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NSG 3850 Exam 2 Pathophysiology II Study
Guide | Exam Prep Questions & Detailed
Answers
NSG 3850 Exam 2 Pathophysiology II
1. A patient with chronic bronchitis presents with cyanotic lips and nail beds, is overweight, and
has a chronic productive cough lasting more than three months for two consecutive years. This
clinical presentation is characteristic of which COPD type?
a) Type A COPD (Pink Puffer)
b) Type B COPD (Blue Bloater)
c) Emphysema
d) Bronchiectasis
CORRECT ANSWER: Type B COPD (Blue Bloater)
2. A 45-year-old patient with a history of smoking presents with dyspnea, minimal cough, barrel
chest, and uses accessory muscles to breathe. Which pathophysiological mechanism is primarily
responsible for this patient's condition?
a) Hypersecretion of bronchial mucus with airway obstruction
b) Destruction of alveolar walls with loss of elastic recoil
c) Inflammation of trachea and bronchi with increased mucus production
d) Fibrotic changes in the lung parenchyma with granuloma formation
CORRECT ANSWER: Destruction of alveolar walls with loss of elastic recoil
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3. A patient has been diagnosed with hypoventilation syndrome secondary to obesity. Which
arterial blood gas finding would the nurse expect to see in this patient?
a) Decreased PaCO2 and increased PaO2
b) Increased PaCO2 greater than 45 mmHg and hypoxemia
c) Decreased PaCO2 less than 35 mmHg and normal PaO2
d) Normal PaCO2 and decreased PaO2
CORRECT ANSWER: Increased PaCO2 greater than 45 mmHg and hypoxemia
4. A patient who recently started morphine for pain management develops respiratory depression.
Which mechanism best explains this patient's hypoventilation?
a) Direct stimulation of the respiratory center in the medulla
b) Depression of the central nervous system leading to decreased respiratory drive
c) Increased sensitivity to carbon dioxide in the blood
d) Bronchoconstriction caused by histamine release
CORRECT ANSWER: Depression of the central nervous system leading to decreased
respiratory drive
5. A patient with emphysema is described as having a "pink puffer" appearance. Which clinical
manifestation would the nurse expect to observe in this patient?
a) Cyanosis and peripheral edema
b) Thin appearance with minimal cough and use of accessory muscles
c) Productive cough with excessive sputum production
d) Obesity and right-sided heart failure symptoms
CORRECT ANSWER: Thin appearance with minimal cough and use of accessory muscles
6. A patient presents with sudden chest pain on the affected side, tachycardia, and decreased
breath sounds on auscultation. The trachea is shifted to the contralateral side. Which condition is
the patient most likely experiencing?
a) Pleural effusion
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b) Tension pneumothorax
c) Atelectasis
d) Pulmonary embolism
CORRECT ANSWER: Tension pneumothorax
7. The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic bronchitis who has developed right-sided heart
failure. Which finding would be consistent with this complication?
a) Pulmonary crackles and pink frothy sputum
b) Distended neck veins and peripheral edema
c) Chest pain and diaphoresis
d) Palpitations and syncope
CORRECT ANSWER: Distended neck veins and peripheral edema
8. A patient with suspected sarcoidosis has erythema nodosum, uveitis, and hepatosplenomegaly.
Which diagnostic finding would provide definitive diagnosis for this condition?
a) Elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme levels
b) Noncaseating granulomas on transbronchial lung biopsy
c) Positive tuberculin skin test
d) Decreased forced expiratory volume on pulmonary function testing
CORRECT ANSWER: Noncaseating granulomas on transbronchial lung biopsy
9. A farmer develops chills, sweating, dyspnea, and a dry cough approximately five hours after
working with hay. The symptoms resolve within 18 hours. This presentation is most consistent
with which condition?
a) Asthma exacerbation
b) Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
c) Bacterial pneumonia
d) Pulmonary embolism
CORRECT ANSWER: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
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10. A patient with mitral valve stenosis is at increased risk for which cardiac dysrhythmia that
can lead to clot formation?
a) Ventricular fibrillation
b) Atrial fibrillation
c) Premature ventricular contractions
d) Sinus bradycardia
CORRECT ANSWER: Atrial fibrillation
11. A patient with aortic regurgitation has a blood pressure reading of 139/58 mmHg. Which
pathophysiological mechanism explains this finding?
a) Decreased stroke volume with reduced cardiac output
b) Backward flow of blood into the left ventricle causing high systolic and low diastolic pressure
c) Obstruction of aortic outflow causing increased systolic pressure
d) Reduced preload due to valve incompetence
CORRECT ANSWER: Backward flow of blood into the left ventricle causing high systolic and
low diastolic pressure
12. A patient develops infective endocarditis secondary to intravenous drug use. Which
pathophysiological process occurs in this condition?
a) Fibrosis and calcification of the valve leaflets
b) Vegetations on the endocardial structures that interfere with valve function
c) Stenosis of the mitral valve causing pulmonary congestion
d) Rupture of the chordae tendineae with acute regurgitation
CORRECT ANSWER: Vegetations on the endocardial structures that interfere with valve
function
NSG 3850 Exam 2 Pathophysiology II Study
Guide | Exam Prep Questions & Detailed
Answers
NSG 3850 Exam 2 Pathophysiology II
1. A patient with chronic bronchitis presents with cyanotic lips and nail beds, is overweight, and
has a chronic productive cough lasting more than three months for two consecutive years. This
clinical presentation is characteristic of which COPD type?
a) Type A COPD (Pink Puffer)
b) Type B COPD (Blue Bloater)
c) Emphysema
d) Bronchiectasis
CORRECT ANSWER: Type B COPD (Blue Bloater)
2. A 45-year-old patient with a history of smoking presents with dyspnea, minimal cough, barrel
chest, and uses accessory muscles to breathe. Which pathophysiological mechanism is primarily
responsible for this patient's condition?
a) Hypersecretion of bronchial mucus with airway obstruction
b) Destruction of alveolar walls with loss of elastic recoil
c) Inflammation of trachea and bronchi with increased mucus production
d) Fibrotic changes in the lung parenchyma with granuloma formation
CORRECT ANSWER: Destruction of alveolar walls with loss of elastic recoil
, Page 2 of 74
3. A patient has been diagnosed with hypoventilation syndrome secondary to obesity. Which
arterial blood gas finding would the nurse expect to see in this patient?
a) Decreased PaCO2 and increased PaO2
b) Increased PaCO2 greater than 45 mmHg and hypoxemia
c) Decreased PaCO2 less than 35 mmHg and normal PaO2
d) Normal PaCO2 and decreased PaO2
CORRECT ANSWER: Increased PaCO2 greater than 45 mmHg and hypoxemia
4. A patient who recently started morphine for pain management develops respiratory depression.
Which mechanism best explains this patient's hypoventilation?
a) Direct stimulation of the respiratory center in the medulla
b) Depression of the central nervous system leading to decreased respiratory drive
c) Increased sensitivity to carbon dioxide in the blood
d) Bronchoconstriction caused by histamine release
CORRECT ANSWER: Depression of the central nervous system leading to decreased
respiratory drive
5. A patient with emphysema is described as having a "pink puffer" appearance. Which clinical
manifestation would the nurse expect to observe in this patient?
a) Cyanosis and peripheral edema
b) Thin appearance with minimal cough and use of accessory muscles
c) Productive cough with excessive sputum production
d) Obesity and right-sided heart failure symptoms
CORRECT ANSWER: Thin appearance with minimal cough and use of accessory muscles
6. A patient presents with sudden chest pain on the affected side, tachycardia, and decreased
breath sounds on auscultation. The trachea is shifted to the contralateral side. Which condition is
the patient most likely experiencing?
a) Pleural effusion
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b) Tension pneumothorax
c) Atelectasis
d) Pulmonary embolism
CORRECT ANSWER: Tension pneumothorax
7. The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic bronchitis who has developed right-sided heart
failure. Which finding would be consistent with this complication?
a) Pulmonary crackles and pink frothy sputum
b) Distended neck veins and peripheral edema
c) Chest pain and diaphoresis
d) Palpitations and syncope
CORRECT ANSWER: Distended neck veins and peripheral edema
8. A patient with suspected sarcoidosis has erythema nodosum, uveitis, and hepatosplenomegaly.
Which diagnostic finding would provide definitive diagnosis for this condition?
a) Elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme levels
b) Noncaseating granulomas on transbronchial lung biopsy
c) Positive tuberculin skin test
d) Decreased forced expiratory volume on pulmonary function testing
CORRECT ANSWER: Noncaseating granulomas on transbronchial lung biopsy
9. A farmer develops chills, sweating, dyspnea, and a dry cough approximately five hours after
working with hay. The symptoms resolve within 18 hours. This presentation is most consistent
with which condition?
a) Asthma exacerbation
b) Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
c) Bacterial pneumonia
d) Pulmonary embolism
CORRECT ANSWER: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
, Page 4 of 74
10. A patient with mitral valve stenosis is at increased risk for which cardiac dysrhythmia that
can lead to clot formation?
a) Ventricular fibrillation
b) Atrial fibrillation
c) Premature ventricular contractions
d) Sinus bradycardia
CORRECT ANSWER: Atrial fibrillation
11. A patient with aortic regurgitation has a blood pressure reading of 139/58 mmHg. Which
pathophysiological mechanism explains this finding?
a) Decreased stroke volume with reduced cardiac output
b) Backward flow of blood into the left ventricle causing high systolic and low diastolic pressure
c) Obstruction of aortic outflow causing increased systolic pressure
d) Reduced preload due to valve incompetence
CORRECT ANSWER: Backward flow of blood into the left ventricle causing high systolic and
low diastolic pressure
12. A patient develops infective endocarditis secondary to intravenous drug use. Which
pathophysiological process occurs in this condition?
a) Fibrosis and calcification of the valve leaflets
b) Vegetations on the endocardial structures that interfere with valve function
c) Stenosis of the mitral valve causing pulmonary congestion
d) Rupture of the chordae tendineae with acute regurgitation
CORRECT ANSWER: Vegetations on the endocardial structures that interfere with valve
function
