NURS 618 Pathophysiology Exam | NURS 618 Pathophysiology
Exam 2, 3 & 4 Questions and Answers Latest 2025/2026 Guide
Rated A!!
Exam 2
A 44-year-old woman developed calf pain during a transatlantic flight followed by acute
shortness of breath upon arrival at her destination. She was subsequently diagnosed with a
pulmonary embolism (PE) which resolved with anticoagulant therapy. Which of these
statements best characterizes the underlying problem of her PE?
She was short of breath because ventilation was occurring but perfusion was inadequate.
A medical student is working with a 61-year-old male client in the hospital who has presented
with a new onset of atrial fibrillation. Which of the following courses of treatment will the
student most likely expect the attending physician to initiate?
Anticoagulants, beta blockers, and possibly digitalis
A patient with unstable angina is being treated with antithrombotic medications. Which
statement best describes why antithrombotic medication is being used?
Anticoagulation therapy targets the coagulation pathway and slows or stops the formation of
the fibrin clot
An 81-year-old female client of a long-term-care facility has a history of congestive heart
failure. The nurse practitioner caring for the client has positioned her sitting up at an angle in
bed and is observing her jugular venous distention. Why is jugular venous distention a useful
indicator for the assessment of the client's condition?
Blood backs up into the jugular vein because there are no valves at the point of entry into the
heart
A physiotherapist is measuring the lying, sitting, and standing blood pressure of a patient who
has been admitted to hospital following a syncopal episode and recent falls. Which of the
following facts about the patient best relate to these health problems?
The client is 89 years old and takes a diuretic medication for his congestive heart failure.
1 | NURS 618 Pathophysiology Exam
,Which of the following clients would be considered to have a significant risk of developing the
prerenal form of acute renal failure?
A 79-year-old man with diagnoses of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus and congestive heart
failure
A patient is reading a brochure on atherosclerosis while in the waiting room of a medical clinic.
Which of the following excerpts from the educational brochure warrants correction?
"Because smoking causes a permanent increase in your risk of heart disease, it's best not to
start."
A nurse is providing care for a client who has a history of severe atherosclerosis. Which of the
following clinical manifestations of the client's illness would the nurse be most justified in
anticipating?
Aneurysm formation due to weakening of blood vessel walls
A 70-year-old male client presents to the emergency department complaining of pain in his calf
that is exacerbated when he walks. His pedal and popliteal pulses are faintly palpable, and his
leg distal to the pain is noticeably reddened. What would his care provider's preliminary
diagnosis and anticipated treatment most likely be?
Atherosclerotic occlusive disease necessitating thrombolytic therapy
A 55-year-old Caucasian man has been diagnosed with atherosclerosis. He understands that his
lifestyle includes many of the risk factors for developing the disease, but he asks the physician,
"What actually caused my disease?" What is the best scientific answer the doctor can give?
"LDL and VLDLs stimulate endothelial cell dysfunction."
Tom A. is a 45-year-old man who smokes. His father died of coronary artery disease when he
was 48 years old, and his grandfather died at age 52 from CAD also. Which of the above risk
factors for atherosclerosis can be modified?
Smoking
2 | NURS 618 Pathophysiology Exam
,A physiology instructor is explaining the hemoglobin dissociation curve in lecture. In his
description of allosteric binding of hemoglobin to oxygen, he explains how changes can occur
due to changes in the chemical environment. Which of the following situations is most likely to
result in an increased binding affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen?
Three of four binding sites on a client's hemoglobin molecule are occupied by oxygen.
Which of the following patients is most likely to be experiencing vasodilation?
A 51-year-old man with a history of hypertension who is taking a medication that blocks the
effect of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
A 54-year-old man with a long-standing diagnosis of essential hypertension is meeting with his
physician. The patient's physician would anticipate that which of the following phenomena is
most likely occurring?
The conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II in his lungs causes increases in blood
pressure and sodium reabsorption.
A nurse on a geriatric medicine unit has noted that a significant majority of the patients on the
unit are prescribed antihypertensive medications. Which of the following phenomena would
the nurse be most justified in ruling out as a contributing factor to this?
Increased sensitivity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
A 60-year-old woman has just been diagnosed with heart failure. During a conversation with
her physician, she was told that the heart failure had been developing for years. When she
asked why she had not felt the symptoms sooner, the physician explained the concept of
adaptation. Which of the following are examples of adaptations that could mask the heart
failure?
Increased renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)
3 | NURS 618 Pathophysiology Exam
, An elderly patient has been diagnosed with heart failure. He is prescribed an "ACE inhibitor" to
treat the symptoms and improve his quality of life. What is the pharmacologic action of an ACE
inhibitor?
The ACE inhibitor inhibits the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II.
A 56-year-old woman has been diagnosed with CKD. She first went to the doctor due to
complications of hypertension. How are hypertension and CKD related?
The mechanisms that produce hypertension in CKD include an increased vascular volume,
elevation of peripheral vascular resistance, decreased levels of renal vasodilator
prostaglandins, and increased activity of the renin-angiotensin system.
A physician is providing care for several patients on a medical unit of a hospital. In which of the
following patient situations would the physician be most likely to rule out hypertension as a
contributing factor?
A 61-year-old man who has a heart valve infection and recurrent fever
A 66-year-old client's echocardiogram reveals a hypertrophied left ventricle, normal chamber
volume, and a normal ejection fraction from the heart. What is this client's most likely
diagnosis?
Aortic valve stenosis
A patient is admitted for observation due to abnormal heart sounds, pulmonary congestion,
nocturnal paroxysmal dyspnea, and orthopnea. Upon auscultation a low- pitched, rumbling
murmur, best heard at the apex of the heart, is also heard. Which of the following conditions
does the patient likely have?
Mitral valve stenosis
A client has been diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis following his recovery from rheumatic
fever. Which of the following teaching points would be most accurate to convey to the client?
"Your mitral valve isn't opening up enough for blood to flow into the part of your heart that
sends blood into circulation."
4 | NURS 618 Pathophysiology Exam
Exam 2, 3 & 4 Questions and Answers Latest 2025/2026 Guide
Rated A!!
Exam 2
A 44-year-old woman developed calf pain during a transatlantic flight followed by acute
shortness of breath upon arrival at her destination. She was subsequently diagnosed with a
pulmonary embolism (PE) which resolved with anticoagulant therapy. Which of these
statements best characterizes the underlying problem of her PE?
She was short of breath because ventilation was occurring but perfusion was inadequate.
A medical student is working with a 61-year-old male client in the hospital who has presented
with a new onset of atrial fibrillation. Which of the following courses of treatment will the
student most likely expect the attending physician to initiate?
Anticoagulants, beta blockers, and possibly digitalis
A patient with unstable angina is being treated with antithrombotic medications. Which
statement best describes why antithrombotic medication is being used?
Anticoagulation therapy targets the coagulation pathway and slows or stops the formation of
the fibrin clot
An 81-year-old female client of a long-term-care facility has a history of congestive heart
failure. The nurse practitioner caring for the client has positioned her sitting up at an angle in
bed and is observing her jugular venous distention. Why is jugular venous distention a useful
indicator for the assessment of the client's condition?
Blood backs up into the jugular vein because there are no valves at the point of entry into the
heart
A physiotherapist is measuring the lying, sitting, and standing blood pressure of a patient who
has been admitted to hospital following a syncopal episode and recent falls. Which of the
following facts about the patient best relate to these health problems?
The client is 89 years old and takes a diuretic medication for his congestive heart failure.
1 | NURS 618 Pathophysiology Exam
,Which of the following clients would be considered to have a significant risk of developing the
prerenal form of acute renal failure?
A 79-year-old man with diagnoses of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus and congestive heart
failure
A patient is reading a brochure on atherosclerosis while in the waiting room of a medical clinic.
Which of the following excerpts from the educational brochure warrants correction?
"Because smoking causes a permanent increase in your risk of heart disease, it's best not to
start."
A nurse is providing care for a client who has a history of severe atherosclerosis. Which of the
following clinical manifestations of the client's illness would the nurse be most justified in
anticipating?
Aneurysm formation due to weakening of blood vessel walls
A 70-year-old male client presents to the emergency department complaining of pain in his calf
that is exacerbated when he walks. His pedal and popliteal pulses are faintly palpable, and his
leg distal to the pain is noticeably reddened. What would his care provider's preliminary
diagnosis and anticipated treatment most likely be?
Atherosclerotic occlusive disease necessitating thrombolytic therapy
A 55-year-old Caucasian man has been diagnosed with atherosclerosis. He understands that his
lifestyle includes many of the risk factors for developing the disease, but he asks the physician,
"What actually caused my disease?" What is the best scientific answer the doctor can give?
"LDL and VLDLs stimulate endothelial cell dysfunction."
Tom A. is a 45-year-old man who smokes. His father died of coronary artery disease when he
was 48 years old, and his grandfather died at age 52 from CAD also. Which of the above risk
factors for atherosclerosis can be modified?
Smoking
2 | NURS 618 Pathophysiology Exam
,A physiology instructor is explaining the hemoglobin dissociation curve in lecture. In his
description of allosteric binding of hemoglobin to oxygen, he explains how changes can occur
due to changes in the chemical environment. Which of the following situations is most likely to
result in an increased binding affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen?
Three of four binding sites on a client's hemoglobin molecule are occupied by oxygen.
Which of the following patients is most likely to be experiencing vasodilation?
A 51-year-old man with a history of hypertension who is taking a medication that blocks the
effect of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
A 54-year-old man with a long-standing diagnosis of essential hypertension is meeting with his
physician. The patient's physician would anticipate that which of the following phenomena is
most likely occurring?
The conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II in his lungs causes increases in blood
pressure and sodium reabsorption.
A nurse on a geriatric medicine unit has noted that a significant majority of the patients on the
unit are prescribed antihypertensive medications. Which of the following phenomena would
the nurse be most justified in ruling out as a contributing factor to this?
Increased sensitivity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
A 60-year-old woman has just been diagnosed with heart failure. During a conversation with
her physician, she was told that the heart failure had been developing for years. When she
asked why she had not felt the symptoms sooner, the physician explained the concept of
adaptation. Which of the following are examples of adaptations that could mask the heart
failure?
Increased renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)
3 | NURS 618 Pathophysiology Exam
, An elderly patient has been diagnosed with heart failure. He is prescribed an "ACE inhibitor" to
treat the symptoms and improve his quality of life. What is the pharmacologic action of an ACE
inhibitor?
The ACE inhibitor inhibits the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II.
A 56-year-old woman has been diagnosed with CKD. She first went to the doctor due to
complications of hypertension. How are hypertension and CKD related?
The mechanisms that produce hypertension in CKD include an increased vascular volume,
elevation of peripheral vascular resistance, decreased levels of renal vasodilator
prostaglandins, and increased activity of the renin-angiotensin system.
A physician is providing care for several patients on a medical unit of a hospital. In which of the
following patient situations would the physician be most likely to rule out hypertension as a
contributing factor?
A 61-year-old man who has a heart valve infection and recurrent fever
A 66-year-old client's echocardiogram reveals a hypertrophied left ventricle, normal chamber
volume, and a normal ejection fraction from the heart. What is this client's most likely
diagnosis?
Aortic valve stenosis
A patient is admitted for observation due to abnormal heart sounds, pulmonary congestion,
nocturnal paroxysmal dyspnea, and orthopnea. Upon auscultation a low- pitched, rumbling
murmur, best heard at the apex of the heart, is also heard. Which of the following conditions
does the patient likely have?
Mitral valve stenosis
A client has been diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis following his recovery from rheumatic
fever. Which of the following teaching points would be most accurate to convey to the client?
"Your mitral valve isn't opening up enough for blood to flow into the part of your heart that
sends blood into circulation."
4 | NURS 618 Pathophysiology Exam
