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NSG 3850 EXAM 2 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY II: NEWEST EXAM 2026
PREPARATION WITH COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | ALREADY GRADED
A+||BRAND NEW VERSION
.
1. A 67-year-old client with a 45-pack-year history of cigarette smoking reports
progressively worsening shortness of breath, chronic productive cough, and
decreased exercise tolerance over several years. Pulmonary function testing
demonstrates persistent airflow limitation that does not completely reverse with
bronchodilator administration. The nurse recognizes that the underlying
pathophysiologic process is most consistent with which condition?
A. Acute pulmonary edema caused by left ventricular failure
B. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by persistent airway and
parenchymal abnormalities
C. Restrictive pulmonary disease caused by decreased lung compliance
D. Acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by diffuse alveolar injury
Answer: B
2. A client with long-standing emphysema develops increasing dyspnea while
walking short distances. The nurse understands that destruction of alveolar walls in
emphysema produces a major reduction in the surface area available for gas
exchange. Which additional pathophysiologic change would the nurse expect as
the disease progresses?
A. Increased elastic recoil and decreased residual volume
B. Decreased airway resistance caused by stronger bronchiolar walls
C. Loss of elastic recoil with air trapping and pulmonary hyperinflation
D. Increased alveolar-capillary membrane thickness caused by pulmonary edema
Answer: C
3. A 59-year-old client with chronic bronchitis has a persistent productive cough,
cyanosis, peripheral edema, and increasing fatigue. The client has developed
pulmonary hypertension after years of chronic hypoxemia. Which mechanism best
explains why chronic pulmonary disease can eventually produce right-sided heart
failure?
,2
A. Increased systemic venous pressure causes left ventricular dilation
B. Chronic pulmonary vascular resistance increases the workload of the right
ventricle
C. Pulmonary edema directly damages the mitral valve
D. Hypoxemia causes permanent closure of the aortic valve
Answer: B
4. A client with asthma suddenly develops severe wheezing, chest tightness,
prolonged expiration, and difficulty speaking in complete sentences after exposure
to an environmental allergen. The nurse recognizes that the acute respiratory
compromise is primarily related to which combination of pathophysiologic
changes?
A. Bronchial smooth-muscle relaxation and increased alveolar compliance
B. Bronchoconstriction, mucosal edema, and increased mucus production
C. Destruction of alveolar walls and permanent loss of elastic recoil
D. Pleural fluid accumulation and compression of the lung
Answer: B
5. A client experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation receives a short-acting
bronchodilator. Several minutes later, wheezing and work of breathing decrease.
The nurse understands that the medication improves airflow primarily by
producing which physiologic effect?
A. Constriction of bronchial smooth muscle
B. Relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle
C. Increased production of thick respiratory mucus
D. Increased pulmonary capillary hydrostatic pressure
Answer: B
6. A client develops sudden dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, tachycardia, and anxiety
several days after undergoing major orthopedic surgery. The client has been
largely immobile since the procedure. Which pathophysiologic sequence best
explains the client's condition?
A. Alveolar infection followed by airway obstruction and pulmonary edema
B. Venous stasis followed by thrombus formation and embolization into the
pulmonary circulation
, 3
C. Bronchial inflammation followed by mucus plugging and emphysema
D. Left ventricular failure followed by increased systemic venous pressure
Answer: B
7. A hospitalized client suddenly develops severe shortness of breath and pleuritic
chest pain. A pulmonary embolism is suspected. The nurse understands that a large
embolus can produce severe hypoxemia primarily because it causes which
abnormality?
A. Increased blood flow to completely perfused alveoli
B. Ventilation of alveoli without adequate pulmonary perfusion
C. Increased diffusion of oxygen across the alveolar membrane
D. Increased systemic arterial oxygen content
Answer: B
8. A client with a large pulmonary embolism develops hypotension, tachycardia,
distended neck veins, and signs of acute right ventricular strain. Which mechanism
best explains these findings?
A. Increased pulmonary vascular resistance causing acute right ventricular pressure
overload
B. Decreased systemic vascular resistance causing isolated left ventricular failure
C. Increased left ventricular preload caused by excessive pulmonary venous return
D. Increased coronary perfusion causing ventricular dilation
Answer: A
9. A client develops a tension pneumothorax following chest trauma. Assessment
reveals severe respiratory distress, absent breath sounds on the affected side,
hypotension, and tracheal deviation away from the injured side. Which
pathophysiologic mechanism most directly explains the cardiovascular
compromise?
A. Increased venous return to the heart
B. Increased intrathoracic pressure compressing the great vessels and reducing
venous return
C. Increased left ventricular contractility
D. Increased pulmonary blood flow to the affected lung
NSG 3850 EXAM 2 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY II: NEWEST EXAM 2026
PREPARATION WITH COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | ALREADY GRADED
A+||BRAND NEW VERSION
.
1. A 67-year-old client with a 45-pack-year history of cigarette smoking reports
progressively worsening shortness of breath, chronic productive cough, and
decreased exercise tolerance over several years. Pulmonary function testing
demonstrates persistent airflow limitation that does not completely reverse with
bronchodilator administration. The nurse recognizes that the underlying
pathophysiologic process is most consistent with which condition?
A. Acute pulmonary edema caused by left ventricular failure
B. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by persistent airway and
parenchymal abnormalities
C. Restrictive pulmonary disease caused by decreased lung compliance
D. Acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by diffuse alveolar injury
Answer: B
2. A client with long-standing emphysema develops increasing dyspnea while
walking short distances. The nurse understands that destruction of alveolar walls in
emphysema produces a major reduction in the surface area available for gas
exchange. Which additional pathophysiologic change would the nurse expect as
the disease progresses?
A. Increased elastic recoil and decreased residual volume
B. Decreased airway resistance caused by stronger bronchiolar walls
C. Loss of elastic recoil with air trapping and pulmonary hyperinflation
D. Increased alveolar-capillary membrane thickness caused by pulmonary edema
Answer: C
3. A 59-year-old client with chronic bronchitis has a persistent productive cough,
cyanosis, peripheral edema, and increasing fatigue. The client has developed
pulmonary hypertension after years of chronic hypoxemia. Which mechanism best
explains why chronic pulmonary disease can eventually produce right-sided heart
failure?
,2
A. Increased systemic venous pressure causes left ventricular dilation
B. Chronic pulmonary vascular resistance increases the workload of the right
ventricle
C. Pulmonary edema directly damages the mitral valve
D. Hypoxemia causes permanent closure of the aortic valve
Answer: B
4. A client with asthma suddenly develops severe wheezing, chest tightness,
prolonged expiration, and difficulty speaking in complete sentences after exposure
to an environmental allergen. The nurse recognizes that the acute respiratory
compromise is primarily related to which combination of pathophysiologic
changes?
A. Bronchial smooth-muscle relaxation and increased alveolar compliance
B. Bronchoconstriction, mucosal edema, and increased mucus production
C. Destruction of alveolar walls and permanent loss of elastic recoil
D. Pleural fluid accumulation and compression of the lung
Answer: B
5. A client experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation receives a short-acting
bronchodilator. Several minutes later, wheezing and work of breathing decrease.
The nurse understands that the medication improves airflow primarily by
producing which physiologic effect?
A. Constriction of bronchial smooth muscle
B. Relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle
C. Increased production of thick respiratory mucus
D. Increased pulmonary capillary hydrostatic pressure
Answer: B
6. A client develops sudden dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, tachycardia, and anxiety
several days after undergoing major orthopedic surgery. The client has been
largely immobile since the procedure. Which pathophysiologic sequence best
explains the client's condition?
A. Alveolar infection followed by airway obstruction and pulmonary edema
B. Venous stasis followed by thrombus formation and embolization into the
pulmonary circulation
, 3
C. Bronchial inflammation followed by mucus plugging and emphysema
D. Left ventricular failure followed by increased systemic venous pressure
Answer: B
7. A hospitalized client suddenly develops severe shortness of breath and pleuritic
chest pain. A pulmonary embolism is suspected. The nurse understands that a large
embolus can produce severe hypoxemia primarily because it causes which
abnormality?
A. Increased blood flow to completely perfused alveoli
B. Ventilation of alveoli without adequate pulmonary perfusion
C. Increased diffusion of oxygen across the alveolar membrane
D. Increased systemic arterial oxygen content
Answer: B
8. A client with a large pulmonary embolism develops hypotension, tachycardia,
distended neck veins, and signs of acute right ventricular strain. Which mechanism
best explains these findings?
A. Increased pulmonary vascular resistance causing acute right ventricular pressure
overload
B. Decreased systemic vascular resistance causing isolated left ventricular failure
C. Increased left ventricular preload caused by excessive pulmonary venous return
D. Increased coronary perfusion causing ventricular dilation
Answer: A
9. A client develops a tension pneumothorax following chest trauma. Assessment
reveals severe respiratory distress, absent breath sounds on the affected side,
hypotension, and tracheal deviation away from the injured side. Which
pathophysiologic mechanism most directly explains the cardiovascular
compromise?
A. Increased venous return to the heart
B. Increased intrathoracic pressure compressing the great vessels and reducing
venous return
C. Increased left ventricular contractility
D. Increased pulmonary blood flow to the affected lung
