,Galen NSG 3280 Exam 1 – Pathophysiology for
Nurses I (2026) Actual Q&A PDF
1. The study of abnormalities in the physiologic functioning of living beings is the definition of:
A) Etiology
B) Pathophysiology
C) Epidemiology
D) Pathogenesis
Correct Answer: Pathophysiology
Rationale: Pathophysiology is the study of functional or physiologic changes in the body that result
from disease processes. Etiology is the study of causes; epidemiology studies disease distribution;
pathogenesis describes the sequence of events from initial stimulus to disease expression.
2. A patient develops a postoperative wound infection after a surgical instrument was improperly
sterilized. The nurse documents the etiology of this infection as:
A) Idiopathic
B) Iatrogenic
C) Nosocomial
D) Multifactorial
Correct Answer: Iatrogenic
Rationale: Iatrogenic diseases result from medical treatment or diagnostic procedures, including
errors. Idiopathic means the cause is unknown. Nosocomial refers to hospital‑acquired infections, but
iatrogenic specifically indicates causation by a healthcare intervention.
3. The nurse is teaching a community class about disease prevention. Recommending annual
mammograms for women over 40 is an example of which level of prevention?
A) Primary
,B) Secondary
C) Tertiary
D) Quaternary
Correct Answer: Secondary
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and prompt treatment of disease.
Mammograms screen for breast cancer before symptoms appear, allowing early intervention. Primary
prevention prevents disease onset; tertiary reduces disability from established disease.
4. A patient’s medical record states that the cause of the disease is unknown. The nurse identifies this
as which type of etiology?
A) Iatrogenic
B) Idiopathic
C) Nosocomial
D) Multifactorial
Correct Answer: Idiopathic
Rationale: Idiopathic means the cause is unknown. Iatrogenic is caused by medical treatment;
nosocomial is hospital‑acquired; multifactorial involves multiple factors. Many diseases, such as
essential hypertension, are idiopathic.
5. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell size in response to increased workload?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
, Rationale: Hypertrophy is the enlargement of cells due to increased functional demand. For example,
cardiac muscle cells enlarge in response to chronic hypertension. Atrophy is a decrease in cell size;
hyperplasia is an increase in cell number; metaplasia is replacement of one cell type by another.
6. A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease develops Barrett’s esophagus, in which the
normal squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium. This cellular adaptation is:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Dysplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type by another, often in
response to chronic irritation. In Barrett’s esophagus, squamous cells are replaced by columnar cells,
which are more resistant to acid but carry a risk of malignant transformation.
7. A Pap smear reveals cervical cells with abnormal size, shape, and organization. The nurse identifies
this as:
A) Metaplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia is disordered growth with abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and organization,
often a precancerous condition. Cervical dysplasia (CIN) is caused by HPV and can progress to cervical
cancer if untreated.
Nurses I (2026) Actual Q&A PDF
1. The study of abnormalities in the physiologic functioning of living beings is the definition of:
A) Etiology
B) Pathophysiology
C) Epidemiology
D) Pathogenesis
Correct Answer: Pathophysiology
Rationale: Pathophysiology is the study of functional or physiologic changes in the body that result
from disease processes. Etiology is the study of causes; epidemiology studies disease distribution;
pathogenesis describes the sequence of events from initial stimulus to disease expression.
2. A patient develops a postoperative wound infection after a surgical instrument was improperly
sterilized. The nurse documents the etiology of this infection as:
A) Idiopathic
B) Iatrogenic
C) Nosocomial
D) Multifactorial
Correct Answer: Iatrogenic
Rationale: Iatrogenic diseases result from medical treatment or diagnostic procedures, including
errors. Idiopathic means the cause is unknown. Nosocomial refers to hospital‑acquired infections, but
iatrogenic specifically indicates causation by a healthcare intervention.
3. The nurse is teaching a community class about disease prevention. Recommending annual
mammograms for women over 40 is an example of which level of prevention?
A) Primary
,B) Secondary
C) Tertiary
D) Quaternary
Correct Answer: Secondary
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and prompt treatment of disease.
Mammograms screen for breast cancer before symptoms appear, allowing early intervention. Primary
prevention prevents disease onset; tertiary reduces disability from established disease.
4. A patient’s medical record states that the cause of the disease is unknown. The nurse identifies this
as which type of etiology?
A) Iatrogenic
B) Idiopathic
C) Nosocomial
D) Multifactorial
Correct Answer: Idiopathic
Rationale: Idiopathic means the cause is unknown. Iatrogenic is caused by medical treatment;
nosocomial is hospital‑acquired; multifactorial involves multiple factors. Many diseases, such as
essential hypertension, are idiopathic.
5. Which cellular adaptation involves an increase in cell size in response to increased workload?
A) Atrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Metaplasia
Correct Answer: Hypertrophy
, Rationale: Hypertrophy is the enlargement of cells due to increased functional demand. For example,
cardiac muscle cells enlarge in response to chronic hypertension. Atrophy is a decrease in cell size;
hyperplasia is an increase in cell number; metaplasia is replacement of one cell type by another.
6. A patient with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease develops Barrett’s esophagus, in which the
normal squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium. This cellular adaptation is:
A) Hypertrophy
B) Dysplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Hyperplasia
Correct Answer: Metaplasia
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type by another, often in
response to chronic irritation. In Barrett’s esophagus, squamous cells are replaced by columnar cells,
which are more resistant to acid but carry a risk of malignant transformation.
7. A Pap smear reveals cervical cells with abnormal size, shape, and organization. The nurse identifies
this as:
A) Metaplasia
B) Dysplasia
C) Atrophy
D) Hypertrophy
Correct Answer: Dysplasia
Rationale: Dysplasia is disordered growth with abnormal changes in cell size, shape, and organization,
often a precancerous condition. Cervical dysplasia (CIN) is caused by HPV and can progress to cervical
cancer if untreated.
