SCI225 FINAL REVIEW UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. A 45-year-old male is diagnosed with macrocytic, normochromic anemia. The nurse suspects the most
likely cause of this condition is:
Detective DNA synthesis Abnormal synthesis of hemoglobin Detective use of vitamin C Blocked protein
synthesis
Answer:
Defective DNA synthesis
These anemias are the result of ineffective erythrocyte DNA synthesis; hemoglobin is normal. These
anemias are not related to use of vitamin C or blocked protein synthesis.
Question:
2. A 67-year-old female is admitted to the emergency department with a diagnosis of polycythemia vera.
Upon taking the history, the patient will most likely report:
Hyperactivity Decreased blood pressure Chest pain A pale skin color
Answer:
Chest pain
Coronary blood flow may be affected, precipitating angina. Patients will experience signs of interrupted
blood flow due to increased blood viscosity. They will not experience hyperactivity. Blood pressure will be
increased, not decreased. The skin will be red over the face hands, feet, and ears.
Question:
3. A 60-year-old female emphysema patient experiences a rapid and pounding heart, dizziness, and fatigue
with exertion. Which of the following respiratory assessment findings indicate the respiratory system is
compensating for the increased oxygen demand?
Bronchoconstriction Increased rate and depth of breathing Dyspnea Activation of the renin-angiotensin
response
Answer:
Increased rate and depth of breathing
The rate and depth of breathing increase in an effort to increase oxygen availability accompanied by an
increase in the release of oxygen from hemoglobin.
Question:
4. Which of the following clusters of symptoms would lead the nurse to suspect a child has idiopathic
thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)?
Multiple infections; bruising; abnormal bone marrow aspiration Lower extremity that is warm to touch,
edematous, and painful Spontaneous nosebleeds, bruising, and petechiae Increased platelet count; recent
onset venous thrombosis
Answer:
Spontaneous nosebleeds, bruising, and petechiae
Nosebleeds, bruising, and petechiae are signs of a lack of clotting due to low platelets and ITP. The
symptoms associated with ITP are not associated with infections, warm extremities that are edematous and
painful, or an increased platelet count.
,Question:
5. A 5-year-old male is diagnosed with immune thrombocytic purpura (ITP). What is the most common
cause of this condition?
Normal postnatal platelet lysis Virally induced antibody destruction of platelets An allergic reaction to
vaccinations Maternal antibodies that target platelets in the neonate
Answer:
Virally induced antibody destruction of platelets
The majority of cases of ITP are due to immune driven destruction of platelets.
Question:
6. Which of the following amino acids is present in Hb S and not present in normal Hb?
Valine Glutamic acid Proline Histidine
Answer:
Valine
Hb S is formed by a genetic mutation in which one amino acid (valine) replaces glutamic acid. Valine has
replaced glutamic acid. Hb S is formed by a genetic mutation in the amino acid (valine), not proline, or
histidine.
Question:
7. What term should the nurse use to document a detached blood clot?
Thrombus Embolus Thromboembolus Infarction
Answer:
Thromboembolus
A thrombus is a clot that remains attached to a vessel wall; a detached thrombus is a thromboembolus. An
embolus is a bolus of material floating in the bloodstream. An infarction is death of tissue.
Question:
8. A patient is diagnosed with orthostatic hypotension. Which of the following symptoms would most
likely be reported?
Headache and blurred vision Nausea and vomiting Chest pain and palpitations Syncope and fainting
Answer:
Syncope and fainting
Orthostatic hypotension is often accompanied by dizziness, blurring or loss of vision, and syncope or
fainting, not by headache or blurred vision, which are symptoms of hypertension.
Question:
9. A nurse recalls acute orthostatic hypotension can be caused by: (select all that can apply)
prolonged immobility drug action starvation volume depletion exercise
Answer:
prolonged immobility, drug action, starvation and volume depletion
Question:
10. A newborn child has a murmur and is cyanotic. An echocardiogram reveals that the tricuspid valve
failed to develop and so no blood flows between the right atrium and ventricle. This condition is described
with the term tricuspid:
Regurgitation Stenosis Atresia Transposition
, Answer:
Atresia
Tricuspid atresia is failure of the tricuspid valve to develop; consequently, there is no communication from
the right atrium to the right ventricle. In regurgitation, blood moves backward, but is not obstructed. In
stenosis, blood flow is narrowed but not totally obstructed. In transposition, the two great vessels are on
opposite sides.
Question:
11. A newborn experiences frequent periods of cyanosis, usually occurring during crying or after feeding.
Which cardiac diagnosis does this theory support?
Atrioventricular canal (AVC) defect Ventricular septal defect (VSD) Tetralogy of Fallot Atrial septal
defect (ASD)
Answer:
Tetralogy of Fallot
Infants with Tetralogy of Fallot experience cyanosis after crying or during feeding.
Question:
12. A 22-year-old pregnant woman presents to her OB/GYN for a prenatal checkup. The fetal heartbeat
sounds irregular, and a fetal echocardiogram reveals an atrioventricular canal (AVC) defect. This defect is
the result of:
Failure of the ductus arteriosus to close Incomplete fusion of the endocardium cushions A patent foramen
ovale A right-to-left shunt
Answer:
Incomplete fusion of the endocardium cushions
AVC defect is the result of incomplete fusion of endocardial cushions. A patent ductus is the failure of the
ductus arteriosus to close. The infant will not experience a patent foramen ovale. Flow is generally left to
right, not right to left.
Question:
13. A 10 year old is brought to the ER with prolonged bronchospasm and severe hypoxemia. The
symptomology supports which diagnosis?
Exergise-induced asthma Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Status asthmaticus
Bronchiectasis
Answer:
Status asthmaticus
When bronchospasm is not reversed by the usual measures, the individual is considered to have severe
bronchospasm or status asthmaticus since exercise-induced asthma resolves. COPD is manifested by air
trapping and hypercapnia, not by bronchospasm. Bronchietasis is manifested by bronchiolar changes, not
by bronchospasm.
Question:
14. The patient generally acquires nosocomial pneumonia:
at day care centers on airplanes during hospitalization in the winter season
Answer:
during hospitalization
Nosocomial infections are acquired in the hospital. Nosocomial infections are not associated with day care
centers or airplanes and may happen in any season.
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. A 45-year-old male is diagnosed with macrocytic, normochromic anemia. The nurse suspects the most
likely cause of this condition is:
Detective DNA synthesis Abnormal synthesis of hemoglobin Detective use of vitamin C Blocked protein
synthesis
Answer:
Defective DNA synthesis
These anemias are the result of ineffective erythrocyte DNA synthesis; hemoglobin is normal. These
anemias are not related to use of vitamin C or blocked protein synthesis.
Question:
2. A 67-year-old female is admitted to the emergency department with a diagnosis of polycythemia vera.
Upon taking the history, the patient will most likely report:
Hyperactivity Decreased blood pressure Chest pain A pale skin color
Answer:
Chest pain
Coronary blood flow may be affected, precipitating angina. Patients will experience signs of interrupted
blood flow due to increased blood viscosity. They will not experience hyperactivity. Blood pressure will be
increased, not decreased. The skin will be red over the face hands, feet, and ears.
Question:
3. A 60-year-old female emphysema patient experiences a rapid and pounding heart, dizziness, and fatigue
with exertion. Which of the following respiratory assessment findings indicate the respiratory system is
compensating for the increased oxygen demand?
Bronchoconstriction Increased rate and depth of breathing Dyspnea Activation of the renin-angiotensin
response
Answer:
Increased rate and depth of breathing
The rate and depth of breathing increase in an effort to increase oxygen availability accompanied by an
increase in the release of oxygen from hemoglobin.
Question:
4. Which of the following clusters of symptoms would lead the nurse to suspect a child has idiopathic
thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)?
Multiple infections; bruising; abnormal bone marrow aspiration Lower extremity that is warm to touch,
edematous, and painful Spontaneous nosebleeds, bruising, and petechiae Increased platelet count; recent
onset venous thrombosis
Answer:
Spontaneous nosebleeds, bruising, and petechiae
Nosebleeds, bruising, and petechiae are signs of a lack of clotting due to low platelets and ITP. The
symptoms associated with ITP are not associated with infections, warm extremities that are edematous and
painful, or an increased platelet count.
,Question:
5. A 5-year-old male is diagnosed with immune thrombocytic purpura (ITP). What is the most common
cause of this condition?
Normal postnatal platelet lysis Virally induced antibody destruction of platelets An allergic reaction to
vaccinations Maternal antibodies that target platelets in the neonate
Answer:
Virally induced antibody destruction of platelets
The majority of cases of ITP are due to immune driven destruction of platelets.
Question:
6. Which of the following amino acids is present in Hb S and not present in normal Hb?
Valine Glutamic acid Proline Histidine
Answer:
Valine
Hb S is formed by a genetic mutation in which one amino acid (valine) replaces glutamic acid. Valine has
replaced glutamic acid. Hb S is formed by a genetic mutation in the amino acid (valine), not proline, or
histidine.
Question:
7. What term should the nurse use to document a detached blood clot?
Thrombus Embolus Thromboembolus Infarction
Answer:
Thromboembolus
A thrombus is a clot that remains attached to a vessel wall; a detached thrombus is a thromboembolus. An
embolus is a bolus of material floating in the bloodstream. An infarction is death of tissue.
Question:
8. A patient is diagnosed with orthostatic hypotension. Which of the following symptoms would most
likely be reported?
Headache and blurred vision Nausea and vomiting Chest pain and palpitations Syncope and fainting
Answer:
Syncope and fainting
Orthostatic hypotension is often accompanied by dizziness, blurring or loss of vision, and syncope or
fainting, not by headache or blurred vision, which are symptoms of hypertension.
Question:
9. A nurse recalls acute orthostatic hypotension can be caused by: (select all that can apply)
prolonged immobility drug action starvation volume depletion exercise
Answer:
prolonged immobility, drug action, starvation and volume depletion
Question:
10. A newborn child has a murmur and is cyanotic. An echocardiogram reveals that the tricuspid valve
failed to develop and so no blood flows between the right atrium and ventricle. This condition is described
with the term tricuspid:
Regurgitation Stenosis Atresia Transposition
, Answer:
Atresia
Tricuspid atresia is failure of the tricuspid valve to develop; consequently, there is no communication from
the right atrium to the right ventricle. In regurgitation, blood moves backward, but is not obstructed. In
stenosis, blood flow is narrowed but not totally obstructed. In transposition, the two great vessels are on
opposite sides.
Question:
11. A newborn experiences frequent periods of cyanosis, usually occurring during crying or after feeding.
Which cardiac diagnosis does this theory support?
Atrioventricular canal (AVC) defect Ventricular septal defect (VSD) Tetralogy of Fallot Atrial septal
defect (ASD)
Answer:
Tetralogy of Fallot
Infants with Tetralogy of Fallot experience cyanosis after crying or during feeding.
Question:
12. A 22-year-old pregnant woman presents to her OB/GYN for a prenatal checkup. The fetal heartbeat
sounds irregular, and a fetal echocardiogram reveals an atrioventricular canal (AVC) defect. This defect is
the result of:
Failure of the ductus arteriosus to close Incomplete fusion of the endocardium cushions A patent foramen
ovale A right-to-left shunt
Answer:
Incomplete fusion of the endocardium cushions
AVC defect is the result of incomplete fusion of endocardial cushions. A patent ductus is the failure of the
ductus arteriosus to close. The infant will not experience a patent foramen ovale. Flow is generally left to
right, not right to left.
Question:
13. A 10 year old is brought to the ER with prolonged bronchospasm and severe hypoxemia. The
symptomology supports which diagnosis?
Exergise-induced asthma Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Status asthmaticus
Bronchiectasis
Answer:
Status asthmaticus
When bronchospasm is not reversed by the usual measures, the individual is considered to have severe
bronchospasm or status asthmaticus since exercise-induced asthma resolves. COPD is manifested by air
trapping and hypercapnia, not by bronchospasm. Bronchietasis is manifested by bronchiolar changes, not
by bronchospasm.
Question:
14. The patient generally acquires nosocomial pneumonia:
at day care centers on airplanes during hospitalization in the winter season
Answer:
during hospitalization
Nosocomial infections are acquired in the hospital. Nosocomial infections are not associated with day care
centers or airplanes and may happen in any season.
