NURS618/ NURS 618 EXAM 2
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2025/2026 Q&A
| INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
• Cardiovascular Disorders (Hypertension, CAD, Heart Failure, Valvular
Disease)
• Respiratory Disorders (COPD, Asthma, Pneumonia, ARDS)
• Renal and Urinary System Disorders (AKI, CKD, Glomerulonephritis)
• Gastrointestinal and Liver Disorders (Cirrhosis, Hepatitis, Pancreatitis)
• Endocrine Disorders (Diabetes Mellitus, Thyroid Disorders, Adrenal
Disorders)
• Neurological Disorders (Stroke, Seizures, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's)
• Hematologic Disorders (Anemia, Clotting Disorders, DIC)
• Musculoskeletal Disorders (Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Fractures)
• Infectious Diseases and Sepsis
• Immune and Autoimmune Disorders (SLE, RA, HIV)
Introduction
,This comprehensive assessment is designed to prepare graduate nursing
students for the NURS618 Pathophysiology Exam 2 at Southeastern Louisiana
University. It evaluates advanced understanding of the pathophysiological
mechanisms underlying complex multisystem disorders including
cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and neurologic
diseases. The exam employs multiple-choice, NCLEX-style questions with
clinical scenarios that test critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and application
of pathophysiology principles to patient care. Emphasis is placed on the
integration of foundational science with clinical decision-making to ensure
students are prepared for both academic success and advanced nursing
practice.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy.
Which cellular adaptation is responsible for this change?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
B
RATIONALE: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to
increased workload. The left ventricle hypertrophies to compensate for
increased afterload from chronic hypertension.
Question 2
,A patient with heart failure presents with dyspnea, orthopnea, and crackles
on lung auscultation. Which type of heart failure is most likely?
A. Right-sided heart failure
B. Left-sided heart failure
C. High-output heart failure
D. Diastolic heart failure
B
RATIONALE: Left-sided heart failure leads to pulmonary congestion,
resulting in dyspnea, orthopnea, and crackles due to increased pulmonary
capillary hydrostatic pressure.
Question 3
A patient with COPD has an FEV1/FVC ratio of 55%. Which
pathophysiological mechanism is most responsible for this finding?
A. Air trapping and hyperinflation
B. Bronchospasm and inflammation
C. Mucus hypersecretion
D. Loss of elastic recoil
A
RATIONALE: In COPD, air trapping leads to hyperinflation and a
decreased FEV1/FVC ratio (less than 70%), indicating obstructive lung
disease.
Question 4
A patient with acute kidney injury (AKI) has a urine output of 200 mL in 24
hours. Which phase of AKI is the patient in?
, A. Initiation phase
B. Oliguric phase
C. Diuretic phase
D. Recovery phase
B
RATIONALE: The oliguric phase is characterized by urine output less
than 400 mL/day. This phase reflects reduced glomerular filtration and
impaired renal function.
Question 5
A patient with cirrhosis presents with ascites, jaundice, and spider angiomas.
Which pathophysiological mechanism contributes to ascites?
A. Increased portal pressure
B. Decreased serum albumin
C. Hyperaldosteronism
D. All of the above
D
RATIONALE: Ascites in cirrhosis results from portal hypertension,
decreased oncotic pressure (low albumin), and increased aldosterone, all
contributing to fluid accumulation.
Question 6
A patient with diabetes mellitus type 1 develops diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Which finding is characteristic of DKA?
A. Serum glucose 180 mg/dL with pH 7.40
B. Serum glucose 650 mg/dL with pH 7.20
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2025/2026 Q&A
| INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
• Cardiovascular Disorders (Hypertension, CAD, Heart Failure, Valvular
Disease)
• Respiratory Disorders (COPD, Asthma, Pneumonia, ARDS)
• Renal and Urinary System Disorders (AKI, CKD, Glomerulonephritis)
• Gastrointestinal and Liver Disorders (Cirrhosis, Hepatitis, Pancreatitis)
• Endocrine Disorders (Diabetes Mellitus, Thyroid Disorders, Adrenal
Disorders)
• Neurological Disorders (Stroke, Seizures, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's)
• Hematologic Disorders (Anemia, Clotting Disorders, DIC)
• Musculoskeletal Disorders (Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Fractures)
• Infectious Diseases and Sepsis
• Immune and Autoimmune Disorders (SLE, RA, HIV)
Introduction
,This comprehensive assessment is designed to prepare graduate nursing
students for the NURS618 Pathophysiology Exam 2 at Southeastern Louisiana
University. It evaluates advanced understanding of the pathophysiological
mechanisms underlying complex multisystem disorders including
cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and neurologic
diseases. The exam employs multiple-choice, NCLEX-style questions with
clinical scenarios that test critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and application
of pathophysiology principles to patient care. Emphasis is placed on the
integration of foundational science with clinical decision-making to ensure
students are prepared for both academic success and advanced nursing
practice.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A patient with chronic hypertension develops left ventricular hypertrophy.
Which cellular adaptation is responsible for this change?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
B
RATIONALE: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to
increased workload. The left ventricle hypertrophies to compensate for
increased afterload from chronic hypertension.
Question 2
,A patient with heart failure presents with dyspnea, orthopnea, and crackles
on lung auscultation. Which type of heart failure is most likely?
A. Right-sided heart failure
B. Left-sided heart failure
C. High-output heart failure
D. Diastolic heart failure
B
RATIONALE: Left-sided heart failure leads to pulmonary congestion,
resulting in dyspnea, orthopnea, and crackles due to increased pulmonary
capillary hydrostatic pressure.
Question 3
A patient with COPD has an FEV1/FVC ratio of 55%. Which
pathophysiological mechanism is most responsible for this finding?
A. Air trapping and hyperinflation
B. Bronchospasm and inflammation
C. Mucus hypersecretion
D. Loss of elastic recoil
A
RATIONALE: In COPD, air trapping leads to hyperinflation and a
decreased FEV1/FVC ratio (less than 70%), indicating obstructive lung
disease.
Question 4
A patient with acute kidney injury (AKI) has a urine output of 200 mL in 24
hours. Which phase of AKI is the patient in?
, A. Initiation phase
B. Oliguric phase
C. Diuretic phase
D. Recovery phase
B
RATIONALE: The oliguric phase is characterized by urine output less
than 400 mL/day. This phase reflects reduced glomerular filtration and
impaired renal function.
Question 5
A patient with cirrhosis presents with ascites, jaundice, and spider angiomas.
Which pathophysiological mechanism contributes to ascites?
A. Increased portal pressure
B. Decreased serum albumin
C. Hyperaldosteronism
D. All of the above
D
RATIONALE: Ascites in cirrhosis results from portal hypertension,
decreased oncotic pressure (low albumin), and increased aldosterone, all
contributing to fluid accumulation.
Question 6
A patient with diabetes mellitus type 1 develops diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Which finding is characteristic of DKA?
A. Serum glucose 180 mg/dL with pH 7.40
B. Serum glucose 650 mg/dL with pH 7.20
