1. A patient presents with a chronic cough, wheezing, and
shortness of breath. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Bronchitis
B. Emphysema
C. Asthma
D. Pulmonary embolism
Answer: C) Asthma
Rationale: Asthma is characterized by inflammation and
constriction of the airways, leading to symptoms like chronic
cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
2. A patient with hypothyroidism is most likely to have which of
the following symptoms?
A. Weight loss
B. Increased heart rate
C. Cold intolerance
D. Heat intolerance
Answer: C) Cold intolerance
Rationale: Hypothyroidism leads to reduced metabolism, causing
symptoms such as cold intolerance, weight gain, and fatigue.
3. What is the primary cause of hypercapnia in patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Increased carbon dioxide production
B. Airway obstruction
C. Pulmonary fibrosis
D. Decreased tidal volume
Answer: B) Airway obstruction
Rationale: In COPD, airway obstruction leads to difficulty in
exhaling CO2, resulting in the accumulation of carbon dioxide in
the bloodstream (hypercapnia).
,4. Which of the following lab results is most likely in a patient
with dehydration?
A. Low hematocrit
B. Low sodium levels
C. Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D. Low creatinine
Answer: C) Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
Rationale: Dehydration leads to decreased renal perfusion and an
increase in BUN due to reduced fluid volume.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia. Which of the
following is a common sign of pneumonia?
A. Cough with sputum production
B. Sudden weight gain
C. Seizures
D. Hemoptysis without cough
Answer: A) Cough with sputum production
Rationale: Pneumonia typically presents with symptoms such as a
productive cough with purulent sputum, fever, and difficulty
breathing due to inflammation in the lungs.
6. A patient presents with fever, jaundice, and dark urine. Which
condition might this indicate?
A. Hepatitis
B. Gallstones
C. Pancreatitis
D. Cirrhosis
Answer: A) Hepatitis
Rationale: Hepatitis can lead to liver inflammation, resulting in
jaundice (yellowing of the skin), dark urine, and fever.
7. Which of the following is a common cause of hypoxemia?
, A. Anemia
B. Asthma
C. Hypertension
D. Diabetes
Answer: B) Asthma
Rationale: Asthma causes bronchoconstriction and inflammation
in the airways, leading to decreased oxygen exchange and
resulting in hypoxemia.
8. A patient with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE) is at increased risk for which of the following?
A. Infection
B. Weight loss
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Stroke
Answer: A) Infection
Rationale: SLE is an autoimmune disorder that affects the immune
system, leaving the patient at higher risk for infections due to
immunosuppressive therapy and the disease itself.
9. What is a common complication of untreated hyperthyroidism?
A. Heart failure
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Myxedema coma
Answer: A) Heart failure
Rationale: Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to tachycardia and
increased cardiac workload, which can eventually result in heart
failure.
10. A patient diagnosed with a brain tumor presents with sudden
weakness on one side of the body. What could this symptom
indicate?
shortness of breath. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Bronchitis
B. Emphysema
C. Asthma
D. Pulmonary embolism
Answer: C) Asthma
Rationale: Asthma is characterized by inflammation and
constriction of the airways, leading to symptoms like chronic
cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
2. A patient with hypothyroidism is most likely to have which of
the following symptoms?
A. Weight loss
B. Increased heart rate
C. Cold intolerance
D. Heat intolerance
Answer: C) Cold intolerance
Rationale: Hypothyroidism leads to reduced metabolism, causing
symptoms such as cold intolerance, weight gain, and fatigue.
3. What is the primary cause of hypercapnia in patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Increased carbon dioxide production
B. Airway obstruction
C. Pulmonary fibrosis
D. Decreased tidal volume
Answer: B) Airway obstruction
Rationale: In COPD, airway obstruction leads to difficulty in
exhaling CO2, resulting in the accumulation of carbon dioxide in
the bloodstream (hypercapnia).
,4. Which of the following lab results is most likely in a patient
with dehydration?
A. Low hematocrit
B. Low sodium levels
C. Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D. Low creatinine
Answer: C) Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
Rationale: Dehydration leads to decreased renal perfusion and an
increase in BUN due to reduced fluid volume.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia. Which of the
following is a common sign of pneumonia?
A. Cough with sputum production
B. Sudden weight gain
C. Seizures
D. Hemoptysis without cough
Answer: A) Cough with sputum production
Rationale: Pneumonia typically presents with symptoms such as a
productive cough with purulent sputum, fever, and difficulty
breathing due to inflammation in the lungs.
6. A patient presents with fever, jaundice, and dark urine. Which
condition might this indicate?
A. Hepatitis
B. Gallstones
C. Pancreatitis
D. Cirrhosis
Answer: A) Hepatitis
Rationale: Hepatitis can lead to liver inflammation, resulting in
jaundice (yellowing of the skin), dark urine, and fever.
7. Which of the following is a common cause of hypoxemia?
, A. Anemia
B. Asthma
C. Hypertension
D. Diabetes
Answer: B) Asthma
Rationale: Asthma causes bronchoconstriction and inflammation
in the airways, leading to decreased oxygen exchange and
resulting in hypoxemia.
8. A patient with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE) is at increased risk for which of the following?
A. Infection
B. Weight loss
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Stroke
Answer: A) Infection
Rationale: SLE is an autoimmune disorder that affects the immune
system, leaving the patient at higher risk for infections due to
immunosuppressive therapy and the disease itself.
9. What is a common complication of untreated hyperthyroidism?
A. Heart failure
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Myxedema coma
Answer: A) Heart failure
Rationale: Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to tachycardia and
increased cardiac workload, which can eventually result in heart
failure.
10. A patient diagnosed with a brain tumor presents with sudden
weakness on one side of the body. What could this symptom
indicate?
