PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FOR NURSES I · GALEN
Exam 2: NSG3280 / NSG 3280 (Latest 2026/2027 Update)
Pathophysiology for Nurses I Review A+
Questions & Answers | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified
Solutions) – Galen **2026/2027**
Original high-yield practice examination aligned to the public NSG 3280 Exam 2 blueprint (Units 3 & 4). Application- and
analysis-level items covering tissue integrity, infectious and inflammatory skin disorders, soft-tissue and bone pathology,
metabolic bone disease, and joint dysfunction.
A+ 5 100%
QUESTIONS VERIFIED EXAM DOMAINS COVERED RATIONALES INCLUDED
CATEGORIES
■ Section 1: Infectious Disorders of Tissue Integrity (HSV, VZV, Bacterial) (Q1–10)
■ Section 2: Inflammatory, Allergic & Proliferative Skin Conditions (Q11–20)
■ Section 3: Soft-Tissue Injury, Bone Infection & Structural Disorders (Q21–30)
■ Section 4: Metabolic Bone Disease & Bone Tumors (Q31–40)
■ Section 5: Joint Dysfunction: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid & Secondary (Q41–50)
Passing Score: 80% · 1 mark per question · Application/Analysis level
STUVIAACTUALEXAM
, SECTION: INFECTIOUS DISORDERS OF TISSUE INTEGRITY (HSV, VZV, BACTERIAL)
Q1. A 28-year-old patient presents with clusters of painful vesicles on the vermilion border of the lip that began after a recent
upper respiratory infection. The patient reports similar episodes several times per year. The nurse recognizes that the virus
responsible for this pattern remains latent in which structure?
A. Cervical lymph nodes
B. Submandibular salivary glands
C. Trigeminal sensory ganglia
D. Facial motor nucleus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: HSV-1 establishes lifelong latency in the trigeminal ganglia. Reactivation, often triggered by stress or infection, produces recurrent
orolabial lesions. Understanding latency explains the recurrent nature of the disease and guides patient education about triggers.
Q2. An older adult is admitted with a painful, unilateral vesicular rash that follows a dermatomal distribution across the thorax.
The patient had chickenpox as a child. The nurse anticipates that the pathophysiologic process responsible is:
A. Reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus in a dorsal-root ganglion
B. Primary infection with a new strain of varicella-zoster virus
C. Autoimmune attack on melanocytes within the epidermis
D. Bacterial superinfection of a pre-existing eczema plaque
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Herpes zoster results from reactivation of latent VZV that has resided in sensory ganglia since primary varicella infection. The virus
travels along the sensory nerve to produce the characteristic unilateral dermatomal vesicular eruption.
Q3. A patient with poorly controlled diabetes develops a rapidly spreading area of erythema, warmth, and tenderness on the
lower leg after a minor abrasion. The nurse identifies the most likely pathophysiologic mechanism as:
A. Deposition of immune complexes in the dermal capillaries
B. Keratinocyte hyperproliferation driven by T-cell cytokines
C. Occlusion of dermal arterioles by cholesterol emboli
D. Direct invasion and toxin production by beta-hemolytic streptococci or Staphylococcus aureus in the dermis and subcutaneous
tissue
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cellulitis is an acute bacterial infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, most often caused by streptococci or S. aureus.
Diabetes impairs host defenses and wound healing, allowing rapid bacterial spread after even minor skin breaks.
Q4. A child is brought to the clinic with honey-colored crusted lesions around the nose and mouth. Culture grows group A
Streptococcus. The nurse explains to the parent that the crusts form because:
A. Keratinocytes undergo premature apoptosis releasing dense protein aggregates
B. Serum and neutrophils accumulate on the eroded epidermis and dry into characteristic crusts
C. Sebaceous glands secrete excess lipid that oxidizes on the skin surface
D. Viral cytopathic effect produces multinucleated giant cells that desiccate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Impetigo produces superficial epidermal erosions that weep serum mixed with neutrophils. As the fluid dries, the classic
honey-colored crusts form. This process is characteristic of the non-bullous form of impetigo.
Q5. A patient who is receiving chemotherapy develops painful oral ulcers and a low-grade fever. Viral culture confirms HSV-1.
The nurse understands that immunosuppression predisposes to this presentation primarily by:
A. Increasing keratinocyte turnover so that viral entry is facilitated
B. Raising local skin pH and thereby activating viral proteases
C. Impairing cell-mediated immunity that normally keeps latent virus suppressed
D. Stimulating excessive antibody production that damages mucosa
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cell-mediated immunity is the principal host defense that maintains HSV latency. Chemotherapy-induced suppression of T-cell
function allows reactivation and more severe, sometimes disseminated, disease.
Q6. A nurse is teaching a patient newly diagnosed with genital herpes about the natural history of the infection. Which statement
by the patient indicates accurate understanding of latency and transmission risk?
A. The virus remains in sacral sensory ganglia and can be shed even when no lesions are visible.
STUVIAACTUALEXAM | Page 2 of 12
Exam 2: NSG3280 / NSG 3280 (Latest 2026/2027 Update)
Pathophysiology for Nurses I Review A+
Questions & Answers | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified
Solutions) – Galen **2026/2027**
Original high-yield practice examination aligned to the public NSG 3280 Exam 2 blueprint (Units 3 & 4). Application- and
analysis-level items covering tissue integrity, infectious and inflammatory skin disorders, soft-tissue and bone pathology,
metabolic bone disease, and joint dysfunction.
A+ 5 100%
QUESTIONS VERIFIED EXAM DOMAINS COVERED RATIONALES INCLUDED
CATEGORIES
■ Section 1: Infectious Disorders of Tissue Integrity (HSV, VZV, Bacterial) (Q1–10)
■ Section 2: Inflammatory, Allergic & Proliferative Skin Conditions (Q11–20)
■ Section 3: Soft-Tissue Injury, Bone Infection & Structural Disorders (Q21–30)
■ Section 4: Metabolic Bone Disease & Bone Tumors (Q31–40)
■ Section 5: Joint Dysfunction: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid & Secondary (Q41–50)
Passing Score: 80% · 1 mark per question · Application/Analysis level
STUVIAACTUALEXAM
, SECTION: INFECTIOUS DISORDERS OF TISSUE INTEGRITY (HSV, VZV, BACTERIAL)
Q1. A 28-year-old patient presents with clusters of painful vesicles on the vermilion border of the lip that began after a recent
upper respiratory infection. The patient reports similar episodes several times per year. The nurse recognizes that the virus
responsible for this pattern remains latent in which structure?
A. Cervical lymph nodes
B. Submandibular salivary glands
C. Trigeminal sensory ganglia
D. Facial motor nucleus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: HSV-1 establishes lifelong latency in the trigeminal ganglia. Reactivation, often triggered by stress or infection, produces recurrent
orolabial lesions. Understanding latency explains the recurrent nature of the disease and guides patient education about triggers.
Q2. An older adult is admitted with a painful, unilateral vesicular rash that follows a dermatomal distribution across the thorax.
The patient had chickenpox as a child. The nurse anticipates that the pathophysiologic process responsible is:
A. Reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus in a dorsal-root ganglion
B. Primary infection with a new strain of varicella-zoster virus
C. Autoimmune attack on melanocytes within the epidermis
D. Bacterial superinfection of a pre-existing eczema plaque
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Herpes zoster results from reactivation of latent VZV that has resided in sensory ganglia since primary varicella infection. The virus
travels along the sensory nerve to produce the characteristic unilateral dermatomal vesicular eruption.
Q3. A patient with poorly controlled diabetes develops a rapidly spreading area of erythema, warmth, and tenderness on the
lower leg after a minor abrasion. The nurse identifies the most likely pathophysiologic mechanism as:
A. Deposition of immune complexes in the dermal capillaries
B. Keratinocyte hyperproliferation driven by T-cell cytokines
C. Occlusion of dermal arterioles by cholesterol emboli
D. Direct invasion and toxin production by beta-hemolytic streptococci or Staphylococcus aureus in the dermis and subcutaneous
tissue
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cellulitis is an acute bacterial infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, most often caused by streptococci or S. aureus.
Diabetes impairs host defenses and wound healing, allowing rapid bacterial spread after even minor skin breaks.
Q4. A child is brought to the clinic with honey-colored crusted lesions around the nose and mouth. Culture grows group A
Streptococcus. The nurse explains to the parent that the crusts form because:
A. Keratinocytes undergo premature apoptosis releasing dense protein aggregates
B. Serum and neutrophils accumulate on the eroded epidermis and dry into characteristic crusts
C. Sebaceous glands secrete excess lipid that oxidizes on the skin surface
D. Viral cytopathic effect produces multinucleated giant cells that desiccate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Impetigo produces superficial epidermal erosions that weep serum mixed with neutrophils. As the fluid dries, the classic
honey-colored crusts form. This process is characteristic of the non-bullous form of impetigo.
Q5. A patient who is receiving chemotherapy develops painful oral ulcers and a low-grade fever. Viral culture confirms HSV-1.
The nurse understands that immunosuppression predisposes to this presentation primarily by:
A. Increasing keratinocyte turnover so that viral entry is facilitated
B. Raising local skin pH and thereby activating viral proteases
C. Impairing cell-mediated immunity that normally keeps latent virus suppressed
D. Stimulating excessive antibody production that damages mucosa
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cell-mediated immunity is the principal host defense that maintains HSV latency. Chemotherapy-induced suppression of T-cell
function allows reactivation and more severe, sometimes disseminated, disease.
Q6. A nurse is teaching a patient newly diagnosed with genital herpes about the natural history of the infection. Which statement
by the patient indicates accurate understanding of latency and transmission risk?
A. The virus remains in sacral sensory ganglia and can be shed even when no lesions are visible.
STUVIAACTUALEXAM | Page 2 of 12
