BIOD 331 PORTAGE LEARNING
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY NURS 231 EXAM WITH
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS||
LATEST UPDATE 2026
The nurse coming on shift prepares to perform an initial assessment of a client
receiving sedation and mechanical ventilation through a tracheostomy. Which
are priorities for the nurse to carry out? (Select all that apply.)
a) Provide routine tracheostomy and mouth care.
b) Assess the client's color and respirations.
c) Ask visitors to leave the room.
d) Auscultate for bilateral breath sounds.
e) Confirm alarms and ventilator settings.
f) Ensure that the tube is in proper position. - ANSWER-b) Assess the client's
color and respirations.
d) Auscultate for bilateral breath sounds.
e) Confirm alarms and ventilator settings.
f) Ensure that the tube is in proper position.
*Initial priorities when assessing is to assess airway and breathing. Alarm
settings should be confirmed each shift, more frequently if necessary. Markings
on the endotracheal tube should be compared to previous records to ensure the
tube remains in appropriate position. Auscultating for equal bilateral breath
sounds assists in confirming that the tube is in the proper position above the
carina.
*It is not necessary to ask visitors to leave. Having visitors remain with the
client may promote comfort and prevent confusion.Routine tracheostomy care is
,an intervention performed according to schedule and as needed, and is not
necessarily part of an initial assessment.
When caring for the client receiving mechanical ventilation, the nurse includes
which of these interventions to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)?
(Select all that apply.)
a) Elevating the head of the bed at least 30 degrees whenever possible
b) Placing the client in a negative-airflow room
c) Handwashing before and after contact with the client
d) Continuous removal of subglottic secretions
e) Administering antibiotic prophylaxis
f) Placing a nasogastric tube - ANSWER-a) Elevating the head of the bed at
least 30 degrees whenever possible
c) Handwashing before and after contact with the client
d) Continuous removal of subglottic secretions
*Antibiotics are not given prophylactically, but on the basis of cultures to
prevent an increase in drug-resistant organisms. Negative-airflow room are used
for care of clients with TB
The nurse is assessing a client with chest pain to evaluate whether the client is
suffering from angina or MI. Which symptom is indicative of an MI?
a) Substernal chest discomfort relieved by nitroglycerin or rest
b) Chest pain brought on by exertion or stress
c) Substernal chest pressure relieved only by opioids
d) Substernal chest discomfort occurring at rest - ANSWER-c) Substernal chest
pressure relieved only by opioids
*Substernal chest discomfort that occurs at rest is not necessarily indicative of
MI, and it could be a sign of unstable angina. Both chest pain brought on by
,exertion or stress and substernal chest discomfort relieved by nitroglycerin or
rest are indicative of angina.
A client comes to the emergency department with chest discomfort. Which
action does the nurse perform first?
a) Provides pain relief medication
b) Remains calm and stays with the client
c) Obtains the client's description of the chest discomfort
d) Administers oxygen therapy - ANSWER-c) Obtains the client's description of
the chest discomfort
*Neither oxygen therapy nor pain medication is the first priority in this
situation. An assessment is needed first.
Which statement by a client scheduled for a percutaneous transluminal coronary
angioplasty (PTCA) indicates a need for further preoperative teaching?
a) "I must lie still after the procedure."
b) "I will be awake during this procedure."
c) "My angina will be gone for good."
d) "I will have a balloon in my artery to widen it." - ANSWER-c) "My angina
will be gone for good."
*In this situation, further teaching is needed when the client states that angina
will be gone after the PTCA. The client's angina may not be eliminated.
Reocclusion is possible after PTCA.The client is typically awake, but drowsy,
during this procedure. PTCA uses a balloon to widen the artery, and the client
will have to lie still after the procedure because of the large-bore venous access.
Time is necessary to allow the hole to heal and prevent hemorrhage.
After receiving change-of-shift report in the coronary care unit, which client
does the nurse assess first?
, a) The client who had bradycardia after a myocardial infarction and now has a
paced heart rate of 64 beats/min
b) A client who has first-degree heart block, rate 68 beats/min, after having an
inferior myocardial infarction
c) The client with acute coronary syndrome who has a 3-pound weight gain and
dyspnea
d) The client with percutaneous coronary angioplasty who has a dose of heparin
scheduled - ANSWER-c) The client with acute coronary syndrome who has a 3-
pound weight gain and dyspnea
*These are symptoms of left ventricular failure and pulmonary edema. This
client needs prompt intervention.
*First-degree heart block is rarely symptomatic, and the client has a normal
heart rate.
Which characteristics place women at high risk for myocardial infarction (MI)?
(Select all that apply.)
a) Increasing age
b) Premenopausal
c) Breast cancer
d) Family history
e) Abdominal obesity - ANSWER-a) Increasing age
d) Family history
e) Abdominal obesity
*Increasing age is a risk factor, especially after 70 years. Family history is a
significant risk factor in both men and women. Also, a large waist size and/or
abdominal obesity are risk factors for both metabolic syndrome and MI.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY NURS 231 EXAM WITH
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS||
LATEST UPDATE 2026
The nurse coming on shift prepares to perform an initial assessment of a client
receiving sedation and mechanical ventilation through a tracheostomy. Which
are priorities for the nurse to carry out? (Select all that apply.)
a) Provide routine tracheostomy and mouth care.
b) Assess the client's color and respirations.
c) Ask visitors to leave the room.
d) Auscultate for bilateral breath sounds.
e) Confirm alarms and ventilator settings.
f) Ensure that the tube is in proper position. - ANSWER-b) Assess the client's
color and respirations.
d) Auscultate for bilateral breath sounds.
e) Confirm alarms and ventilator settings.
f) Ensure that the tube is in proper position.
*Initial priorities when assessing is to assess airway and breathing. Alarm
settings should be confirmed each shift, more frequently if necessary. Markings
on the endotracheal tube should be compared to previous records to ensure the
tube remains in appropriate position. Auscultating for equal bilateral breath
sounds assists in confirming that the tube is in the proper position above the
carina.
*It is not necessary to ask visitors to leave. Having visitors remain with the
client may promote comfort and prevent confusion.Routine tracheostomy care is
,an intervention performed according to schedule and as needed, and is not
necessarily part of an initial assessment.
When caring for the client receiving mechanical ventilation, the nurse includes
which of these interventions to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)?
(Select all that apply.)
a) Elevating the head of the bed at least 30 degrees whenever possible
b) Placing the client in a negative-airflow room
c) Handwashing before and after contact with the client
d) Continuous removal of subglottic secretions
e) Administering antibiotic prophylaxis
f) Placing a nasogastric tube - ANSWER-a) Elevating the head of the bed at
least 30 degrees whenever possible
c) Handwashing before and after contact with the client
d) Continuous removal of subglottic secretions
*Antibiotics are not given prophylactically, but on the basis of cultures to
prevent an increase in drug-resistant organisms. Negative-airflow room are used
for care of clients with TB
The nurse is assessing a client with chest pain to evaluate whether the client is
suffering from angina or MI. Which symptom is indicative of an MI?
a) Substernal chest discomfort relieved by nitroglycerin or rest
b) Chest pain brought on by exertion or stress
c) Substernal chest pressure relieved only by opioids
d) Substernal chest discomfort occurring at rest - ANSWER-c) Substernal chest
pressure relieved only by opioids
*Substernal chest discomfort that occurs at rest is not necessarily indicative of
MI, and it could be a sign of unstable angina. Both chest pain brought on by
,exertion or stress and substernal chest discomfort relieved by nitroglycerin or
rest are indicative of angina.
A client comes to the emergency department with chest discomfort. Which
action does the nurse perform first?
a) Provides pain relief medication
b) Remains calm and stays with the client
c) Obtains the client's description of the chest discomfort
d) Administers oxygen therapy - ANSWER-c) Obtains the client's description of
the chest discomfort
*Neither oxygen therapy nor pain medication is the first priority in this
situation. An assessment is needed first.
Which statement by a client scheduled for a percutaneous transluminal coronary
angioplasty (PTCA) indicates a need for further preoperative teaching?
a) "I must lie still after the procedure."
b) "I will be awake during this procedure."
c) "My angina will be gone for good."
d) "I will have a balloon in my artery to widen it." - ANSWER-c) "My angina
will be gone for good."
*In this situation, further teaching is needed when the client states that angina
will be gone after the PTCA. The client's angina may not be eliminated.
Reocclusion is possible after PTCA.The client is typically awake, but drowsy,
during this procedure. PTCA uses a balloon to widen the artery, and the client
will have to lie still after the procedure because of the large-bore venous access.
Time is necessary to allow the hole to heal and prevent hemorrhage.
After receiving change-of-shift report in the coronary care unit, which client
does the nurse assess first?
, a) The client who had bradycardia after a myocardial infarction and now has a
paced heart rate of 64 beats/min
b) A client who has first-degree heart block, rate 68 beats/min, after having an
inferior myocardial infarction
c) The client with acute coronary syndrome who has a 3-pound weight gain and
dyspnea
d) The client with percutaneous coronary angioplasty who has a dose of heparin
scheduled - ANSWER-c) The client with acute coronary syndrome who has a 3-
pound weight gain and dyspnea
*These are symptoms of left ventricular failure and pulmonary edema. This
client needs prompt intervention.
*First-degree heart block is rarely symptomatic, and the client has a normal
heart rate.
Which characteristics place women at high risk for myocardial infarction (MI)?
(Select all that apply.)
a) Increasing age
b) Premenopausal
c) Breast cancer
d) Family history
e) Abdominal obesity - ANSWER-a) Increasing age
d) Family history
e) Abdominal obesity
*Increasing age is a risk factor, especially after 70 years. Family history is a
significant risk factor in both men and women. Also, a large waist size and/or
abdominal obesity are risk factors for both metabolic syndrome and MI.
