UNDERSTANDING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026 EXAM
SCRIPT FULLY SOLVED QUESTIONS
◉A swallow study shows that a patient is aspirating thin fluids. The
nurse knows aspiration puts the patient at a risk of developing:
A: Bronchiectasis
B: Emphysema
C: Pneumonia
D: Pneumothorax. Answer: C: Pneumonia
◉A 28-year-old male reports to his primary care provider that he
has had a cold for a week. The PCP charts that the patient has
hemoptysis. The nurse knows that the patient has expectorated
what?
A: clear secretions
B: bloody secretions
C: yellow secretions
D: green secretions. Answer: B: bloody secretions
,◉A 50-year-old male is diagnosed with a tension pneumothorax.
What assessment findings would confirm this diagnosis?
A: hypotension, hypoxemia, and tracheal deviation to the left
B: patient report of sudden pleural pain, tachypnea, & dyspnea
C: ruptured blebs in the apices of the lungs
D: the air pressure in the pleural apace equals barometric pressure.
Answer: A: hypotension, hypoxemia, and tracheal deviation to the
left
◉A 50-year-old male with one kidney had to undergo surgery for an
adrenal tumor. His zona glomerulosa was largely removed during
the surgery. The nurse would expect the removal of this tumor to
result in a decrease in:
A: Aldosterone
B: Potassium
C: Acid
D: Sodium. Answer: A: Aldosterone
◉Which nutrient would the nurse encourage the patient to consume
for thyroid hormone synthesis?
, A: Sodium
B: Iodine
C: Zinc
D: Calcium. Answer: B: Iodine
◉A 54-year-old patient with pulmonary tuberculosis (lung
infection) is evaluated for syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion
(SIADH). Which of the following electrolyte imbalances would be
expected in this patient?
A: Hypokalemia
B: Hyperkalemia
C: Hypernatremia
D: Hyponatremia. Answer: D: Hyponatremia
◉Which of the following alterations would the nurse expect to find
in a patient with untreated Cushing disease or syndrome?
A: Tachypnea
B: Hypertension
C: Bradycardia
D: Hyperkalemia. Answer: B: Hypertension
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026 EXAM
SCRIPT FULLY SOLVED QUESTIONS
◉A swallow study shows that a patient is aspirating thin fluids. The
nurse knows aspiration puts the patient at a risk of developing:
A: Bronchiectasis
B: Emphysema
C: Pneumonia
D: Pneumothorax. Answer: C: Pneumonia
◉A 28-year-old male reports to his primary care provider that he
has had a cold for a week. The PCP charts that the patient has
hemoptysis. The nurse knows that the patient has expectorated
what?
A: clear secretions
B: bloody secretions
C: yellow secretions
D: green secretions. Answer: B: bloody secretions
,◉A 50-year-old male is diagnosed with a tension pneumothorax.
What assessment findings would confirm this diagnosis?
A: hypotension, hypoxemia, and tracheal deviation to the left
B: patient report of sudden pleural pain, tachypnea, & dyspnea
C: ruptured blebs in the apices of the lungs
D: the air pressure in the pleural apace equals barometric pressure.
Answer: A: hypotension, hypoxemia, and tracheal deviation to the
left
◉A 50-year-old male with one kidney had to undergo surgery for an
adrenal tumor. His zona glomerulosa was largely removed during
the surgery. The nurse would expect the removal of this tumor to
result in a decrease in:
A: Aldosterone
B: Potassium
C: Acid
D: Sodium. Answer: A: Aldosterone
◉Which nutrient would the nurse encourage the patient to consume
for thyroid hormone synthesis?
, A: Sodium
B: Iodine
C: Zinc
D: Calcium. Answer: B: Iodine
◉A 54-year-old patient with pulmonary tuberculosis (lung
infection) is evaluated for syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion
(SIADH). Which of the following electrolyte imbalances would be
expected in this patient?
A: Hypokalemia
B: Hyperkalemia
C: Hypernatremia
D: Hyponatremia. Answer: D: Hyponatremia
◉Which of the following alterations would the nurse expect to find
in a patient with untreated Cushing disease or syndrome?
A: Tachypnea
B: Hypertension
C: Bradycardia
D: Hyperkalemia. Answer: B: Hypertension
