Portage Learning
MAXE · 132 SRUN
★ ★
PN School of Nursing
EST. 2009
FLEXIBLE. AFFORDABLE. ACCREDITED.
NURS 231 — Pathophysiology & Nursing Fundamentals
CO M P R E H E N S I V E E X A M R E V I E W
INSTITUTION Portage Learning COURSE CODE NURS 231
PROGRAM Nursing ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE NURS 231 — Pathophysiology & TOTAL QUESTIONS 164 Questions
Nursing Fundamentals
COURSE TITLE Pathophysiology & Nursing FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Fundamentals Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover therapeutic communication, stress management, nursing process, ethics, legal issues,
and pathophysiology.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
▸ Use these rationales to reinforce key nursing concepts and evidence-based practice.
, SECTION I — NURSING FUNDAMENTALS & PRACTICE Questions 1 – 164
1. What is the importance of therapeutic communication with patients?
A. When patients feel comfortable with their illness and have the skills to manage it, they
tend to feel less stressed
B. It allows nurses to control patient behavior
C. It ensures patients follow all medical advice
D. It reduces the need for medication
CORRECT ANSWER A — When patients feel comfortable with their illness and have the skills to
manage it, they tend to feel less stressed
RATIONALE Therapeutic communication helps patients feel comfortable with their illness and
develop skills to manage it, which reduces stress. The first priority is identifying
factors that cause barriers to learning, including cultural awareness and ensuring
the environment is good for learning.
2. How does stress impact families?
A. Families must continue functioning as normal, yet deal with the alterations imposed by
the illness
B. Families typically become closer during illness
C. Stress has no impact on family functioning
D. Families easily accept and respond to patient needs
CORRECT ANSWER A — Families must continue functioning as normal, yet deal with the
alterations imposed by the illness
RATIONALE Families must continue functioning as normal while dealing with the alterations
imposed by illness. They may withdraw from each other, have problems
accepting and responding to patient needs, and feel confused and uncertain.
Chronic illness can be extremely stressful, and patients may feel guilty.
,3. What is caregiver stress?
A. Often from prolonged, progressive illness and looks very much like anxiety symptoms
B. A temporary condition that resolves quickly
C. A condition that only affects professional nurses
D. A condition that only affects family members
CORRECT ANSWER A — Often from prolonged, progressive illness and looks very much like
anxiety symptoms
RATIONALE Caregiver stress often results from prolonged, progressive illness and looks very
much like anxiety symptoms. Support networks and associations can help, and
finding support from those going through the same thing is beneficial.
4. What is compassion fatigue?
A. The idea that you spend most if not all your time caring for others' needs that you neglect
your own needs
B. A condition that only affects new nurses
C. A physical illness caused by caring for patients
D. A temporary feeling of being tired
CORRECT ANSWER A — The idea that you spend most if not all your time caring for others'
needs that you neglect your own needs
RATIONALE Compassion fatigue is the idea that you spend most if not all your time caring for
others' needs that you neglect your own needs. It is a common issue in nursing
that can lead to burnout.
, 5. What are the symptoms of compassion fatigue? (Select all that apply)
A. Resentment, frustration, decreased physical energy
B. Mistakes, errors, accidents, low productivity
C. Detachment, forgetfulness, poor concentration, loss of focus
D. All of the above
CORRECT ANSWER D — All of the above
RATIONALE Symptoms of compassion fatigue include resentment, frustration, decreased
physical energy, mistakes/errors/accidents, low productivity, detachment,
forgetfulness, poor concentration, and loss of focus.
6. What is moral distress?
A. An emotional state that arises from a situation when a nurse feels the ethically correct
action to take is different from what they're tasked with doing
B. A physical illness caused by working too many hours
C. A temporary feeling of being overwhelmed
D. A condition that only affects new nurses
CORRECT ANSWER A — An emotional state that arises from a situation when a nurse feels the
ethically correct action to take is different from what they're tasked with
doing
RATIONALE Moral distress is an emotional state that arises when a nurse feels the ethically
correct action to take is different from what they are tasked with doing. An
example is a school nurse recommending treatment but the family cannot afford
it or refuses.
MAXE · 132 SRUN
★ ★
PN School of Nursing
EST. 2009
FLEXIBLE. AFFORDABLE. ACCREDITED.
NURS 231 — Pathophysiology & Nursing Fundamentals
CO M P R E H E N S I V E E X A M R E V I E W
INSTITUTION Portage Learning COURSE CODE NURS 231
PROGRAM Nursing ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE NURS 231 — Pathophysiology & TOTAL QUESTIONS 164 Questions
Nursing Fundamentals
COURSE TITLE Pathophysiology & Nursing FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Fundamentals Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover therapeutic communication, stress management, nursing process, ethics, legal issues,
and pathophysiology.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
▸ Use these rationales to reinforce key nursing concepts and evidence-based practice.
, SECTION I — NURSING FUNDAMENTALS & PRACTICE Questions 1 – 164
1. What is the importance of therapeutic communication with patients?
A. When patients feel comfortable with their illness and have the skills to manage it, they
tend to feel less stressed
B. It allows nurses to control patient behavior
C. It ensures patients follow all medical advice
D. It reduces the need for medication
CORRECT ANSWER A — When patients feel comfortable with their illness and have the skills to
manage it, they tend to feel less stressed
RATIONALE Therapeutic communication helps patients feel comfortable with their illness and
develop skills to manage it, which reduces stress. The first priority is identifying
factors that cause barriers to learning, including cultural awareness and ensuring
the environment is good for learning.
2. How does stress impact families?
A. Families must continue functioning as normal, yet deal with the alterations imposed by
the illness
B. Families typically become closer during illness
C. Stress has no impact on family functioning
D. Families easily accept and respond to patient needs
CORRECT ANSWER A — Families must continue functioning as normal, yet deal with the
alterations imposed by the illness
RATIONALE Families must continue functioning as normal while dealing with the alterations
imposed by illness. They may withdraw from each other, have problems
accepting and responding to patient needs, and feel confused and uncertain.
Chronic illness can be extremely stressful, and patients may feel guilty.
,3. What is caregiver stress?
A. Often from prolonged, progressive illness and looks very much like anxiety symptoms
B. A temporary condition that resolves quickly
C. A condition that only affects professional nurses
D. A condition that only affects family members
CORRECT ANSWER A — Often from prolonged, progressive illness and looks very much like
anxiety symptoms
RATIONALE Caregiver stress often results from prolonged, progressive illness and looks very
much like anxiety symptoms. Support networks and associations can help, and
finding support from those going through the same thing is beneficial.
4. What is compassion fatigue?
A. The idea that you spend most if not all your time caring for others' needs that you neglect
your own needs
B. A condition that only affects new nurses
C. A physical illness caused by caring for patients
D. A temporary feeling of being tired
CORRECT ANSWER A — The idea that you spend most if not all your time caring for others'
needs that you neglect your own needs
RATIONALE Compassion fatigue is the idea that you spend most if not all your time caring for
others' needs that you neglect your own needs. It is a common issue in nursing
that can lead to burnout.
, 5. What are the symptoms of compassion fatigue? (Select all that apply)
A. Resentment, frustration, decreased physical energy
B. Mistakes, errors, accidents, low productivity
C. Detachment, forgetfulness, poor concentration, loss of focus
D. All of the above
CORRECT ANSWER D — All of the above
RATIONALE Symptoms of compassion fatigue include resentment, frustration, decreased
physical energy, mistakes/errors/accidents, low productivity, detachment,
forgetfulness, poor concentration, and loss of focus.
6. What is moral distress?
A. An emotional state that arises from a situation when a nurse feels the ethically correct
action to take is different from what they're tasked with doing
B. A physical illness caused by working too many hours
C. A temporary feeling of being overwhelmed
D. A condition that only affects new nurses
CORRECT ANSWER A — An emotional state that arises from a situation when a nurse feels the
ethically correct action to take is different from what they're tasked with
doing
RATIONALE Moral distress is an emotional state that arises when a nurse feels the ethically
correct action to take is different from what they are tasked with doing. An
example is a school nurse recommending treatment but the family cannot afford
it or refuses.
