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 several days of vomiting and diarrhea.
Laboratory studies reveal an elevated serum sodium level, increased serum
osmolality, and clinical findings of dry mucous membranes, poor skin turgor, and
decreased urine output. The nurse understands that movement of water between the
intracellular and extracellular compartments is primarily influenced by differences
in which of the following?
A. Plasma protein concentration
B. Osmotic pressure
C. Red blood cell production
D. Platelet concentration
Answer: B. Osmotic pressure
2.
A patient with severe burns has extensive destruction of the skin barrier and begins
developing significant edema several hours after the injury. The nurse recognizes
that fluid is moving from the intravascular space into the interstitial space because
of changes in capillary permeability. Which mechanism best explains this finding?
A. Increased intracellular osmolarity
B. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure only
C. Increased vascular permeability with movement of proteins and fluid
D. Decreased lymphatic production of plasma proteins
Answer: C. Increased vascular permeability with movement of proteins and
fluid
3.
A 55-year-old patient with chronic liver disease develops generalized edema and
abdominal ascites. Laboratory testing shows a markedly decreased serum albumin
,2
level. Which alteration most directly contributes to the patient's fluid
accumulation?
A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased intracellular pressure
D. Decreased capillary permeability
Answer: B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
4.
A patient presents to the emergency department after prolonged exposure to heat
and has a temperature of 40.5°C, altered mental status, flushed skin, and
tachycardia. The nurse recognizes that the elevated body temperature represents a
disturbance in normal thermoregulation. Which structure normally functions as the
primary control center for body temperature?
A. Medulla oblongata
B. Hypothalamus
C. Cerebellum
D. Pituitary gland
Answer: B. Hypothalamus
5.
A patient develops a localized area of redness, warmth, swelling, and pain
following a bacterial infection of the skin. The nurse explains that these findings
are characteristic of the inflammatory response. Which vascular change is
primarily responsible for the redness and warmth observed in acute inflammation?
A. Vasoconstriction
B. Vasodilation
C. Reduced blood flow
D. Increased platelet destruction
Answer: B. Vasodilation
6.
,3
A patient with an acute bacterial infection develops an elevated white blood cell
count and increased neutrophils. The nurse understands that neutrophils are
particularly important during the early stages of an inflammatory response because
they primarily perform which function?
A. Produce antibodies
B. Destroy pathogens through phagocytosis
C. Produce insulin
D. Form collagen
Answer: B. Destroy pathogens through phagocytosis
7.
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis experiences chronic joint inflammation caused
by an inappropriate immune response directed against the body's own tissues. The
nurse identifies this condition as an example of which type of immune disorder?
A. Immunodeficiency
B. Autoimmune disease
C. Passive immunity
D. Mechanical immunity
Answer: B. Autoimmune disease
8.
A patient develops difficulty breathing, wheezing, hypotension, and generalized
urticaria shortly after receiving a medication to which the patient is highly allergic.
The nurse recognizes this as a severe systemic hypersensitivity reaction. Which
immunoglobulin is most strongly associated with this type of reaction?
A. IgA
B. IgE
C. IgG
D. IgM
Answer: B. IgE
9.
, 4
A patient with a severe infection becomes hypotensive despite receiving
intravenous fluids. The patient is tachycardic, confused, febrile, and has elevated
serum lactate. The nurse recognizes that widespread infection has caused profound
circulatory dysfunction. Which type of shock is most consistent with these
findings?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Septic shock
D. Obstructive shock
Answer: C. Septic shock
10.
A patient experiences massive blood loss following a traumatic injury and
develops tachycardia, hypotension, cool clammy skin, and decreased urine output.
Which compensatory response would the nurse expect to occur initially?
A. Increased parasympathetic activity
B. Increased sympathetic nervous system activity
C. Decreased heart rate
D. Widespread peripheral vasodilation
Answer: B. Increased sympathetic nervous system activity
11.
A patient with prolonged vomiting develops weakness, muscle cramps, and an
abnormal cardiac rhythm. Laboratory results demonstrate a potassium level
significantly below the expected reference range. Which electrolyte disturbance is
responsible for these findings?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
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 several days of vomiting and diarrhea.
Laboratory studies reveal an elevated serum sodium level, increased serum
osmolality, and clinical findings of dry mucous membranes, poor skin turgor, and
decreased urine output. The nurse understands that movement of water between the
intracellular and extracellular compartments is primarily influenced by differences
in which of the following?
A. Plasma protein concentration
B. Osmotic pressure
C. Red blood cell production
D. Platelet concentration
Answer: B. Osmotic pressure
2.
A patient with severe burns has extensive destruction of the skin barrier and begins
developing significant edema several hours after the injury. The nurse recognizes
that fluid is moving from the intravascular space into the interstitial space because
of changes in capillary permeability. Which mechanism best explains this finding?
A. Increased intracellular osmolarity
B. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure only
C. Increased vascular permeability with movement of proteins and fluid
D. Decreased lymphatic production of plasma proteins
Answer: C. Increased vascular permeability with movement of proteins and
fluid
3.
A 55-year-old patient with chronic liver disease develops generalized edema and
abdominal ascites. Laboratory testing shows a markedly decreased serum albumin
,2
level. Which alteration most directly contributes to the patient's fluid
accumulation?
A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased intracellular pressure
D. Decreased capillary permeability
Answer: B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
4.
A patient presents to the emergency department after prolonged exposure to heat
and has a temperature of 40.5°C, altered mental status, flushed skin, and
tachycardia. The nurse recognizes that the elevated body temperature represents a
disturbance in normal thermoregulation. Which structure normally functions as the
primary control center for body temperature?
A. Medulla oblongata
B. Hypothalamus
C. Cerebellum
D. Pituitary gland
Answer: B. Hypothalamus
5.
A patient develops a localized area of redness, warmth, swelling, and pain
following a bacterial infection of the skin. The nurse explains that these findings
are characteristic of the inflammatory response. Which vascular change is
primarily responsible for the redness and warmth observed in acute inflammation?
A. Vasoconstriction
B. Vasodilation
C. Reduced blood flow
D. Increased platelet destruction
Answer: B. Vasodilation
6.
,3
A patient with an acute bacterial infection develops an elevated white blood cell
count and increased neutrophils. The nurse understands that neutrophils are
particularly important during the early stages of an inflammatory response because
they primarily perform which function?
A. Produce antibodies
B. Destroy pathogens through phagocytosis
C. Produce insulin
D. Form collagen
Answer: B. Destroy pathogens through phagocytosis
7.
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis experiences chronic joint inflammation caused
by an inappropriate immune response directed against the body's own tissues. The
nurse identifies this condition as an example of which type of immune disorder?
A. Immunodeficiency
B. Autoimmune disease
C. Passive immunity
D. Mechanical immunity
Answer: B. Autoimmune disease
8.
A patient develops difficulty breathing, wheezing, hypotension, and generalized
urticaria shortly after receiving a medication to which the patient is highly allergic.
The nurse recognizes this as a severe systemic hypersensitivity reaction. Which
immunoglobulin is most strongly associated with this type of reaction?
A. IgA
B. IgE
C. IgG
D. IgM
Answer: B. IgE
9.
, 4
A patient with a severe infection becomes hypotensive despite receiving
intravenous fluids. The patient is tachycardic, confused, febrile, and has elevated
serum lactate. The nurse recognizes that widespread infection has caused profound
circulatory dysfunction. Which type of shock is most consistent with these
findings?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Septic shock
D. Obstructive shock
Answer: C. Septic shock
10.
A patient experiences massive blood loss following a traumatic injury and
develops tachycardia, hypotension, cool clammy skin, and decreased urine output.
Which compensatory response would the nurse expect to occur initially?
A. Increased parasympathetic activity
B. Increased sympathetic nervous system activity
C. Decreased heart rate
D. Widespread peripheral vasodilation
Answer: B. Increased sympathetic nervous system activity
11.
A patient with prolonged vomiting develops weakness, muscle cramps, and an
abnormal cardiac rhythm. Laboratory results demonstrate a potassium level
significantly below the expected reference range. Which electrolyte disturbance is
responsible for these findings?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
12.
