RASMUSSEN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 5
EXAMPREP QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS
◉ Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to
monitor for hyperkalemia?
Answer: Acute acidosis
◉ Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient
has long-term potassium deficits?
Answer: kidneys
◉ A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider
reporting muscle weakness and cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory
tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of the following could
be the cause of her condition?
Answer: Primary hyperaldosteronism
◉ A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider
reporting restlessness, muscle cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests
reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following could have
caused his condition?
Answer: acidosis
,◉ A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which
assessment finding should the nurse expect to observe?
Answer: oliguria
◉ Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major
plasma buffering system?
Answer: carbonic acid and bicarbonate
◉ A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal
or retention of volatile acids is accomplished by the:
Answer: lungs
◉ Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid
and bicarbonate exist in a ratio of:
Answer: 20:1
◉ Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient
with:
Answer: Excessive loss of chloride (Cl)
◉ Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and
metabolic acidosis? A patient diagnosed with:
,Answer: renal failure
◉ For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will
compensate by:
Answer: hyperventilating
◉ Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory
acidosis?
Answer: pneumonia
◉ A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of
excessive tiredness, shortness of breath, and overall ill feelings. Lab
results reveal decreased pH, increased CO2, and normal bicarbonate
ion. These findings help to confirm the diagnosis of:
Answer: respiratory acidosis
◉ For a patient with respiratory acidosis, chronic compensation by
the body will include:
Answer: Kidney excretion of H+
◉ A 55-year-old female presents to her primary care provider and
reports dizziness, confusion, and tingling in the extremities. Blood
tests reveal an elevated pH, decreased PCO2, and slightly decreased
HCO3. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
, Answer: Respiratory alkalosis with renal compensation
◉ Outcomes of laboratory tests include an elevated level of
natriuretic peptides. Which organ is the priority assessment?
Answer: heart
◉ A 60-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is
diagnosed with a hormone-secreting lung tumor. Further testing
indicates that the tumor secretes ADH. Which of the following
assessment findings should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.)
Answer: -Confusion
-Weakness
-Nausea
-Muscle twitching
◉ The nurse would anticipate the patient with syndrome of
inappropriate ADH (SIADH) to demonstrate which of the following
symptoms? (Select all that apply.)
Answer: -Weakness
-Nausea
-Headache
-Muscle twitching
EXAMPREP QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS
◉ Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to
monitor for hyperkalemia?
Answer: Acute acidosis
◉ Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient
has long-term potassium deficits?
Answer: kidneys
◉ A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider
reporting muscle weakness and cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory
tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of the following could
be the cause of her condition?
Answer: Primary hyperaldosteronism
◉ A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider
reporting restlessness, muscle cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests
reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following could have
caused his condition?
Answer: acidosis
,◉ A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which
assessment finding should the nurse expect to observe?
Answer: oliguria
◉ Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major
plasma buffering system?
Answer: carbonic acid and bicarbonate
◉ A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal
or retention of volatile acids is accomplished by the:
Answer: lungs
◉ Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid
and bicarbonate exist in a ratio of:
Answer: 20:1
◉ Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient
with:
Answer: Excessive loss of chloride (Cl)
◉ Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and
metabolic acidosis? A patient diagnosed with:
,Answer: renal failure
◉ For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will
compensate by:
Answer: hyperventilating
◉ Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory
acidosis?
Answer: pneumonia
◉ A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of
excessive tiredness, shortness of breath, and overall ill feelings. Lab
results reveal decreased pH, increased CO2, and normal bicarbonate
ion. These findings help to confirm the diagnosis of:
Answer: respiratory acidosis
◉ For a patient with respiratory acidosis, chronic compensation by
the body will include:
Answer: Kidney excretion of H+
◉ A 55-year-old female presents to her primary care provider and
reports dizziness, confusion, and tingling in the extremities. Blood
tests reveal an elevated pH, decreased PCO2, and slightly decreased
HCO3. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
, Answer: Respiratory alkalosis with renal compensation
◉ Outcomes of laboratory tests include an elevated level of
natriuretic peptides. Which organ is the priority assessment?
Answer: heart
◉ A 60-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is
diagnosed with a hormone-secreting lung tumor. Further testing
indicates that the tumor secretes ADH. Which of the following
assessment findings should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.)
Answer: -Confusion
-Weakness
-Nausea
-Muscle twitching
◉ The nurse would anticipate the patient with syndrome of
inappropriate ADH (SIADH) to demonstrate which of the following
symptoms? (Select all that apply.)
Answer: -Weakness
-Nausea
-Headache
-Muscle twitching
