Pathophysiology Final Exam| 100%
Verified
QUESTION 1: HERPES ZOSTER
A patient complains of pain and inflammation following a dermatomal pattern.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
a. Cellulitis
b. Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
c. Eczema
d. Contact dermatitis
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Herpes Zoster (Shingles) presents with pain and inflammation
following a dermatomal pattern. The pain and vesicles follow the path of a
dermatome (specific nerve distribution area).
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 2: AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA
A patient with a spinal cord injury suddenly reports a severe headache,
hypertension, and bradycardia. The nurse recognizes this as what medical
emergency?
a. Spinal shock
b. Autonomic Dysreflexia
c. Compartment syndrome
d. Pulmonary embolism
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Autonomic Dysreflexia is a medical emergency caused by
simultaneous sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, often triggered by
bowel or bladder distension, pain, or pressure ulcers. It is characterized by
hypertension, bradycardia, and severe headaches.
,Cognitive Level: Application | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 3: SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA
Which of the following is NOT a sign or symptom of Autonomic Dysreflexia?
a. Hypertension
b. Bradycardia
c. Flushing above the cord lesion
d. Hypothermia
CORRECT ANSWER: D
Rationale: Signs and symptoms of Autonomic Dysreflexia include
hypertension, bradycardia, severe headaches, pallor below and flushing
above the cord lesions, and convulsions. Hypothermia is not associated with
this condition.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 4: ASTHMA ATTACK CHANGES
A patient experiencing an acute asthma attack would exhibit which of the
following?
a. Stridor, decreased breathing rate, clear lung sounds
b. Wheezing, shortness of breath, bronchoconstriction, dyspnea, tachypnea
c. Decreased oxygen saturation, bradycardia, decreased wheezing
d. Productive cough, fever, chills
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Changes with an asthma attack include wheezing, shortness of
breath (SOB), bronchoconstriction, dyspnea, and tachypnea (rapid breathing).
These are characteristic of acute airway obstruction.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 5: CROHN'S DISEASE
,A patient is diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. The nurse explains that this
condition is characterized by:
a. Localized inflammation of the colon only
b. Hardening of smooth muscles and malabsorption
c. Bloody diarrhea with ulcers in the mucosal layer
d. Complete loss of appetite with weight loss
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Crohn's Disease involves hardening of the smooth muscles, which
prevents proper absorption of nutrients. It can affect any part of the GI tract
from mouth to anus.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 6: ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Which clinical finding is characteristic of Ulcerative Colitis?
a. Weight gain and constipation
b. Large ulcers in the mucosal layer of colon and rectum with bloody diarrhea
c. Abdominal pain that improves with eating
d. Increased appetite and normal bowel movements
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Ulcerative Colitis is characterized by large ulcers forming in the
mucosal layer of the colon and rectum, resulting in bloody diarrhea. It is
limited to the colon and rectum.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 7: INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
What are the two types of inflammatory bowel disorders?
a. Gastritis and Hepatitis
b. Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
, c. Celiac Disease and Lactose Intolerance
d. Pancreatitis and Cholecystitis
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: The two main types of inflammatory bowel disorders are Crohn's
Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Both involve chronic inflammation of the GI
tract.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 8: PAIN CLASSIFICATION - SOMATIC PAIN
A patient describes sharp, dull, aching pain from a cut on their arm. This type
of pain is classified as:
a. Visceral pain
b. Referred pain
c. Somatic pain
d. Neuropathic pain
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Somatic pain originates from the body surface - superficial pain
arising from the skin, described as sharp, dull, aching, or throbbing.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 9: PAIN CLASSIFICATION - VISCERAL PAIN
A patient reports aching, gnawing, throbbing, intermittent pain in the abdomen.
This describes which type of pain?
a. Somatic pain
b. Visceral pain
c. Referred pain
d. Phantom pain
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Verified
QUESTION 1: HERPES ZOSTER
A patient complains of pain and inflammation following a dermatomal pattern.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
a. Cellulitis
b. Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
c. Eczema
d. Contact dermatitis
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Herpes Zoster (Shingles) presents with pain and inflammation
following a dermatomal pattern. The pain and vesicles follow the path of a
dermatome (specific nerve distribution area).
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 2: AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA
A patient with a spinal cord injury suddenly reports a severe headache,
hypertension, and bradycardia. The nurse recognizes this as what medical
emergency?
a. Spinal shock
b. Autonomic Dysreflexia
c. Compartment syndrome
d. Pulmonary embolism
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Autonomic Dysreflexia is a medical emergency caused by
simultaneous sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, often triggered by
bowel or bladder distension, pain, or pressure ulcers. It is characterized by
hypertension, bradycardia, and severe headaches.
,Cognitive Level: Application | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 3: SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA
Which of the following is NOT a sign or symptom of Autonomic Dysreflexia?
a. Hypertension
b. Bradycardia
c. Flushing above the cord lesion
d. Hypothermia
CORRECT ANSWER: D
Rationale: Signs and symptoms of Autonomic Dysreflexia include
hypertension, bradycardia, severe headaches, pallor below and flushing
above the cord lesions, and convulsions. Hypothermia is not associated with
this condition.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 4: ASTHMA ATTACK CHANGES
A patient experiencing an acute asthma attack would exhibit which of the
following?
a. Stridor, decreased breathing rate, clear lung sounds
b. Wheezing, shortness of breath, bronchoconstriction, dyspnea, tachypnea
c. Decreased oxygen saturation, bradycardia, decreased wheezing
d. Productive cough, fever, chills
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Changes with an asthma attack include wheezing, shortness of
breath (SOB), bronchoconstriction, dyspnea, and tachypnea (rapid breathing).
These are characteristic of acute airway obstruction.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 5: CROHN'S DISEASE
,A patient is diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. The nurse explains that this
condition is characterized by:
a. Localized inflammation of the colon only
b. Hardening of smooth muscles and malabsorption
c. Bloody diarrhea with ulcers in the mucosal layer
d. Complete loss of appetite with weight loss
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Crohn's Disease involves hardening of the smooth muscles, which
prevents proper absorption of nutrients. It can affect any part of the GI tract
from mouth to anus.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 6: ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Which clinical finding is characteristic of Ulcerative Colitis?
a. Weight gain and constipation
b. Large ulcers in the mucosal layer of colon and rectum with bloody diarrhea
c. Abdominal pain that improves with eating
d. Increased appetite and normal bowel movements
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Ulcerative Colitis is characterized by large ulcers forming in the
mucosal layer of the colon and rectum, resulting in bloody diarrhea. It is
limited to the colon and rectum.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 7: INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
What are the two types of inflammatory bowel disorders?
a. Gastritis and Hepatitis
b. Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
, c. Celiac Disease and Lactose Intolerance
d. Pancreatitis and Cholecystitis
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: The two main types of inflammatory bowel disorders are Crohn's
Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Both involve chronic inflammation of the GI
tract.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 8: PAIN CLASSIFICATION - SOMATIC PAIN
A patient describes sharp, dull, aching pain from a cut on their arm. This type
of pain is classified as:
a. Visceral pain
b. Referred pain
c. Somatic pain
d. Neuropathic pain
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Somatic pain originates from the body surface - superficial pain
arising from the skin, described as sharp, dull, aching, or throbbing.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension | NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
QUESTION 9: PAIN CLASSIFICATION - VISCERAL PAIN
A patient reports aching, gnawing, throbbing, intermittent pain in the abdomen.
This describes which type of pain?
a. Somatic pain
b. Visceral pain
c. Referred pain
d. Phantom pain
CORRECT ANSWER: B
