1
NSG 3280 EXAM PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FOR NURSES I
EXAM PREP | VERIFIED Q&A | GALEN COLLEGE OF
NURSING
1.
A 68-year-old patient is admitted with a progressive disease that has developed
over several years and is now affecting multiple organ systems. During the nursing
assessment, the patient asks why understanding the underlying disease process is
important when the treatment is already established. Which statement best
describes the primary purpose of studying pathophysiology in relation to nursing
care?
A. To identify the exact medication that should be prescribed for every disease
B. To understand the functional changes produced by disease and relate those
changes to clinical manifestations
C. To replace physical assessment with laboratory testing
D. To determine the patient's diagnosis without considering clinical findings
Answer: B
2.
A patient develops a disorder for which the specific cause cannot be identified
despite an extensive diagnostic evaluation. The healthcare provider explains that
the disease is not known to result from infection, trauma, medication, or an
inherited abnormality. Which term should the nurse use to describe the etiology of
this disorder?
A. Iatrogenic
B. Idiopathic
C. Congenital
D. Nosocomial
Answer: B
3.
A 45-year-old patient develops severe liver dysfunction after prolonged exposure
to a medication known to cause hepatic injury. The patient had no evidence of liver
,2
disease before beginning therapy. Which classification best describes the cause of
the patient's condition?
A. Idiopathic
B. Iatrogenic
C. Hereditary
D. Degenerative
Answer: B
4.
A patient presents with fever, tachycardia, fatigue, and elevated inflammatory
markers. The nurse recognizes that these findings represent the body's response to
an underlying disease process rather than the disease itself. Which term best
describes these observable effects of disease?
A. Etiology
B. Pathogenesis
C. Clinical manifestations
D. Risk factors
Answer: C
5.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has a genetic predisposition to developing
hypertension but has not yet developed the disorder. Which factor is best classified
as a risk factor?
A. The patient's current elevated blood pressure
B. The patient's genetic susceptibility to hypertension
C. The patient's headache caused by hypertension
D. The patient's renal injury caused by prolonged hypertension
Answer: B
6.
A patient who has experienced prolonged emotional and physiologic stress
develops increased heart rate, elevated blood glucose, and increased blood
,3
pressure. Which physiologic system is primarily responsible for coordinating the
immediate response to stress?
A. Integumentary system
B. Neuroendocrine system
C. Skeletal system
D. Digestive system
Answer: B
7.
A patient experiences repeated exposure to a stressful environment over several
months. Laboratory testing demonstrates persistent elevation of stress hormones.
The nurse recognizes that prolonged activation of the stress response can
eventually contribute to disease because of which mechanism?
A. Complete suppression of all immune responses
B. Persistent physiologic demand that disrupts normal homeostasis
C. Permanent activation of red blood cell production
D. Increased cellular oxygen availability in every tissue
Answer: B
8.
A patient becomes severely dehydrated after several days of vomiting and diarrhea.
The body responds by activating mechanisms that increase thirst and conserve
water through renal changes. Which concept best describes the body's attempt to
maintain a relatively stable internal environment?
A. Apoptosis
B. Homeostasis
C. Metaplasia
D. Necrosis
Answer: B
9.
, 4
A patient with chronic lung disease develops progressively reduced oxygen
delivery to tissues. Cells initially adapt to the reduced oxygen availability but
eventually become injured when the stress exceeds their adaptive capacity. Which
principle of pathophysiology does this situation demonstrate?
A. Cells can adapt indefinitely without injury
B. Cellular adaptation has limits, and excessive stress can result in cellular injury
C. Cellular injury always produces immediate irreversible death
D. Cellular adaptation prevents all disease manifestations
Answer: B
10.
A patient with chronic hypertension has persistent increased workload placed on
the left ventricle. Over time, the ventricular muscle becomes thicker as individual
cardiac muscle cells enlarge. Which cellular adaptation is occurring?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
11.
A patient experiences prolonged immobilization after a spinal injury. Several
months later, the muscles of the affected extremities have become noticeably
smaller because of reduced workload and use. Which cellular adaptation best
explains this finding?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
12.
NSG 3280 EXAM PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FOR NURSES I
EXAM PREP | VERIFIED Q&A | GALEN COLLEGE OF
NURSING
1.
A 68-year-old patient is admitted with a progressive disease that has developed
over several years and is now affecting multiple organ systems. During the nursing
assessment, the patient asks why understanding the underlying disease process is
important when the treatment is already established. Which statement best
describes the primary purpose of studying pathophysiology in relation to nursing
care?
A. To identify the exact medication that should be prescribed for every disease
B. To understand the functional changes produced by disease and relate those
changes to clinical manifestations
C. To replace physical assessment with laboratory testing
D. To determine the patient's diagnosis without considering clinical findings
Answer: B
2.
A patient develops a disorder for which the specific cause cannot be identified
despite an extensive diagnostic evaluation. The healthcare provider explains that
the disease is not known to result from infection, trauma, medication, or an
inherited abnormality. Which term should the nurse use to describe the etiology of
this disorder?
A. Iatrogenic
B. Idiopathic
C. Congenital
D. Nosocomial
Answer: B
3.
A 45-year-old patient develops severe liver dysfunction after prolonged exposure
to a medication known to cause hepatic injury. The patient had no evidence of liver
,2
disease before beginning therapy. Which classification best describes the cause of
the patient's condition?
A. Idiopathic
B. Iatrogenic
C. Hereditary
D. Degenerative
Answer: B
4.
A patient presents with fever, tachycardia, fatigue, and elevated inflammatory
markers. The nurse recognizes that these findings represent the body's response to
an underlying disease process rather than the disease itself. Which term best
describes these observable effects of disease?
A. Etiology
B. Pathogenesis
C. Clinical manifestations
D. Risk factors
Answer: C
5.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has a genetic predisposition to developing
hypertension but has not yet developed the disorder. Which factor is best classified
as a risk factor?
A. The patient's current elevated blood pressure
B. The patient's genetic susceptibility to hypertension
C. The patient's headache caused by hypertension
D. The patient's renal injury caused by prolonged hypertension
Answer: B
6.
A patient who has experienced prolonged emotional and physiologic stress
develops increased heart rate, elevated blood glucose, and increased blood
,3
pressure. Which physiologic system is primarily responsible for coordinating the
immediate response to stress?
A. Integumentary system
B. Neuroendocrine system
C. Skeletal system
D. Digestive system
Answer: B
7.
A patient experiences repeated exposure to a stressful environment over several
months. Laboratory testing demonstrates persistent elevation of stress hormones.
The nurse recognizes that prolonged activation of the stress response can
eventually contribute to disease because of which mechanism?
A. Complete suppression of all immune responses
B. Persistent physiologic demand that disrupts normal homeostasis
C. Permanent activation of red blood cell production
D. Increased cellular oxygen availability in every tissue
Answer: B
8.
A patient becomes severely dehydrated after several days of vomiting and diarrhea.
The body responds by activating mechanisms that increase thirst and conserve
water through renal changes. Which concept best describes the body's attempt to
maintain a relatively stable internal environment?
A. Apoptosis
B. Homeostasis
C. Metaplasia
D. Necrosis
Answer: B
9.
, 4
A patient with chronic lung disease develops progressively reduced oxygen
delivery to tissues. Cells initially adapt to the reduced oxygen availability but
eventually become injured when the stress exceeds their adaptive capacity. Which
principle of pathophysiology does this situation demonstrate?
A. Cells can adapt indefinitely without injury
B. Cellular adaptation has limits, and excessive stress can result in cellular injury
C. Cellular injury always produces immediate irreversible death
D. Cellular adaptation prevents all disease manifestations
Answer: B
10.
A patient with chronic hypertension has persistent increased workload placed on
the left ventricle. Over time, the ventricular muscle becomes thicker as individual
cardiac muscle cells enlarge. Which cellular adaptation is occurring?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
11.
A patient experiences prolonged immobilization after a spinal injury. Several
months later, the muscles of the affected extremities have become noticeably
smaller because of reduced workload and use. Which cellular adaptation best
explains this finding?
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Atrophy
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C
12.
