HESI PATHOPHYSIOLOGY PRACTICE
EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
After talking w/ the HCP, a male pt continues to have questions about the results of a prostatic
surface antigen (PSA) screening test and asks the nurse how the PSA levels become elevated.
The nurse should explain which pathophysiological mechanism? - ANS As the prostate gland
enlarges, its cells contribute more PSA in the circulating blood
PSA is a glycoprotein found in prostatic epithelial cells, and elevations are used as a specific
tumor markers. Elevations in PSA are r/t gland volume, ie. benign BPH, prostatitis, and cancer of
the prostate, indicating tumor cell load. PSA levels are also used to monitor response to therapy
A 26 yr old male client w/ Hodgkin's disease is scheduled to undergo radiation therapy. The
clinet expresses concern about the effect of radiation on his ability to have children. What info
should the nurse provide? - ANS Permanent sterility occurs in the male client who receive
radiation
Low sperm count and loss of motility are seen in males w/ Hodgkin's disease b/f any therapy.
Radiotherapy often results in permanent aspermia, or sterility
The nurse hears short, high-pitched sounds just b/f the end of inspiration in the right and left
lower lobes when auscultating a client's lungs. How should this finding be recorded? -
ANS Crackles in the right and left lower lobes
Fine crackles - short, high-pitched sounds heard just b/f the end of inspiration that are the
result of rapid equalization of pressure when collaped alveoli or terminal bronchioles suddenly
snap open
Wheezing is a continuous high-pitched squeaking or musical sound caused by rapid vibration of
bronchial walls that are 1st evident on expiration and may be audible
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, A client is admitted to the ER w/ a tension pneumothorax. Which assessment should the nurse
expect to ID? - ANS A deviation of the trachea toward the side opposite of the
pneumothorax
Tension pneumothorax is caused by rapid accumulation of air in the pleural space, causing
severely high intrapleural pressure. This results in collapse of the lung, and the mediastinum
shifts toward the unaffected side, which is subsequently compressed
A client who is receiving a whole blood transfusion dv's chills, fever, and a HA 30 min after the
transfusion is started. The nurse shold recognize these sx as characteristic of what rxn? -
ANS A febrile transfusion reaction
Sx of a febrile reaction include sudden chills, fever, HA, flushing, and muscle pain.
An allergic rxn is the response of histamine release which is characterized by flushing, itching,
and urticaria. It exhibits an exaggerated allergic response that progresses to shock and possible
cardiac arrest
an acute hemolytic reaction presents w/ fever, chills, but is hallmarked by the onset of low back
pain, tachycardia, tachypnea, vascular collapse, hemoglobinuria, dark urine, ARF, shock, cardiac
arrest, and even death
The nurse is analyzing the waveforms of a client's ECG. What finding indicates a disturbance in
electrical conduction in the ventricles? - ANS QRS interval of 0.14 second
the normal duration of the QRS is 0.04 - 0.12 sec
T wave is 0.16 sec;
PR is 0.12 - 0.20 sec;
QT is 0.31-0.38 sec
Copyright ©2025 BRIGHTSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
After talking w/ the HCP, a male pt continues to have questions about the results of a prostatic
surface antigen (PSA) screening test and asks the nurse how the PSA levels become elevated.
The nurse should explain which pathophysiological mechanism? - ANS As the prostate gland
enlarges, its cells contribute more PSA in the circulating blood
PSA is a glycoprotein found in prostatic epithelial cells, and elevations are used as a specific
tumor markers. Elevations in PSA are r/t gland volume, ie. benign BPH, prostatitis, and cancer of
the prostate, indicating tumor cell load. PSA levels are also used to monitor response to therapy
A 26 yr old male client w/ Hodgkin's disease is scheduled to undergo radiation therapy. The
clinet expresses concern about the effect of radiation on his ability to have children. What info
should the nurse provide? - ANS Permanent sterility occurs in the male client who receive
radiation
Low sperm count and loss of motility are seen in males w/ Hodgkin's disease b/f any therapy.
Radiotherapy often results in permanent aspermia, or sterility
The nurse hears short, high-pitched sounds just b/f the end of inspiration in the right and left
lower lobes when auscultating a client's lungs. How should this finding be recorded? -
ANS Crackles in the right and left lower lobes
Fine crackles - short, high-pitched sounds heard just b/f the end of inspiration that are the
result of rapid equalization of pressure when collaped alveoli or terminal bronchioles suddenly
snap open
Wheezing is a continuous high-pitched squeaking or musical sound caused by rapid vibration of
bronchial walls that are 1st evident on expiration and may be audible
Copyright ©2025 BRIGHTSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, A client is admitted to the ER w/ a tension pneumothorax. Which assessment should the nurse
expect to ID? - ANS A deviation of the trachea toward the side opposite of the
pneumothorax
Tension pneumothorax is caused by rapid accumulation of air in the pleural space, causing
severely high intrapleural pressure. This results in collapse of the lung, and the mediastinum
shifts toward the unaffected side, which is subsequently compressed
A client who is receiving a whole blood transfusion dv's chills, fever, and a HA 30 min after the
transfusion is started. The nurse shold recognize these sx as characteristic of what rxn? -
ANS A febrile transfusion reaction
Sx of a febrile reaction include sudden chills, fever, HA, flushing, and muscle pain.
An allergic rxn is the response of histamine release which is characterized by flushing, itching,
and urticaria. It exhibits an exaggerated allergic response that progresses to shock and possible
cardiac arrest
an acute hemolytic reaction presents w/ fever, chills, but is hallmarked by the onset of low back
pain, tachycardia, tachypnea, vascular collapse, hemoglobinuria, dark urine, ARF, shock, cardiac
arrest, and even death
The nurse is analyzing the waveforms of a client's ECG. What finding indicates a disturbance in
electrical conduction in the ventricles? - ANS QRS interval of 0.14 second
the normal duration of the QRS is 0.04 - 0.12 sec
T wave is 0.16 sec;
PR is 0.12 - 0.20 sec;
QT is 0.31-0.38 sec
Copyright ©2025 BRIGHTSTARS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
