Exam 2: NSG 3280 / NSG 3280 ( Update)
Pathophysiology for Nurses I Complete 200-Practice-Question
Bank with Verified Answers & Rationales
BLOCK 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (Questions 1–20)
Q1. A nurse is teaching a class about the four interrelated topics of pathophysiology. Which of the
following would the nurse include as the correct components?
A) Incidence, prevalence, mortality, morbidity
B) Etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, treatment implications
C) Diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, evaluation
D) Signs, symptoms, syndromes, diseases
Answer: B
Rationale: The four main topics of pathophysiology are etiology (cause of disease), pathogenesis
(development of disease), clinical manifestations (signs and symptoms), and treatment implications
(therapeutic approaches).
Q2. A patient is diagnosed with a disease of unknown origin. The nurse correctly documents this etiology
as:
A) Iatrogenic
B) Idiopathic
C) Nosocomial
D) Congenital
Answer: B
Rationale: Idiopathic refers to a disease with an unknown cause. Iatrogenic means caused by medical
treatment. Nosocomial means acquired in a healthcare setting. Congenital means present at birth.
,Q3. A patient develops a urinary tract infection as a result of an indwelling Foley catheter. The nurse
identifies this as which type of disease etiology?
A) Idiopathic
B) Nosocomial
C) Iatrogenic
D) Genetic
Answer: C
Rationale: Iatrogenic diseases are those resulting from unintended or unwanted medical treatment. The
infection from the catheter is a direct result of medical intervention.
Q4. A nurse is educating a patient about disease prevention. Which level of prevention is represented by
administering a vaccine to a healthy individual?
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Quaternary prevention
Answer: A
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to alter susceptibility or reduce exposure for susceptible individuals,
such as through immunizations.
Q5. A patient with diabetes undergoes routine screening for diabetic retinopathy. The nurse recognizes
this as an example of:
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Health promotion
Answer: B
,Rationale: Secondary prevention involves early detection, screening, and management of disease before
it becomes symptomatic or advances.
Q6. A stroke patient is receiving physical therapy to restore function and reduce disability. The nurse
identifies this as:
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Palliative care
Answer: C
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on rehabilitation, reducing disability, and restoring effective
function after a disease has occurred.
Q7. A nurse is explaining the difference between a causative factor and a risk factor. Which statement
BEST describes a causative factor?
A) A factor that increases the likelihood of disease
B) A factor that when present will cause a disease
C) A factor that modifies disease severity
D) A factor that accelerates disease progression
Answer: B
Rationale: A causative factor is one that when present will cause a disease. HIV is an example, as
avoidance of this factor prevents AIDS development.
Q8. The nurse is caring for a patient with multiple chronic conditions. The nurse understands that
allostasis refers to:
A) A state of equilibrium in the body
B) The process of adaptation to changes to maintain homeostasis
C) The study of disease patterns in populations
D) The body's response to acute stress only
, Answer: B
Rationale: Allostasis is the adaptive process by which the body maintains or re-establishes homeostasis
despite environmental and lifestyle changes. It is more dynamic than simple homeostasis.
Q9. The study of disease patterns involving populations, including occurrence, incidence, prevalence,
transmission, and distribution, is known as:
A) Pathophysiology
B) Epidemiology
C) Etiology
D) Histology
Answer: B
Rationale: Epidemiology is the study of patterns of disease involving populations, examining occurrence,
incidence, prevalence, transmission, and distribution of diseases in large groups.
Q10. A disease that is native to a specific local region is classified as:
A) Epidemic
B) Pandemic
C) Endemic
D) Sporadic
Answer: C
Rationale: Endemic diseases are those native to a local region. Examples include malaria in certain
tropical regions.
Q11. A disease that spreads to many people at the same time is classified as:
A) Endemic
B) Epidemic
C) Pandemic
Pathophysiology for Nurses I Complete 200-Practice-Question
Bank with Verified Answers & Rationales
BLOCK 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (Questions 1–20)
Q1. A nurse is teaching a class about the four interrelated topics of pathophysiology. Which of the
following would the nurse include as the correct components?
A) Incidence, prevalence, mortality, morbidity
B) Etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, treatment implications
C) Diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, evaluation
D) Signs, symptoms, syndromes, diseases
Answer: B
Rationale: The four main topics of pathophysiology are etiology (cause of disease), pathogenesis
(development of disease), clinical manifestations (signs and symptoms), and treatment implications
(therapeutic approaches).
Q2. A patient is diagnosed with a disease of unknown origin. The nurse correctly documents this etiology
as:
A) Iatrogenic
B) Idiopathic
C) Nosocomial
D) Congenital
Answer: B
Rationale: Idiopathic refers to a disease with an unknown cause. Iatrogenic means caused by medical
treatment. Nosocomial means acquired in a healthcare setting. Congenital means present at birth.
,Q3. A patient develops a urinary tract infection as a result of an indwelling Foley catheter. The nurse
identifies this as which type of disease etiology?
A) Idiopathic
B) Nosocomial
C) Iatrogenic
D) Genetic
Answer: C
Rationale: Iatrogenic diseases are those resulting from unintended or unwanted medical treatment. The
infection from the catheter is a direct result of medical intervention.
Q4. A nurse is educating a patient about disease prevention. Which level of prevention is represented by
administering a vaccine to a healthy individual?
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Quaternary prevention
Answer: A
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to alter susceptibility or reduce exposure for susceptible individuals,
such as through immunizations.
Q5. A patient with diabetes undergoes routine screening for diabetic retinopathy. The nurse recognizes
this as an example of:
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Health promotion
Answer: B
,Rationale: Secondary prevention involves early detection, screening, and management of disease before
it becomes symptomatic or advances.
Q6. A stroke patient is receiving physical therapy to restore function and reduce disability. The nurse
identifies this as:
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Palliative care
Answer: C
Rationale: Tertiary prevention focuses on rehabilitation, reducing disability, and restoring effective
function after a disease has occurred.
Q7. A nurse is explaining the difference between a causative factor and a risk factor. Which statement
BEST describes a causative factor?
A) A factor that increases the likelihood of disease
B) A factor that when present will cause a disease
C) A factor that modifies disease severity
D) A factor that accelerates disease progression
Answer: B
Rationale: A causative factor is one that when present will cause a disease. HIV is an example, as
avoidance of this factor prevents AIDS development.
Q8. The nurse is caring for a patient with multiple chronic conditions. The nurse understands that
allostasis refers to:
A) A state of equilibrium in the body
B) The process of adaptation to changes to maintain homeostasis
C) The study of disease patterns in populations
D) The body's response to acute stress only
, Answer: B
Rationale: Allostasis is the adaptive process by which the body maintains or re-establishes homeostasis
despite environmental and lifestyle changes. It is more dynamic than simple homeostasis.
Q9. The study of disease patterns involving populations, including occurrence, incidence, prevalence,
transmission, and distribution, is known as:
A) Pathophysiology
B) Epidemiology
C) Etiology
D) Histology
Answer: B
Rationale: Epidemiology is the study of patterns of disease involving populations, examining occurrence,
incidence, prevalence, transmission, and distribution of diseases in large groups.
Q10. A disease that is native to a specific local region is classified as:
A) Epidemic
B) Pandemic
C) Endemic
D) Sporadic
Answer: C
Rationale: Endemic diseases are those native to a local region. Examples include malaria in certain
tropical regions.
Q11. A disease that spreads to many people at the same time is classified as:
A) Endemic
B) Epidemic
C) Pandemic
