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NUR 2063 Essentials of Pathophysiology Exam 1
Rasmussen University Actual Exam 2026/2027 –
Complete Exam-Style Questions with Detailed
Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section 1: Core Concepts & Homeostasis (Questions 1-10)
1. A patient is diagnosed with hypertension, but the underlying cause cannot be identified. How
would this condition be classified?
• A) Nosocomial
• B) Iatrogenic
• C) Idiopathic
• D) Congenital
Answer: C) Idiopathic
Rationale: Idiopathic means the cause of the disease is unknown. Nosocomial refers to an infection
acquired in a hospital. Iatrogenic means the condition was caused by medical treatment. Congenital
means present at birth.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient with a rash, fever, and complaints of nausea. The rash and fever
are considered:
• A) Symptoms
• B) Signs
• C) Syndromes
• D) Sequelae
Answer: B) Signs
Rationale: Signs are objective, measurable, and observable manifestations of disease (like a rash,
fever, or bleeding). Symptoms are subjective feelings reported by the patient (like nausea or pain).
3. Which feedback mechanism is most commonly used by the body to maintain homeostasis?
• A) Positive feedback
• B) Negative feedback
• C) Feed-forward control
, 2
• D) Biorhythmic control
Answer: B) Negative feedback
Rationale: Negative feedback resists changes to maintain a stable internal environment (e.g.,
temperature regulation, blood glucose control). Positive feedback moves the body away from
homeostasis to complete a specific process (like childbirth).
4. A patient is in the "fight or flight" response after a traumatic event. Which stage of the General
Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) are they experiencing?
• A) Exhaustion stage
• B) Resistance stage
• C) Alarm stage
• D) Recovery stage
Answer: C) Alarm stage
Rationale: The Alarm stage is the body's immediate reaction to a stressor, activating the
sympathetic nervous system. The Resistance stage attempts to return to homeostasis, and the
Exhaustion stage occurs when the body can no longer cope.
5. A patient with chronic, unresolved stress is at risk for developing organ damage and disease.
This is characteristic of which stage of GAS?
• A) Alarm
• B) Resistance
• C) Exhaustion
• D) Adaptation
Answer: C) Exhaustion
Rationale: The Exhaustion stage occurs when the stressor persists and the body's adaptive
mechanisms fail. This is when the body can no longer maintain homeostasis, leading to potential
disease or death.
6. The process by which the body successfully adapts to challenges to achieve a new state of
balance is known as:
• A) Homeostasis
• B) Allostasis
• C) Pathogenesis
• D) Etiology
NUR 2063 Essentials of Pathophysiology Exam 1
Rasmussen University Actual Exam 2026/2027 –
Complete Exam-Style Questions with Detailed
Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section 1: Core Concepts & Homeostasis (Questions 1-10)
1. A patient is diagnosed with hypertension, but the underlying cause cannot be identified. How
would this condition be classified?
• A) Nosocomial
• B) Iatrogenic
• C) Idiopathic
• D) Congenital
Answer: C) Idiopathic
Rationale: Idiopathic means the cause of the disease is unknown. Nosocomial refers to an infection
acquired in a hospital. Iatrogenic means the condition was caused by medical treatment. Congenital
means present at birth.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient with a rash, fever, and complaints of nausea. The rash and fever
are considered:
• A) Symptoms
• B) Signs
• C) Syndromes
• D) Sequelae
Answer: B) Signs
Rationale: Signs are objective, measurable, and observable manifestations of disease (like a rash,
fever, or bleeding). Symptoms are subjective feelings reported by the patient (like nausea or pain).
3. Which feedback mechanism is most commonly used by the body to maintain homeostasis?
• A) Positive feedback
• B) Negative feedback
• C) Feed-forward control
, 2
• D) Biorhythmic control
Answer: B) Negative feedback
Rationale: Negative feedback resists changes to maintain a stable internal environment (e.g.,
temperature regulation, blood glucose control). Positive feedback moves the body away from
homeostasis to complete a specific process (like childbirth).
4. A patient is in the "fight or flight" response after a traumatic event. Which stage of the General
Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) are they experiencing?
• A) Exhaustion stage
• B) Resistance stage
• C) Alarm stage
• D) Recovery stage
Answer: C) Alarm stage
Rationale: The Alarm stage is the body's immediate reaction to a stressor, activating the
sympathetic nervous system. The Resistance stage attempts to return to homeostasis, and the
Exhaustion stage occurs when the body can no longer cope.
5. A patient with chronic, unresolved stress is at risk for developing organ damage and disease.
This is characteristic of which stage of GAS?
• A) Alarm
• B) Resistance
• C) Exhaustion
• D) Adaptation
Answer: C) Exhaustion
Rationale: The Exhaustion stage occurs when the stressor persists and the body's adaptive
mechanisms fail. This is when the body can no longer maintain homeostasis, leading to potential
disease or death.
6. The process by which the body successfully adapts to challenges to achieve a new state of
balance is known as:
• A) Homeostasis
• B) Allostasis
• C) Pathogenesis
• D) Etiology
