Rationales | 2026 Edition
Exam Overview
Course: NSG 3113 – Pathophysiology for Nurses
Exam: Exam 2
Format: Multiple-choice, Select-All-That-Apply (SATA), Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) case
scenarios
Key Content Areas:
- Inflammation & Immunity – Acute and chronic inflammation, wound healing, immune
response disorders
- Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance – Fluid compartments, electrolyte imbalances, acid-base
disorders
- Cardiovascular Disorders – Hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery disease, dysrhythmias
- Respiratory Disorders – COPD, asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, ARDS
- Renal Disorders – Acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, urinary tract infections
- Gastrointestinal Disorders – GERD, peptic ulcer disease, liver disease, pancreatitis
- Endocrine Disorders – Diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, adrenal disorders
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Table of Contents
| Section | Topic | Questions |
|---------|-------|-----------|
,| 1 | Inflammation & Immunity | 1–40 |
| 2 | Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance | 41–80 |
| 3 | Cardiovascular Disorders | 81–120 |
| 4 | Respiratory Disorders | 121–160 |
| 5 | Renal Disorders | 161–190 |
| 6 | Gastrointestinal Disorders | 191–220 |
| 7 | Endocrine Disorders | 221–250 |
| 8 | Mixed Review & High-Yield Concepts | 251–300 |
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SECTION 1: INFLAMMATION & IMMUNITY (Questions 1–40)
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Q1. A patient with an infected wound has redness, warmth, swelling, and pain at the site. Which
of the following is the primary chemical mediator responsible for vasodilation and increased
vascular permeability in acute inflammation?
A) Histamine
B) Prostaglandins
C) Leukotrienes
D) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)
Answer: A) Histamine
,Rationale: Histamine is released from mast cells and basophils during the acute inflammatory
response. It causes vasodilation and increased vascular permeability, leading to redness,
warmth, and swelling. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes also mediate inflammation but are
released later. TNF-α is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation.
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Q2. A patient presents with fever, malaise, and elevated white blood cell count. The nurse
understands that these are manifestations of:
A) The local inflammatory response
B) The systemic inflammatory response
C) An autoimmune disorder
D) A hypersensitivity reaction
Answer: B) The systemic inflammatory response
Rationale: Fever, malaise, leukocytosis, and acute-phase protein production are systemic
manifestations of inflammation. The local inflammatory response includes redness, warmth,
swelling, and pain at the site of injury.
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Q3. Which of the following is a cardinal sign of acute inflammation?
A) Fever
B) Leukocytosis
C) Pain
, D) Malaise
Answer: C) Pain
Rationale: The five cardinal signs of acute inflammation are redness (rubor), warmth (calor),
swelling (tumor), pain (dolor), and loss of function (functio laesa). Fever and leukocytosis are
systemic signs, not cardinal signs.
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Q4. The first cells to arrive at the site of acute inflammation are:
A) Lymphocytes
B) Monocytes
C) Neutrophils
D) Macrophages
Answer: C) Neutrophils
Rationale: Neutrophils are the first leukocytes to arrive at the site of inflammation (within
minutes to hours). They are phagocytic cells that engulf bacteria and debris. Monocytes arrive
later and differentiate into macrophages.
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Q5. A patient with rheumatoid arthritis has chronic inflammation of the joints. Which of the
following cells is primarily responsible for the tissue destruction in chronic inflammation?