Portage learning NURS 231 final exam questions with
verified answers
A 10-year-old boy who is having an acute asthma attack is brought to the ER. He is
observed to be sitting up and struggling to breathe. His breathing is accompanied
by use of accessory muscles, a weak cough, and audible wheezing sounds. His
pulse is rapid and weak, and both heart and breath sounds are distant on
auscultation. His parents relate that his asthma began to worsen after he
developed a "cold," and now he doesn't get relief from his albuterol inhaler.
Explain the changes in physiologic function underlying his signs and symptoms.
Exam 5 Ans✓✓✓ In most asthma patients the airway inflammation due to a cold
virus causes epithelial injury. This severe airway inflammation means that the
patient is probably suffering from bronchial hyper responsiveness, which causes
airway obstruction and narrowing
A 23-year-old African-American man with a history of severe lifelong anemia
requiring many transfusions has nonhealing leg ulcers and recurrent periods of
abdominal and chest pain. These signs and symptoms are most likely to be
associated with which one of the following laboratory abnormalities?
Exam 4
1) Sickle cells on peripheral blood smear
2) Loss of intrinsic factor
3) Decreased erythropoietin
4) Decreased ferritin Ans✓✓✓ Sickle cells on peripheral blood smear
A 45-year-old woman presents with fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance.
Lab findings show a low serum T4 and elevated TSH. 1. What diagnosis would her
history and lab findings indicate? 2. What type of treatment should be given?
Ans✓✓✓ 1. Hypothyroidism
, 2. Thyroxine
A 72-year-old male is said to be in phase 2 of gout. He is obese and has a history
of alcohol abuse. Develop a treatment plan including specific pharmacologic
intervention and a non-pharmacologic recommendation to manage his disease.
Ans✓✓✓ Pharmacologic intervention: The patient should take NSADS drugs in
order to reduce inflammation and for pain management.
Non-pharmacologic recommendation: The patient should be encouraged to loose
weight and decrease alcohol consumption
A 72-year-old male is said to be in phase 3 of gout. He is obese and has a history
of alcohol abuse. Develop a treatment plan including specific pharmacologic
intervention and a nonpharmacologic recommendation to manage his disease
Ans✓✓✓ Phase three gout is called inter-critical phase. The goal is to prevent
future attacks by maintaining normal uric acid levels, and preventing disease
progression. Allopurinol is used to reduce uric acid levels. Lifestyle changes, such
asweight loss, reduction in alcohol consumption, and avoid foods high in purines
A 75-year-old male is brought to the emergency department via ambulance at 5
pm. The patient's spouse reports that when they woke up (approximately at 6
am) he reported to her that he was having some blurred vision but decided to go
about his day. As the day progressed, he started experiencing tingling and feelings
of weakness on the entire left side of his body. He has a past medical history of
diabetes. Based upon these symptoms and past medical history, what do you
suspect this patient is experiencing? How would you confirm this diagnosis? What
treatment should be administered? Explain why you chose that treatment
Ans✓✓✓ Patient was more than likely experiencing an ischemic stroke. A CT scan
and MRI will be ordered to determine if a blood clot was blocking blood flow and
to rule out hemorrhagic stroke. If a clot is located and the patient is outside the 4
verified answers
A 10-year-old boy who is having an acute asthma attack is brought to the ER. He is
observed to be sitting up and struggling to breathe. His breathing is accompanied
by use of accessory muscles, a weak cough, and audible wheezing sounds. His
pulse is rapid and weak, and both heart and breath sounds are distant on
auscultation. His parents relate that his asthma began to worsen after he
developed a "cold," and now he doesn't get relief from his albuterol inhaler.
Explain the changes in physiologic function underlying his signs and symptoms.
Exam 5 Ans✓✓✓ In most asthma patients the airway inflammation due to a cold
virus causes epithelial injury. This severe airway inflammation means that the
patient is probably suffering from bronchial hyper responsiveness, which causes
airway obstruction and narrowing
A 23-year-old African-American man with a history of severe lifelong anemia
requiring many transfusions has nonhealing leg ulcers and recurrent periods of
abdominal and chest pain. These signs and symptoms are most likely to be
associated with which one of the following laboratory abnormalities?
Exam 4
1) Sickle cells on peripheral blood smear
2) Loss of intrinsic factor
3) Decreased erythropoietin
4) Decreased ferritin Ans✓✓✓ Sickle cells on peripheral blood smear
A 45-year-old woman presents with fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance.
Lab findings show a low serum T4 and elevated TSH. 1. What diagnosis would her
history and lab findings indicate? 2. What type of treatment should be given?
Ans✓✓✓ 1. Hypothyroidism
, 2. Thyroxine
A 72-year-old male is said to be in phase 2 of gout. He is obese and has a history
of alcohol abuse. Develop a treatment plan including specific pharmacologic
intervention and a non-pharmacologic recommendation to manage his disease.
Ans✓✓✓ Pharmacologic intervention: The patient should take NSADS drugs in
order to reduce inflammation and for pain management.
Non-pharmacologic recommendation: The patient should be encouraged to loose
weight and decrease alcohol consumption
A 72-year-old male is said to be in phase 3 of gout. He is obese and has a history
of alcohol abuse. Develop a treatment plan including specific pharmacologic
intervention and a nonpharmacologic recommendation to manage his disease
Ans✓✓✓ Phase three gout is called inter-critical phase. The goal is to prevent
future attacks by maintaining normal uric acid levels, and preventing disease
progression. Allopurinol is used to reduce uric acid levels. Lifestyle changes, such
asweight loss, reduction in alcohol consumption, and avoid foods high in purines
A 75-year-old male is brought to the emergency department via ambulance at 5
pm. The patient's spouse reports that when they woke up (approximately at 6
am) he reported to her that he was having some blurred vision but decided to go
about his day. As the day progressed, he started experiencing tingling and feelings
of weakness on the entire left side of his body. He has a past medical history of
diabetes. Based upon these symptoms and past medical history, what do you
suspect this patient is experiencing? How would you confirm this diagnosis? What
treatment should be administered? Explain why you chose that treatment
Ans✓✓✓ Patient was more than likely experiencing an ischemic stroke. A CT scan
and MRI will be ordered to determine if a blood clot was blocking blood flow and
to rule out hemorrhagic stroke. If a clot is located and the patient is outside the 4
