GCU NUR-631 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
2026| ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS| GRADED A+
QUESTION 1
Removal of part of the liver leads to the remaining liver cells undergoing
compensatory:
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Compensatory hyperplasia is an adaptive mechanism that enables
certain organs to regenerate. For example, the removal of part of the liver leads
to hyperplasia of the remaining liver cells (hepatocytes) to compensate for the
loss.
QUESTION 2
Which of the following statements best describes Raynaud disease?
A. An inflammatory disorder of small and medium-size arteries in the feet and
sometimes in the hands
B. A neoplastic disorder of the lining of the arteries and veins of the upper extremities
C. A vasospastic disorder of the small arteries and arterioles of the fingers, and less
commonly, the toes
D. An autoimmune disorder of the large arteries and veins of the upper and lower
extremities
Correct Answer: C
,QUESTION 3
A patient is diagnosed with pulmonary disease and elevated pulmonary vascular
resistance. Which of the following heart failures may result from this condition?
A. Right heart failure
B. Left heart failure
C. Low-output failure
D. High-output failure
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Right heart failure is defined as the inability of the right ventricle to
provide adequate blood flow into the pulmonary circulation at a normal central
venous pressure. It most often results from left heart failure when the increase in
left ventricular filling pressure that is reflected back into the pulmonary
circulation is severe enough. As pressure in the pulmonary circulation rises, the
resistance to right ventricular emptying increases.
QUESTION 4
What physical sign is the result of turbulent blood flow through a vessel?
A. Increased blood pressure during periods of stress
B. Bounding pulse felt on palpation
C. Cyanosis observed on exertion
D. Murmur heard on auscultation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Where flow is obstructed, the vessel turns or blood flows over rough
surfaces. The flow becomes turbulent with whorls or eddy currents that produce
noise, causing a murmur to be heard on auscultation, such as occurs during
blood pressure measurement with a sphygmomanometer.
,QUESTION 5
Which congenital heart defects occur in trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and Down syndrome?
A. Coarctation of the aorta and pulmonary stenosis
B. Tetralogy of Fallot and persistent truncus arteriosus
C. Atrial septal defect and dextrocardia
D. Ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Congenital heart defects that are related to dysfunction of trisomy 13,
trisomy 18, and Down syndrome include VSD and PDA. The other defects are
not associated with dysfunction of trisomy 13 or 18 and Down syndrome.
QUESTION 6
An infant has a continuous machine-type murmur best heard at the left upper sternal
border throughout systole and diastole, as well as a bounding pulse and a thrill on
palpation. These clinical findings are consistent with which congenital heart defect?
A. Atrial septal defect
B. Ventricular septal defect
C. Patent ductus arteriosus
D. Atrioventricular canal defect
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: If pulmonary vascular resistance has fallen, then infants with PDA
will characteristically have a continuous machine-type murmur best heard at the
left upper sternal border throughout systole and diastole. If the PDA is
significant, then the infant also will have bounding pulses, an active precordium,
a thrill on palpation, and signs and symptoms of pulmonary overcirculation.
QUESTION 7
Which compensatory mechanism is spontaneously used by children diagnosed with
, tetralogy of Fallot to relieve hypoxic spells?
A. Lying on their left side
B. Performing the valsalva maneuver
C. Squatting
D. Hyperventilating
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Squatting is a spontaneous compensatory mechanism used by older
children to alleviate hypoxic spells. Squatting and its variants increase systemic
resistance while decreasing venous return to the heart from the inferior vena
cava.
QUESTION 8
An infant diagnosed with a small patent ductus arteriosus would likely exhibit which
symptom?
A. Intermittent murmur
B. Lack of symptoms
C. Need for surgical repair
D. Triad of congenital defects
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Infants with a small PDA usually remain asymptomatic.
QUESTION 9
Fluid in the pleural space characterizes which condition?
A. Pleural effusion
B. Atelectasis
C. Bronchiectasis
D. Ischemia
2026| ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS| GRADED A+
QUESTION 1
Removal of part of the liver leads to the remaining liver cells undergoing
compensatory:
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Compensatory hyperplasia is an adaptive mechanism that enables
certain organs to regenerate. For example, the removal of part of the liver leads
to hyperplasia of the remaining liver cells (hepatocytes) to compensate for the
loss.
QUESTION 2
Which of the following statements best describes Raynaud disease?
A. An inflammatory disorder of small and medium-size arteries in the feet and
sometimes in the hands
B. A neoplastic disorder of the lining of the arteries and veins of the upper extremities
C. A vasospastic disorder of the small arteries and arterioles of the fingers, and less
commonly, the toes
D. An autoimmune disorder of the large arteries and veins of the upper and lower
extremities
Correct Answer: C
,QUESTION 3
A patient is diagnosed with pulmonary disease and elevated pulmonary vascular
resistance. Which of the following heart failures may result from this condition?
A. Right heart failure
B. Left heart failure
C. Low-output failure
D. High-output failure
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Right heart failure is defined as the inability of the right ventricle to
provide adequate blood flow into the pulmonary circulation at a normal central
venous pressure. It most often results from left heart failure when the increase in
left ventricular filling pressure that is reflected back into the pulmonary
circulation is severe enough. As pressure in the pulmonary circulation rises, the
resistance to right ventricular emptying increases.
QUESTION 4
What physical sign is the result of turbulent blood flow through a vessel?
A. Increased blood pressure during periods of stress
B. Bounding pulse felt on palpation
C. Cyanosis observed on exertion
D. Murmur heard on auscultation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Where flow is obstructed, the vessel turns or blood flows over rough
surfaces. The flow becomes turbulent with whorls or eddy currents that produce
noise, causing a murmur to be heard on auscultation, such as occurs during
blood pressure measurement with a sphygmomanometer.
,QUESTION 5
Which congenital heart defects occur in trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and Down syndrome?
A. Coarctation of the aorta and pulmonary stenosis
B. Tetralogy of Fallot and persistent truncus arteriosus
C. Atrial septal defect and dextrocardia
D. Ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Congenital heart defects that are related to dysfunction of trisomy 13,
trisomy 18, and Down syndrome include VSD and PDA. The other defects are
not associated with dysfunction of trisomy 13 or 18 and Down syndrome.
QUESTION 6
An infant has a continuous machine-type murmur best heard at the left upper sternal
border throughout systole and diastole, as well as a bounding pulse and a thrill on
palpation. These clinical findings are consistent with which congenital heart defect?
A. Atrial septal defect
B. Ventricular septal defect
C. Patent ductus arteriosus
D. Atrioventricular canal defect
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: If pulmonary vascular resistance has fallen, then infants with PDA
will characteristically have a continuous machine-type murmur best heard at the
left upper sternal border throughout systole and diastole. If the PDA is
significant, then the infant also will have bounding pulses, an active precordium,
a thrill on palpation, and signs and symptoms of pulmonary overcirculation.
QUESTION 7
Which compensatory mechanism is spontaneously used by children diagnosed with
, tetralogy of Fallot to relieve hypoxic spells?
A. Lying on their left side
B. Performing the valsalva maneuver
C. Squatting
D. Hyperventilating
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Squatting is a spontaneous compensatory mechanism used by older
children to alleviate hypoxic spells. Squatting and its variants increase systemic
resistance while decreasing venous return to the heart from the inferior vena
cava.
QUESTION 8
An infant diagnosed with a small patent ductus arteriosus would likely exhibit which
symptom?
A. Intermittent murmur
B. Lack of symptoms
C. Need for surgical repair
D. Triad of congenital defects
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Infants with a small PDA usually remain asymptomatic.
QUESTION 9
Fluid in the pleural space characterizes which condition?
A. Pleural effusion
B. Atelectasis
C. Bronchiectasis
D. Ischemia
