead to shallow ulcers caused by keratolytic proteases from
the microorganism. The tongue may have a dense, white covering. The underlying mucous
membrane is red and tender and may bleed when the plaques are removed. This is often
accompanied by fever and gastrointestinal irritation.
Treatment may be difficult and may include oral antifungal washes, such as nystatin oral suspension.
Simultaneous treatment of a candida nipple infection or vaginitis in the mother is helpful in reducing
the C. albicans surface colonization of the infant. Feeding bottles and nipples should be sterilized to
prevent reinfection. The diaper area should be kept clean and dry, as the infection commonly
spreads to the groin, buttocks, and other parts of the body.
A patient presents to an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) complaining of diarrhea, rectal
bleeding, and right lower quadrant tenderness. Diagnostic tests reveal deficiencies in folic acid,
vitamin D, and calcium. The APRN suspects Crohn disease.
What is the pathological mechanism of this disorder? - correct answer-Crohn disease can involve
any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the oropharynx to the perianal area. Diseased segments
frequently are separated by intervening normal bowel, leading to the term "skip areas."
Inflammation can be transmural, often extending through to the serosa, resulting in sinus tracts or
fistula formation.
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is reviewing orders for a patient who passed a
calculi, which relieved the condition of compensatory hypertrophy. The APRN is aware that the
patient will need to be monitored closely due to a common condition associated with return to
bilateral function.
Which condition should the APRN anticipate? - correct answer-Post-obstructive diuresis, Patients
will have marked polyuria (> 4-5 L per day) after the release of bilateral obstruction. The
physiological factors include excess sodium and water retention and accumulation of urea and other
non-reabsorbable solutes, resulting in an osmotic diuresis.
A patient expresses concern to an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) about not being able
to complete an entire meal without experiencing acid reflux. The patient also reports new
symptoms including chest pain and dysphagia. The APRN suspects that the patient might have
cancer.
Which type of cancer is the APRN concerned about? - correct answer-The most common symptom
of esophageal cancer is a problem swallowing (dysphagia), with a feeling like the food is stuck in the
