NIGHTINGALE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
2026/2027 | 75 HIGH-YIELD QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS | LATEST TEST PREP | RECENT & MOST
TESTED TOPICS | A+ PREPARATION
A nurse notes that a patient walks with the leg extended and held stiff, causing a scraping
over the floor surface. What type of gait is the patient experiencing?
Spastic gait
Cerebellar gait
Basal ganglion gait
Scissors gait - correct answer-Spastic gait
The breathing pattern that reflects respirations based primarily on carbon dioxide (CO2)
levels in the blood is:
Cheyne-Stokes.
ataxic. central neurogenic. normal. -
correct answer-Cheyne-Stokes.
A patient is admitted to the neurologic critical care unit with a severe closed head injury.
When an intraventricular catheter is inserted, the intracranial pressure (ICP) is recorded at
24 mm Hg. How should the nurse interpret this reading?
Higher than normal
Lower than normal
Normal
Borderline - correct answer-Higher than normal
A 40-year-old male complains of uncontrolled excessive movement and progressive
dysfunction of intellectual and thought processes. He is experiencing movement problems
that begin in the face and arms and eventually affect the entire body. The most likely
diagnosis is:
, tardive dyskinesia.
Huntington disease.
hypokinesia.
Alzheimer disease. - correct answer-Huntington disease.
A CT scan reveals that a patient has an open basilar skull fracture. Which major
complication should the nurse observe for in this patient?
Hematoma formation
Meningeal infection
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
Cognitive deficits - correct answer-Meningeal infection
Upon autopsy of a 25 year old, abnormalities in the media of the arterial wall and
degenerative changes were detected. Which of the following would most likely
accompany this finding?
Fusiform aneurysm
Saccular aneurysm
Arteriovenous malformation
Thrombotic stroke - correct answer-Saccular aneurysm
Which of the following would increase a patient's risk for thrombotic stroke?
Hyperthyroidism
Hypertension
Anemia
Dehydration - correct answer-Dehydration
A patient is brought to the ER for treatment of injuries received in a motor vehicle
accident. An MRI reveals spinal cord injury, and his body temperature fluctuates
markedly. The most accurate explanation of this phenomenon is that: he developed
pneumonia. his sympathetic nervous system has been damaged.
2026/2027 | 75 HIGH-YIELD QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS | LATEST TEST PREP | RECENT & MOST
TESTED TOPICS | A+ PREPARATION
A nurse notes that a patient walks with the leg extended and held stiff, causing a scraping
over the floor surface. What type of gait is the patient experiencing?
Spastic gait
Cerebellar gait
Basal ganglion gait
Scissors gait - correct answer-Spastic gait
The breathing pattern that reflects respirations based primarily on carbon dioxide (CO2)
levels in the blood is:
Cheyne-Stokes.
ataxic. central neurogenic. normal. -
correct answer-Cheyne-Stokes.
A patient is admitted to the neurologic critical care unit with a severe closed head injury.
When an intraventricular catheter is inserted, the intracranial pressure (ICP) is recorded at
24 mm Hg. How should the nurse interpret this reading?
Higher than normal
Lower than normal
Normal
Borderline - correct answer-Higher than normal
A 40-year-old male complains of uncontrolled excessive movement and progressive
dysfunction of intellectual and thought processes. He is experiencing movement problems
that begin in the face and arms and eventually affect the entire body. The most likely
diagnosis is:
, tardive dyskinesia.
Huntington disease.
hypokinesia.
Alzheimer disease. - correct answer-Huntington disease.
A CT scan reveals that a patient has an open basilar skull fracture. Which major
complication should the nurse observe for in this patient?
Hematoma formation
Meningeal infection
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
Cognitive deficits - correct answer-Meningeal infection
Upon autopsy of a 25 year old, abnormalities in the media of the arterial wall and
degenerative changes were detected. Which of the following would most likely
accompany this finding?
Fusiform aneurysm
Saccular aneurysm
Arteriovenous malformation
Thrombotic stroke - correct answer-Saccular aneurysm
Which of the following would increase a patient's risk for thrombotic stroke?
Hyperthyroidism
Hypertension
Anemia
Dehydration - correct answer-Dehydration
A patient is brought to the ER for treatment of injuries received in a motor vehicle
accident. An MRI reveals spinal cord injury, and his body temperature fluctuates
markedly. The most accurate explanation of this phenomenon is that: he developed
pneumonia. his sympathetic nervous system has been damaged.
