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NUR 555 PRACTICE EXAM 100 Questions with Answers &
Rationales
SECTION 1: ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
1. A 55-year-old male with chronic hypertension develops left
ventricular hypertrophy. This is an example of:
A. Pathologic hypertrophy due to pressure overload
B. Physiologic hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic pressure overload from hypertension causes
an increase in myocardial cell size—pathologic hypertrophy.
Physiologic hypertrophy occurs with exercise.
2. Which of the following best describes the pathophysiology of
type 2 diabetes mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
B. Insulin resistance with progressive beta-cell dysfunction
C. Absolute insulin deficiency
D. Excessive glucagon secretion only
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Answer: B
Rationale: Type 2 DM involves insulin resistance and relative
insulin deficiency from progressive beta-cell dysfunction.
3. A client with chronic kidney disease develops anemia
primarily due to:
A. Increased red blood cell destruction
B. Decreased erythropoietin production
C. Iron overload
D. Folate deficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Damaged kidneys produce less erythropoietin,
leading to decreased red blood cell production.
4. Which of the following is a hallmark of nephrotic syndrome?
A. Hematuria with red blood cell casts
B. Proteinuria >3.5 g/day, hypoalbuminemia, and edema
C. Hypertension and oliguria
D. Flank pain and fever
Answer: B
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is defined by heavy proteinuria,
hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia.
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5. A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus has which type
of hypersensitivity reaction?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
Answer: C
Rationale: SLE is a Type III hypersensitivity with immune
complex deposition causing inflammation.
6. In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the primary
pathophysiologic event is:
A. Bronchoconstriction
B. Diffuse alveolar-capillary membrane damage
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: B
Rationale: ARDS involves widespread alveolar-capillary damage,
increasing permeability and causing pulmonary edema.
7. A mutation in the CFTR gene causes cystic fibrosis by
affecting:
A. Chloride transport across epithelial membranes
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B. Sodium reabsorption in the loop of Henle
C. Insulin secretion
D. Collagen synthesis
Answer: A
Rationale: CFTR encodes a chloride channel; dysfunction causes
thick secretions.
8. Which of the following is a characteristic of left-sided heart
failure?
A. Jugular venous distention
B. Pulmonary edema and dyspnea
C. Peripheral edema and ascites
D. Hepatomegaly
Answer: B
Rationale: Left heart failure increases pulmonary venous
pressure, causing pulmonary congestion.
9. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is:
A. Graves' disease
B. Toxic multinodular goiter
C. Subacute thyroiditis
D. TSH-secreting adenoma
NUR 555 PRACTICE EXAM 100 Questions with Answers &
Rationales
SECTION 1: ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
1. A 55-year-old male with chronic hypertension develops left
ventricular hypertrophy. This is an example of:
A. Pathologic hypertrophy due to pressure overload
B. Physiologic hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Atrophy
Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic pressure overload from hypertension causes
an increase in myocardial cell size—pathologic hypertrophy.
Physiologic hypertrophy occurs with exercise.
2. Which of the following best describes the pathophysiology of
type 2 diabetes mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
B. Insulin resistance with progressive beta-cell dysfunction
C. Absolute insulin deficiency
D. Excessive glucagon secretion only
, Page |2
Answer: B
Rationale: Type 2 DM involves insulin resistance and relative
insulin deficiency from progressive beta-cell dysfunction.
3. A client with chronic kidney disease develops anemia
primarily due to:
A. Increased red blood cell destruction
B. Decreased erythropoietin production
C. Iron overload
D. Folate deficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Damaged kidneys produce less erythropoietin,
leading to decreased red blood cell production.
4. Which of the following is a hallmark of nephrotic syndrome?
A. Hematuria with red blood cell casts
B. Proteinuria >3.5 g/day, hypoalbuminemia, and edema
C. Hypertension and oliguria
D. Flank pain and fever
Answer: B
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is defined by heavy proteinuria,
hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia.
, Page |3
5. A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus has which type
of hypersensitivity reaction?
A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
Answer: C
Rationale: SLE is a Type III hypersensitivity with immune
complex deposition causing inflammation.
6. In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the primary
pathophysiologic event is:
A. Bronchoconstriction
B. Diffuse alveolar-capillary membrane damage
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: B
Rationale: ARDS involves widespread alveolar-capillary damage,
increasing permeability and causing pulmonary edema.
7. A mutation in the CFTR gene causes cystic fibrosis by
affecting:
A. Chloride transport across epithelial membranes
, Page |4
B. Sodium reabsorption in the loop of Henle
C. Insulin secretion
D. Collagen synthesis
Answer: A
Rationale: CFTR encodes a chloride channel; dysfunction causes
thick secretions.
8. Which of the following is a characteristic of left-sided heart
failure?
A. Jugular venous distention
B. Pulmonary edema and dyspnea
C. Peripheral edema and ascites
D. Hepatomegaly
Answer: B
Rationale: Left heart failure increases pulmonary venous
pressure, causing pulmonary congestion.
9. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is:
A. Graves' disease
B. Toxic multinodular goiter
C. Subacute thyroiditis
D. TSH-secreting adenoma
