Pathophysiology PRACTICE Questions and Answers Graded A+
2025/2026
Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful concerning aldosterone? Secretion of
aldosterone results in: - increased blood volume
A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumor of the adrenal cortex. Which finding
would the nurse expect to see in the lab results? - Decreased blood K+ levels
A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic hormones. When the patient asks the
nurse what do these hormones do, how should the nurse respond? Natriuretic hormones affect the
balance of: - Sodium
A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken eyes. After diagnosing him with severe
dehydration, the primary care provider orders fluid replacement. The nurse administers a hypertonic
intravenous solution. Which of the following would be expected? - Intracellular dehydration
Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing hypernatremia? A patient with: -
dehydration
The most common cause of pure water deficit is: - A. renal water loss
Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with: - Hypertonic hyponatremia
A 52-year-old diabetic male presents to the ER with lethargy, confusion, and depressed reflexes. His wife
indicates that he does not follow the prescribed diet and takes his medication sporadically. Lab results
indicate hyperglycemia. Which assessment finding is most likely to occur? - decreased sodium
When taking care of a patient with hyperkalemia, which principle is priority? Hyperkalemia causes a(n)
_____ in resting membrane potential with _____ excitability of cardiac muscle. - increase, increased
Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia? A patient with: - Increased bicarbonate
intake
,Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for hyperkalemia? - Acute acidosis
Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has long-term potassium deficits? -
kidneys
A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider reporting muscle weakness and cardiac
abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of the following could be the
cause of her condition? - Primary hyperaldosteronism
A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider reporting restlessness, muscle cramping, and
diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following could have caused his
condition? - acidosis
A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which assessment finding should the nurse expect
to observe? - oliguria
Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma buffering system? - carbonic acid and
bicarbonate
A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal or retention of volatile acids is
accomplished by the: - lungs
Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid and bicarbonate exist in a ratio of: - 20:1
Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient with: - Excessive loss of chloride (Cl)
Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis? A patient
diagnosed with: - renal failure
For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate by: - hyperventilating
,Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis? - pneumonia
A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of excessive tiredness, shortness of breath,
and overall ill feelings. Lab results reveal decreased pH, increased CO2, and normal bicarbonate ion.
These findings help to confirm the diagnosis of: - respiratory acidosis
For a patient with respiratory acidosis, chronic compensation by the body will include: - Kidney excretion
of H+
A 55-year-old female presents to her primary care provider and reports dizziness, confusion, and tingling
in the extremities. Blood tests reveal an elevated pH, decreased PCO2, and slightly decreased HCO3.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis? - Respiratory alkalosis with renal compensation
Outcomes of laboratory tests include an elevated level of natriuretic peptides. Which organ is the
priority assessment? - heart
A 60-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting lung tumor.
Further testing indicates that the tumor secretes ADH. Which of the following assessment findings
should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.) - -Confusion
-Weakness
-Nausea
-Muscle twitching
The nurse would anticipate the patient with syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH) to demonstrate
which of the following symptoms? (Select all that apply.) - -Weakness
-Nausea
-Headache
-Muscle twitching
A primary care provider is talking about plasma proteins synthesized by lymphocytes in the lymph nodes.
What is the primary care provider describing? - antibodies
, While reviewing lab results, the nurse recalls the most abundant cells in the blood are: - erythrocytes
An adult patients blood sample is analyzed in a laboratory. Assuming a normal sample, which type of
white blood cell accounts for the highest percentage? - neutrophils
A group of cells isolated in the laboratory have membrane-bound granules in their cytoplasm and they
show phagocytic activity. Which of the following cells is most similar?
A) Monocyte
B) Macrophage
C) Lymphocyte
D) Eosinophils - eosinophils
While planning care for a patient with inflammation, which principle will the nurse remember? The
predominant phagocyte of early inflammation is the: - neutrophil
A patient has researched white blood cells on the Internet. Which statement indicates the patient has a
good understanding? _______________ contain preformed granules of vasoactive amines.
A) Neutrophils
B) Eosinophils
C) Monocytes
D) Basophils - basophils
A nurse recalls that monocytes are blood cells that mature (differentiate) into:
a. Macrophages
b. Neutrophils
c. Eosinophils
d. Mast cells - macrophages
A nurse is teaching the staff about platelets. Which information should the nurse include? In addition to
playing a role in hemostasis, platelets have the ability to: - release biochemical mediators of
inflammation
2025/2026
Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful concerning aldosterone? Secretion of
aldosterone results in: - increased blood volume
A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumor of the adrenal cortex. Which finding
would the nurse expect to see in the lab results? - Decreased blood K+ levels
A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic hormones. When the patient asks the
nurse what do these hormones do, how should the nurse respond? Natriuretic hormones affect the
balance of: - Sodium
A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken eyes. After diagnosing him with severe
dehydration, the primary care provider orders fluid replacement. The nurse administers a hypertonic
intravenous solution. Which of the following would be expected? - Intracellular dehydration
Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing hypernatremia? A patient with: -
dehydration
The most common cause of pure water deficit is: - A. renal water loss
Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with: - Hypertonic hyponatremia
A 52-year-old diabetic male presents to the ER with lethargy, confusion, and depressed reflexes. His wife
indicates that he does not follow the prescribed diet and takes his medication sporadically. Lab results
indicate hyperglycemia. Which assessment finding is most likely to occur? - decreased sodium
When taking care of a patient with hyperkalemia, which principle is priority? Hyperkalemia causes a(n)
_____ in resting membrane potential with _____ excitability of cardiac muscle. - increase, increased
Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia? A patient with: - Increased bicarbonate
intake
,Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for hyperkalemia? - Acute acidosis
Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has long-term potassium deficits? -
kidneys
A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider reporting muscle weakness and cardiac
abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of the following could be the
cause of her condition? - Primary hyperaldosteronism
A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider reporting restlessness, muscle cramping, and
diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following could have caused his
condition? - acidosis
A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which assessment finding should the nurse expect
to observe? - oliguria
Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma buffering system? - carbonic acid and
bicarbonate
A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal or retention of volatile acids is
accomplished by the: - lungs
Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid and bicarbonate exist in a ratio of: - 20:1
Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient with: - Excessive loss of chloride (Cl)
Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis? A patient
diagnosed with: - renal failure
For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate by: - hyperventilating
,Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis? - pneumonia
A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of excessive tiredness, shortness of breath,
and overall ill feelings. Lab results reveal decreased pH, increased CO2, and normal bicarbonate ion.
These findings help to confirm the diagnosis of: - respiratory acidosis
For a patient with respiratory acidosis, chronic compensation by the body will include: - Kidney excretion
of H+
A 55-year-old female presents to her primary care provider and reports dizziness, confusion, and tingling
in the extremities. Blood tests reveal an elevated pH, decreased PCO2, and slightly decreased HCO3.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis? - Respiratory alkalosis with renal compensation
Outcomes of laboratory tests include an elevated level of natriuretic peptides. Which organ is the
priority assessment? - heart
A 60-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting lung tumor.
Further testing indicates that the tumor secretes ADH. Which of the following assessment findings
should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.) - -Confusion
-Weakness
-Nausea
-Muscle twitching
The nurse would anticipate the patient with syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH) to demonstrate
which of the following symptoms? (Select all that apply.) - -Weakness
-Nausea
-Headache
-Muscle twitching
A primary care provider is talking about plasma proteins synthesized by lymphocytes in the lymph nodes.
What is the primary care provider describing? - antibodies
, While reviewing lab results, the nurse recalls the most abundant cells in the blood are: - erythrocytes
An adult patients blood sample is analyzed in a laboratory. Assuming a normal sample, which type of
white blood cell accounts for the highest percentage? - neutrophils
A group of cells isolated in the laboratory have membrane-bound granules in their cytoplasm and they
show phagocytic activity. Which of the following cells is most similar?
A) Monocyte
B) Macrophage
C) Lymphocyte
D) Eosinophils - eosinophils
While planning care for a patient with inflammation, which principle will the nurse remember? The
predominant phagocyte of early inflammation is the: - neutrophil
A patient has researched white blood cells on the Internet. Which statement indicates the patient has a
good understanding? _______________ contain preformed granules of vasoactive amines.
A) Neutrophils
B) Eosinophils
C) Monocytes
D) Basophils - basophils
A nurse recalls that monocytes are blood cells that mature (differentiate) into:
a. Macrophages
b. Neutrophils
c. Eosinophils
d. Mast cells - macrophages
A nurse is teaching the staff about platelets. Which information should the nurse include? In addition to
playing a role in hemostasis, platelets have the ability to: - release biochemical mediators of
inflammation
