Page 1 of 127
PN 4003 Final Exam Variations in Health - Sprott Shaw College
(SSC) EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
PN 4003 Final Exam: Variations in Health - Sprott Shaw College (SSC)
Exam Coverage — 10 Key Points
1. Health variations across the lifespan, including normal developmental changes and age-
related differences.
2. Pathophysiology, risk factors, manifestations, and nursing considerations for common
health alterations.
3. Chronic illness, acute illness, multimorbidity, and their effects on functional health and
quality of life.
4. Cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, endocrine, renal, gastrointestinal, and
musculoskeletal variations.
5. Mental health variations, psychosocial responses, coping, stress, and therapeutic nursing
interventions.
6. Infection, immunity, inflammation, and variations in responses to infectious and
inflammatory conditions.
7. Pharmacological considerations, medication safety, adverse effects, and age-related
differences in drug responses.
8. Nutrition, hydration, elimination, mobility, skin integrity, and other fundamental
physiological needs.
9. Assessment, clinical judgment, prioritization, patient education, prevention, and health
promotion.
10. Culturally safe, ethical, evidence-informed, patient-centered practical nursing care across
diverse populations.
1.
A practical nurse assesses an older adult who suddenly becomes confused and inattentive after
developing a urinary infection. Which finding most strongly suggests delirium rather than
dementia?
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A. Gradual memory loss occurring over several years
B. Sudden onset with fluctuating attention and awareness
C. Persistent difficulty recalling childhood experiences
D. Slowly progressive impairment in independent functioning
Answer: B
Rationale: Delirium typically develops rapidly and causes fluctuating attention, awareness, and
cognition, often because of an acute illness or medication effect.
2.
A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease reports increasing dyspnea while
performing usual household activities. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate initially?
A. Encourage prolonged bed rest throughout the day
B. Teach pursed-lip breathing during episodes of dyspnea
C. Restrict all oral fluids to prevent pulmonary edema
D. Encourage rapid shallow breathing to increase ventilation
Answer: B
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing can improve expiratory airflow, reduce air trapping, and
decrease the sensation of breathlessness in COPD.
3.
A client with heart failure has gained 2.5 kilograms over several days and reports increasing
ankle swelling. What should the nurse recognize?
, Page 3 of 127
A. The weight gain may indicate worsening fluid retention
B. The weight gain confirms improved nutritional status
C. The swelling indicates resolution of cardiac dysfunction
D. The findings are expected and require no follow-up
Answer: A
Rationale: Rapid weight gain and peripheral edema are important indicators of fluid
accumulation associated with worsening heart failure.
4.
A client with diabetes becomes sweaty, shaky, confused, and irritable before lunch. Which
condition should the nurse suspect first?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Diabetic ketoacidosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Sweating, tremors, irritability, and confusion are classic manifestations of low blood
glucose.
5.
A client experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation is sitting upright and struggling to breathe.
Which assessment finding requires immediate attention?
, Page 4 of 127
A. Mild anxiety related to hospitalization
B. Expiratory wheezing that remains audible
C. Markedly diminished or absent breath sounds
D. Mild cough producing clear sputum
Answer: C
Rationale: A sudden reduction or absence of wheezing can indicate critically decreased airflow
and impending respiratory failure.
6.
A client with hypertension asks why the condition is sometimes called a “silent” disease. Which
response is most accurate?
A. Hypertension always resolves without treatment
B. Hypertension commonly causes severe pain immediately
C. Hypertension may cause organ damage without obvious symptoms
D. Hypertension affects only the cardiovascular system
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypertension can remain asymptomatic while progressively damaging the heart,
kidneys, brain, and blood vessels.
7.
A nurse is assessing a client following a stroke. Which finding most strongly suggests impaired
swallowing?
PN 4003 Final Exam Variations in Health - Sprott Shaw College
(SSC) EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR – JUST RELEASED
PN 4003 Final Exam: Variations in Health - Sprott Shaw College (SSC)
Exam Coverage — 10 Key Points
1. Health variations across the lifespan, including normal developmental changes and age-
related differences.
2. Pathophysiology, risk factors, manifestations, and nursing considerations for common
health alterations.
3. Chronic illness, acute illness, multimorbidity, and their effects on functional health and
quality of life.
4. Cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, endocrine, renal, gastrointestinal, and
musculoskeletal variations.
5. Mental health variations, psychosocial responses, coping, stress, and therapeutic nursing
interventions.
6. Infection, immunity, inflammation, and variations in responses to infectious and
inflammatory conditions.
7. Pharmacological considerations, medication safety, adverse effects, and age-related
differences in drug responses.
8. Nutrition, hydration, elimination, mobility, skin integrity, and other fundamental
physiological needs.
9. Assessment, clinical judgment, prioritization, patient education, prevention, and health
promotion.
10. Culturally safe, ethical, evidence-informed, patient-centered practical nursing care across
diverse populations.
1.
A practical nurse assesses an older adult who suddenly becomes confused and inattentive after
developing a urinary infection. Which finding most strongly suggests delirium rather than
dementia?
, Page 2 of 127
A. Gradual memory loss occurring over several years
B. Sudden onset with fluctuating attention and awareness
C. Persistent difficulty recalling childhood experiences
D. Slowly progressive impairment in independent functioning
Answer: B
Rationale: Delirium typically develops rapidly and causes fluctuating attention, awareness, and
cognition, often because of an acute illness or medication effect.
2.
A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease reports increasing dyspnea while
performing usual household activities. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate initially?
A. Encourage prolonged bed rest throughout the day
B. Teach pursed-lip breathing during episodes of dyspnea
C. Restrict all oral fluids to prevent pulmonary edema
D. Encourage rapid shallow breathing to increase ventilation
Answer: B
Rationale: Pursed-lip breathing can improve expiratory airflow, reduce air trapping, and
decrease the sensation of breathlessness in COPD.
3.
A client with heart failure has gained 2.5 kilograms over several days and reports increasing
ankle swelling. What should the nurse recognize?
, Page 3 of 127
A. The weight gain may indicate worsening fluid retention
B. The weight gain confirms improved nutritional status
C. The swelling indicates resolution of cardiac dysfunction
D. The findings are expected and require no follow-up
Answer: A
Rationale: Rapid weight gain and peripheral edema are important indicators of fluid
accumulation associated with worsening heart failure.
4.
A client with diabetes becomes sweaty, shaky, confused, and irritable before lunch. Which
condition should the nurse suspect first?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Diabetic ketoacidosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Sweating, tremors, irritability, and confusion are classic manifestations of low blood
glucose.
5.
A client experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation is sitting upright and struggling to breathe.
Which assessment finding requires immediate attention?
, Page 4 of 127
A. Mild anxiety related to hospitalization
B. Expiratory wheezing that remains audible
C. Markedly diminished or absent breath sounds
D. Mild cough producing clear sputum
Answer: C
Rationale: A sudden reduction or absence of wheezing can indicate critically decreased airflow
and impending respiratory failure.
6.
A client with hypertension asks why the condition is sometimes called a “silent” disease. Which
response is most accurate?
A. Hypertension always resolves without treatment
B. Hypertension commonly causes severe pain immediately
C. Hypertension may cause organ damage without obvious symptoms
D. Hypertension affects only the cardiovascular system
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypertension can remain asymptomatic while progressively damaging the heart,
kidneys, brain, and blood vessels.
7.
A nurse is assessing a client following a stroke. Which finding most strongly suggests impaired
swallowing?
