Advanced Pathophysiology, HESI exam
preparation, high-yield questions,
comprehensive review, and rationales.
The nurse hears short, high-pitched sounds Fine crackles are short, high pitched sounds heard just before
just before the end of inspiration in the the end of inspiration that are the result of rapid equalization
right and left lower lobes when of pressure when collapsed alveoli or terminal bronchioles
auscultating a suddenly snap open.
client's lungs. How should this finding
be recorded?
The nurse is assessing an older client and Ptosis is the term used to describe an eyelid droop
determines that the client's left upper eyelid that covers a large portion of the iris, which may result
droops, covering more of the iris than the from oculomotor nerve or eyelid muscle disorder.
right eyelid. Which description should the
nurse use to document this finding?
A client's family asks why their mother with Pulmonary artery catheters are used to measure central
heart failure needs a pulmonary artery pressures and fluid balance. Even though all clients in the ICU
catheter now that she is in the ICU. What require close monitoring, they do not all need a PA
information should the nurse include in the catheter
explanation to the family?
, Several hours after surgical repair of Postoperative complications of surgical repair of AAA are
an abdominal aortic aneurysm, the related to the location of resection, graft, or stent placement
client develops left flank pain. The along the abdominal aorta. Embolization of a fragment of
nurse thrombus or plaque from the aorta into a renal artery can
determines the client's urinary output is 20 compromise blood flow in one of the renal arteries, resulting
mL/hr for the past 2 hours. in renal ischemia that precipitates unilateral flank pain.
The nurse should conclude that these Intraoperative blood loss or rupture of the aorta anastomosis
findings support which complication? can cause acute renal failure related to hypovolemia.
The nurse is assessing a This constellation of signs in a postmenopausal woman are
postmenopausal woman who is characteristic of cystocele.
complaining of urinary
urgency and frequency and stress
incontinence. She also reports difficulty
emptying her bladder. These complaints are
most likely due to which condition?
A male client who has never smoked by has Adenocarcinoma is the only lung cancer not related to
had COPD is now being assessed for cigarette smoking. It has been found to be directly related to
cancer of the lung. The nurse knows that he lung scarring and fibrosis from preexisting pulmonary disease
is most likely to develop which type of such as TB or COPD.
lung cancer?
Muscular Dystrophy is characterized by Skeletal muscle degeneration is a classic symptom of
which pathophysiological condition? muscular dystrophy.
The nurse is preparing to administer Atropine may be prescribed to increase the automaticity
atropine, an anticholinergic, to a client of the SA node and prevent a dangerous reduction in HR
who is scheduled for a during surgical anesthesia.
cholecystectomy. The
client asks the nurse to explain the
reason for the prescribed medication.
What is the best response for the
nurse to provide?
What information should the nurse include Smoking, Oophorectomy and hysterotomy, Early
in a teaching plan about the onset of menarche, Genetic influence and Chemotherapy
menopause? exposure.
A patient with aortic valve stenosis develops Hypertension and incompetent or stenotic heart valves cause
heart failure. an increase in the workload of the heart by increasing the
afterload which requires an increase in the force of
contraction to pump blood out of the heart.
Which pathophysiological finding occurs in Myocardial hypertrophy results because the cells increase in
the myocardial cells as a result of the surface area or size by increasing the amount of contractile
increased cardiac workload? proteins, but the quantity.
Physical examination of a comatose patient Decorticate posturing adduction of arms and shoulders,
reveals decorticate posturing. Which flexion of arms on chest with wrists flexed and hands fisted
statement is accurate regarding this client's and extension and adduction of extremities is seen with
status based upon this finding? severe dysfunction of the cerebral cortex.
preparation, high-yield questions,
comprehensive review, and rationales.
The nurse hears short, high-pitched sounds Fine crackles are short, high pitched sounds heard just before
just before the end of inspiration in the the end of inspiration that are the result of rapid equalization
right and left lower lobes when of pressure when collapsed alveoli or terminal bronchioles
auscultating a suddenly snap open.
client's lungs. How should this finding
be recorded?
The nurse is assessing an older client and Ptosis is the term used to describe an eyelid droop
determines that the client's left upper eyelid that covers a large portion of the iris, which may result
droops, covering more of the iris than the from oculomotor nerve or eyelid muscle disorder.
right eyelid. Which description should the
nurse use to document this finding?
A client's family asks why their mother with Pulmonary artery catheters are used to measure central
heart failure needs a pulmonary artery pressures and fluid balance. Even though all clients in the ICU
catheter now that she is in the ICU. What require close monitoring, they do not all need a PA
information should the nurse include in the catheter
explanation to the family?
, Several hours after surgical repair of Postoperative complications of surgical repair of AAA are
an abdominal aortic aneurysm, the related to the location of resection, graft, or stent placement
client develops left flank pain. The along the abdominal aorta. Embolization of a fragment of
nurse thrombus or plaque from the aorta into a renal artery can
determines the client's urinary output is 20 compromise blood flow in one of the renal arteries, resulting
mL/hr for the past 2 hours. in renal ischemia that precipitates unilateral flank pain.
The nurse should conclude that these Intraoperative blood loss or rupture of the aorta anastomosis
findings support which complication? can cause acute renal failure related to hypovolemia.
The nurse is assessing a This constellation of signs in a postmenopausal woman are
postmenopausal woman who is characteristic of cystocele.
complaining of urinary
urgency and frequency and stress
incontinence. She also reports difficulty
emptying her bladder. These complaints are
most likely due to which condition?
A male client who has never smoked by has Adenocarcinoma is the only lung cancer not related to
had COPD is now being assessed for cigarette smoking. It has been found to be directly related to
cancer of the lung. The nurse knows that he lung scarring and fibrosis from preexisting pulmonary disease
is most likely to develop which type of such as TB or COPD.
lung cancer?
Muscular Dystrophy is characterized by Skeletal muscle degeneration is a classic symptom of
which pathophysiological condition? muscular dystrophy.
The nurse is preparing to administer Atropine may be prescribed to increase the automaticity
atropine, an anticholinergic, to a client of the SA node and prevent a dangerous reduction in HR
who is scheduled for a during surgical anesthesia.
cholecystectomy. The
client asks the nurse to explain the
reason for the prescribed medication.
What is the best response for the
nurse to provide?
What information should the nurse include Smoking, Oophorectomy and hysterotomy, Early
in a teaching plan about the onset of menarche, Genetic influence and Chemotherapy
menopause? exposure.
A patient with aortic valve stenosis develops Hypertension and incompetent or stenotic heart valves cause
heart failure. an increase in the workload of the heart by increasing the
afterload which requires an increase in the force of
contraction to pump blood out of the heart.
Which pathophysiological finding occurs in Myocardial hypertrophy results because the cells increase in
the myocardial cells as a result of the surface area or size by increasing the amount of contractile
increased cardiac workload? proteins, but the quantity.
Physical examination of a comatose patient Decorticate posturing adduction of arms and shoulders,
reveals decorticate posturing. Which flexion of arms on chest with wrists flexed and hands fisted
statement is accurate regarding this client's and extension and adduction of extremities is seen with
status based upon this finding? severe dysfunction of the cerebral cortex.
