NSG 1700 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL
PRACTICE EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2025 GALEN COLLEGE
OF NURSING
1. A patient with prolonged vomiting is at risk for which acid-base
imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Vomiting leads to loss of hydrochloric acid from the stomach, causing
an increase in blood bicarbonate and resulting in metabolic alkalosis.
2. Which of the following best describes the primary function of the
renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)?
A. Regulate glucose metabolism
, B. Stimulate red blood cell production
C. Maintain blood pressure and fluid balance
D. Promote insulin secretion
RAAS regulates blood pressure by vasoconstriction and promoting
sodium and water retention via aldosterone.
3. What is a classic sign of left-sided heart failure?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Pulmonary congestion
C. Jugular vein distension
D. Hepatomegaly
Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the lungs,
leading to pulmonary congestion and shortness of breath.
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with cardiac
arrhythmias?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Excess potassium disrupts cardiac conduction, increasing the risk of
life-threatening arrhythmias.
5. Which condition is caused by a deficiency in antidiuretic hormone
(ADH)?
A. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
, B. Diabetes insipidus
C. Cushing’s syndrome
D. Addison’s disease
Diabetes insipidus results from insufficient ADH, leading to excessive
urination and dehydration.
6. What lab finding would you expect in a patient with chronic kidney
disease (CKD)?
A. Elevated hemoglobin
B. Elevated creatinine and BUN
C. Decreased potassium
D. Increased calcium
As kidney function declines, waste products like BUN and creatinine
accumulate in the blood.
7. Which condition involves chronic inflammation and destruction of
myelin in the central nervous system?
A. Parkinson’s disease
B. Guillain-Barré syndrome
C. Multiple sclerosis
D. Myasthenia gravis
Multiple sclerosis is characterized by autoimmune demyelination
within the CNS, leading to neurological symptoms.
8. Which of the following is a hallmark sign of diabetes mellitus?
A. Bradycardia
, B. Hypertension
C. Polyuria
D. Jaundice
Hyperglycemia causes osmotic diuresis, leading to excessive
urination (polyuria).
9. In hypovolemic shock, what is the initial compensatory mechanism?
A. Increased heart rate
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Vasodilation
D. Decreased cardiac output
The body compensates for low blood volume by increasing heart rate
to maintain perfusion.
10. Which hormone is secreted by the adrenal cortex in response to
stress?
A. Insulin
B. Cortisol
C. ADH
D. Glucagon
Cortisol is a glucocorticoid released during stress to increase glucose
availability and suppress inflammation.
11. Which of the following is most likely to cause respiratory
acidosis?
A. Hyperventilation
PRACTICE EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2025 GALEN COLLEGE
OF NURSING
1. A patient with prolonged vomiting is at risk for which acid-base
imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Vomiting leads to loss of hydrochloric acid from the stomach, causing
an increase in blood bicarbonate and resulting in metabolic alkalosis.
2. Which of the following best describes the primary function of the
renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)?
A. Regulate glucose metabolism
, B. Stimulate red blood cell production
C. Maintain blood pressure and fluid balance
D. Promote insulin secretion
RAAS regulates blood pressure by vasoconstriction and promoting
sodium and water retention via aldosterone.
3. What is a classic sign of left-sided heart failure?
A. Peripheral edema
B. Pulmonary congestion
C. Jugular vein distension
D. Hepatomegaly
Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the lungs,
leading to pulmonary congestion and shortness of breath.
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with cardiac
arrhythmias?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Excess potassium disrupts cardiac conduction, increasing the risk of
life-threatening arrhythmias.
5. Which condition is caused by a deficiency in antidiuretic hormone
(ADH)?
A. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
, B. Diabetes insipidus
C. Cushing’s syndrome
D. Addison’s disease
Diabetes insipidus results from insufficient ADH, leading to excessive
urination and dehydration.
6. What lab finding would you expect in a patient with chronic kidney
disease (CKD)?
A. Elevated hemoglobin
B. Elevated creatinine and BUN
C. Decreased potassium
D. Increased calcium
As kidney function declines, waste products like BUN and creatinine
accumulate in the blood.
7. Which condition involves chronic inflammation and destruction of
myelin in the central nervous system?
A. Parkinson’s disease
B. Guillain-Barré syndrome
C. Multiple sclerosis
D. Myasthenia gravis
Multiple sclerosis is characterized by autoimmune demyelination
within the CNS, leading to neurological symptoms.
8. Which of the following is a hallmark sign of diabetes mellitus?
A. Bradycardia
, B. Hypertension
C. Polyuria
D. Jaundice
Hyperglycemia causes osmotic diuresis, leading to excessive
urination (polyuria).
9. In hypovolemic shock, what is the initial compensatory mechanism?
A. Increased heart rate
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Vasodilation
D. Decreased cardiac output
The body compensates for low blood volume by increasing heart rate
to maintain perfusion.
10. Which hormone is secreted by the adrenal cortex in response to
stress?
A. Insulin
B. Cortisol
C. ADH
D. Glucagon
Cortisol is a glucocorticoid released during stress to increase glucose
availability and suppress inflammation.
11. Which of the following is most likely to cause respiratory
acidosis?
A. Hyperventilation
