NURS 6501N Advanced Pathophysiology Final Exam
Comprehensive Review | Complete Study Guide with
Verified Exam Questions, Correct Answers and
Rationales | Latest Edition – Updated 2026/2027
Question 1
A patient reports small, vesicular lesions that last between 10 and 20 days. What
treatment does the healthcare professional educate the patient about?
A. Acyclovir (Zovirax)
B. Three injections of penicillin
C. One time dose of azithromycin
D. Test of cure
Answer: A
Rationale: Small, vesicular lesions lasting 10-20 days are characteristic of herpes
simplex virus (HSV) infection. Acyclovir (Zovirax) is the antiviral treatment for HSV
lesions.
Question 2
A child has a disorder that resulted in the failure of bones to ossify, resulting in soft
bones and skeletal deformity. What treatment plan does the healthcare professional
discuss with the parents?
A. Extremely careful handling
B. Increasing vitamin D intake
C. Revascularization
D. Containment and motion therapy
Answer: B
Rationale: Failure of bones to ossify resulting in soft bones and skeletal deformity
describes rickets, which is caused by vitamin D deficiency. Treatment involves
increasing vitamin D intake.
Question 3
A patient reports frequent nightmares. For which of these should the healthcare
professional assess the patient?
A. A recent major loss
pg. 1
,B. Family history of nightmares
C. History of traumatic event
D. Poor nutrition and weight loss
Answer: C
Rationale: Frequent nightmares are commonly associated with a history of traumatic
events and may indicate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Question 4
Which pain theory proposes that a balance of impulses conducted from the spinal cord
to the higher centers in the central nervous system (CNS) modulates the transmission of
pain?
A. Gate control theory (GCT)
B. Pattern theory
C. Specificity theory
D. Neuromatrix theory
Answer: A
Rationale: The gate control theory proposes that a balance of impulses conducted from
the spinal cord to higher CNS centers modulates pain transmission.
Question 5
A patient has pernicious anemia and asks the healthcare professional to explain the
disease. Which statement by the professional is most accurate?
A. The lack of certain foods in your diet
B. Your body cannot absorb vitamin B12.
C. You are not getting enough vitamin C.
D. Your bone marrow has stopped working.
Answer: B
Rationale: Pernicious anemia is caused by the body's inability to absorb vitamin B12
due to lack of intrinsic factor, not dietary deficiency.
Question 6
A patient has a spinal cord injury at C4. What should the healthcare professional assess
as the priority in this patient?
A. Blood pressure
B. Respirations
C. Pulse
pg. 2
,D. Temperature
Answer: B
Rationale: A C4 spinal cord injury affects the phrenic nerve (C3-C5), which innervates
the diaphragm. Respiratory function is the priority assessment.
Question 7
A baby is born with a myelomeningocele and needs urgent surgery to repair the defect.
The parents want to take the baby home instead. What does the healthcare professional
tell the parents about the purpose of this surgery?
A. Surgery is much easier on a tiny infant than on a larger, older baby.
B. If your baby has surgery this young, he/she cannot feel pain.
C. Additional nervous system damage will occur the longer we wait.
D. Prompt surgery is needed to prevent total paralysis later on.
Answer: C
Rationale: Myelomeningocele requires urgent surgical repair to prevent additional
nervous system damage and infection. Delaying surgery increases the risk of further
neurologic impairment.
Question 8
A woman attempting to conceive tells the healthcare professional that she and her
partner have intercourse when her basal body temperature (BBT) is around 37°C (98°F)
without getting pregnant. What information does the professional give the woman?
A. Maybe you need a fertility workup.
B. That's a normal temperature, but during ovulation BBT decreases.
C. Temperature alone is not the most accurate way to predict ovulation.
D. BBT rises consistently above 37.8°C (100°F) with ovulation.
Answer: C
Rationale: Basal body temperature alone is not the most accurate way to predict
ovulation. BBT rises after ovulation (not during) and should be used with other
methods.
Question 9
Parents report their 3-week-old infant who eats well and has gained weight began to
have projectile vomiting for no apparent reason. What treatment option does the
healthcare professional prepare to educate the parents on?
A. A gastric feeding tube
pg. 3
, B. Wheat-free diet
C. Corrective surgery
D. Lactose-free diet
Answer: C
Rationale: Projectile vomiting in a 3-week-old infant who is otherwise doing well is
characteristic of pyloric stenosis, which requires corrective surgery.
Question 10
Monoamine neurotransmission is hypothesized to be _____ during mania.
A. increased
B. decreased
C. absent
D. suspended
Answer: A
Rationale: During mania, monoamine neurotransmission (dopamine, norepinephrine,
serotonin) is hypothesized to be increased.
Question 11
A patient has been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and asks the
healthcare professional to describe it. What description by the professional is most
accurate?
A. ALL is a progressive neoplasm defined by the presence of greater than 30%
lymphoblasts in the bone marrow or blood.
B. In ALL, immature blasts cells replace normal myelocytic cells, megakaryocytes, and
erythrocytes.
C. B cells fail to mature into plasma cells that synthesize immunoglobulin.
D. The translocation of genetic material from genes 9 and 22 create an abnormal, fused
gene identified as BCR-ABL.
Answer: A
Rationale: ALL is a progressive neoplasm defined by the presence of greater than 30%
lymphoblasts in the bone marrow or blood. Option B describes AML, and Option D
describes CML.
Question 12 (Numbered as 88 in document)
John, 64, reports that he has a severe curvature of his penis which occurred all at once.
He is involved in vigorous athletic activities 4-5 days per week and does not recall an
pg. 4
Comprehensive Review | Complete Study Guide with
Verified Exam Questions, Correct Answers and
Rationales | Latest Edition – Updated 2026/2027
Question 1
A patient reports small, vesicular lesions that last between 10 and 20 days. What
treatment does the healthcare professional educate the patient about?
A. Acyclovir (Zovirax)
B. Three injections of penicillin
C. One time dose of azithromycin
D. Test of cure
Answer: A
Rationale: Small, vesicular lesions lasting 10-20 days are characteristic of herpes
simplex virus (HSV) infection. Acyclovir (Zovirax) is the antiviral treatment for HSV
lesions.
Question 2
A child has a disorder that resulted in the failure of bones to ossify, resulting in soft
bones and skeletal deformity. What treatment plan does the healthcare professional
discuss with the parents?
A. Extremely careful handling
B. Increasing vitamin D intake
C. Revascularization
D. Containment and motion therapy
Answer: B
Rationale: Failure of bones to ossify resulting in soft bones and skeletal deformity
describes rickets, which is caused by vitamin D deficiency. Treatment involves
increasing vitamin D intake.
Question 3
A patient reports frequent nightmares. For which of these should the healthcare
professional assess the patient?
A. A recent major loss
pg. 1
,B. Family history of nightmares
C. History of traumatic event
D. Poor nutrition and weight loss
Answer: C
Rationale: Frequent nightmares are commonly associated with a history of traumatic
events and may indicate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Question 4
Which pain theory proposes that a balance of impulses conducted from the spinal cord
to the higher centers in the central nervous system (CNS) modulates the transmission of
pain?
A. Gate control theory (GCT)
B. Pattern theory
C. Specificity theory
D. Neuromatrix theory
Answer: A
Rationale: The gate control theory proposes that a balance of impulses conducted from
the spinal cord to higher CNS centers modulates pain transmission.
Question 5
A patient has pernicious anemia and asks the healthcare professional to explain the
disease. Which statement by the professional is most accurate?
A. The lack of certain foods in your diet
B. Your body cannot absorb vitamin B12.
C. You are not getting enough vitamin C.
D. Your bone marrow has stopped working.
Answer: B
Rationale: Pernicious anemia is caused by the body's inability to absorb vitamin B12
due to lack of intrinsic factor, not dietary deficiency.
Question 6
A patient has a spinal cord injury at C4. What should the healthcare professional assess
as the priority in this patient?
A. Blood pressure
B. Respirations
C. Pulse
pg. 2
,D. Temperature
Answer: B
Rationale: A C4 spinal cord injury affects the phrenic nerve (C3-C5), which innervates
the diaphragm. Respiratory function is the priority assessment.
Question 7
A baby is born with a myelomeningocele and needs urgent surgery to repair the defect.
The parents want to take the baby home instead. What does the healthcare professional
tell the parents about the purpose of this surgery?
A. Surgery is much easier on a tiny infant than on a larger, older baby.
B. If your baby has surgery this young, he/she cannot feel pain.
C. Additional nervous system damage will occur the longer we wait.
D. Prompt surgery is needed to prevent total paralysis later on.
Answer: C
Rationale: Myelomeningocele requires urgent surgical repair to prevent additional
nervous system damage and infection. Delaying surgery increases the risk of further
neurologic impairment.
Question 8
A woman attempting to conceive tells the healthcare professional that she and her
partner have intercourse when her basal body temperature (BBT) is around 37°C (98°F)
without getting pregnant. What information does the professional give the woman?
A. Maybe you need a fertility workup.
B. That's a normal temperature, but during ovulation BBT decreases.
C. Temperature alone is not the most accurate way to predict ovulation.
D. BBT rises consistently above 37.8°C (100°F) with ovulation.
Answer: C
Rationale: Basal body temperature alone is not the most accurate way to predict
ovulation. BBT rises after ovulation (not during) and should be used with other
methods.
Question 9
Parents report their 3-week-old infant who eats well and has gained weight began to
have projectile vomiting for no apparent reason. What treatment option does the
healthcare professional prepare to educate the parents on?
A. A gastric feeding tube
pg. 3
, B. Wheat-free diet
C. Corrective surgery
D. Lactose-free diet
Answer: C
Rationale: Projectile vomiting in a 3-week-old infant who is otherwise doing well is
characteristic of pyloric stenosis, which requires corrective surgery.
Question 10
Monoamine neurotransmission is hypothesized to be _____ during mania.
A. increased
B. decreased
C. absent
D. suspended
Answer: A
Rationale: During mania, monoamine neurotransmission (dopamine, norepinephrine,
serotonin) is hypothesized to be increased.
Question 11
A patient has been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and asks the
healthcare professional to describe it. What description by the professional is most
accurate?
A. ALL is a progressive neoplasm defined by the presence of greater than 30%
lymphoblasts in the bone marrow or blood.
B. In ALL, immature blasts cells replace normal myelocytic cells, megakaryocytes, and
erythrocytes.
C. B cells fail to mature into plasma cells that synthesize immunoglobulin.
D. The translocation of genetic material from genes 9 and 22 create an abnormal, fused
gene identified as BCR-ABL.
Answer: A
Rationale: ALL is a progressive neoplasm defined by the presence of greater than 30%
lymphoblasts in the bone marrow or blood. Option B describes AML, and Option D
describes CML.
Question 12 (Numbered as 88 in document)
John, 64, reports that he has a severe curvature of his penis which occurred all at once.
He is involved in vigorous athletic activities 4-5 days per week and does not recall an
pg. 4
