NURS 5315 UTA Final Exam Questions and Correct Answers
Question 1
A patient in respiratory distress and is breathing 33 breaths per minute. Which ABG value is consistent with the clinical
scenario?
PCO2 15
pH 7.30
pH 7.45
O2 sat 100%
Correct Answer
A patient who is breathing 33 breaths per minute is hyperventilating and blowing off CO2; therefore the PCO2 level will
be low. The patient will most likely experience a respiratory alkalosis and the two pH values provided are not consistent
with this diagnosis.
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,Question 2
A patient has a sodium level of 115 mEq/L and is disoriented and lethargic. Which pathological process best explains this
patient's symptoms?
a. The action potential has become hyperpolarized.
b. Water has shifted into the neurons and caused them to swell.
c. Water has shifted into the vascular space and dehydrated the neurons.
d. The action potential has become hypopolarized.
Correct Answer
b. The cause of neurologic symptoms associated with a sodium imbalance is directly related to fluid shifting into or out
of the neurons of the brain. With a serum sodium of 115 mEq/L, water shifts into the neurons and causes them to swell.
Hypernatremia causes water to shift out of the cell into the intravascular space and causes the neurons to become
dehydrated. An alteration in the action potential is not seen with sodium imbalances.
Question 3
A patient experiencing dehydration should be monitored for which electrolyte imbalance?
a. Hyperkalemia
b. Hypocalcemia
c. Hypercalcemia
d. Hyponatermia
Correct Answer
a. Serum osmolality is increased during times of dehydration. An elevated serum osmolality will pull potassium into the
intravascular space from the intracellular space and cause a rise in serum potassium.
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,Question 4
A married couple presents to your office for genetic counseling. The husband has an autosomal recessive disease and his
wife has a heterozygous genotype for the disease. They ask you, What is the chance that our baby will have the disease?
Which of the following answers is correct?
25%
50%
75%
100%
Correct Answer
A chromosome is a package of material located inside the cell nucleus which is made of proteins and a single molecule
of DNA. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in each human cell for a total of 46 chromosomes. Chromosomes are
separated into two identical sets during mitosis or meiosis. This provides a set of chromosomes to each daughter cell
which results from cell division. This process is responsible for the transfer of genetic information to the daughter cells.
The first 22 pairs of chromosomes are known as autosomes. The 23rd pair of chromosomes is the pair which contains the
genetic information for gender. This pair contains the genetic information which delineates between the male and female
genders. Females have two X chromosomes (XX) and males have an XY chromosome pair. Autosomal chromosomes are
said to be autologous. This means they do not carry genetic information pertaining to gender. Autosomal genetic
diseases are carried on the first 22 pairs of chromosomes. Sex-linked diseases are only carried on the 23rd pair of
chromosomes. The autosomal chromosomes are nearly identical to one another and are considered homologous to one
another. Each autosomal chromosome in a pair carries identical genes. These two genes are known as alleles. The alleles
occupy the same site on each partner of the chromosome pair and code for the same genetic trait or physiologic
function. Alleles can be dominant or recessive. One allele may be dominant and the other recessive, or they both may be
dominant or both recessive. The dominant alleles' genetic code will always manifest in the individual's phenotype. The
information in the recessive allele is typically not expressed in the phenotype unless both alleles are recessive. For the
purpose of clarity in use, the dominant gene is assigned a capital letter and the recessive gene is assigned a lower case
letter. Any letter is okay to use but make sure you use the same letter for the genotype - for example, "Bb or aa." The
term homozygous refers to a pair of alleles which are either both dominant or recessive. For example, "BB or bb" are said
to be homozygous because the alleles are either both dominant or recessive. An allele pair in which one is dominant and
one is recessive is said to be heterozygous. In autosomal recessive disorders both alleles on the chromosome are
affected by the genetic aberration. If only one recessive gene is affected by the genetic aberration then the person is said
to be a carrier and will not have the phenotypic expression of the disease. The healthy, recessive allele will compensate
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, for the allele which is affected by the genetic aberration. The carrier can pass the trait but does not have the genetic
disease. In an autosomal dominant disorder the dominant gene is the only gene that has to be affected by the genetic
aberration in order to have the phenotypic expression of the disease. A healthy recessive allele cannot compensate for a
diseased dominant allele. In order to answer this question one must understand the above information and draw a
Punnett Square.
The husband has an autosomal recessive disease which means his genotype must be aa. The wife has a heterozygous
genotype for the disease which means her genotype is Aa. The capital A reflects a healthy gene so she is merely a carrier
and does not express the disease phenotype. The father's genotype is written across the top line and the mother's
genotype is written in the boxes to the left. The four boxes in the middle are the possible genotypes of their offspring.
Each box represents a 25% chance for the offspring to have that particular genotype. The question asks you to determine
the chances the offspring will have the autosomal recessive disease or in other words, express the phenotype for the
disease. The genotype which will result in the disease is "aa." Therefore, there is a 50% chance that their offspring will
have the autosomal recessive disease.
Question 5
A child is diagnosed with hemophilia. This is an example of which genetic concept?
Phenotype
Genotype
Autosomal transmission of the disease
Transcription
Correct Answer
The expression of a genetic disease is an example of a phenotype. A genotype is a gene's programming. Hemophilia is
transmitted on the x-chromosome and is not transmitted via the autosomes. This is not an example of transcription.
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Question 1
A patient in respiratory distress and is breathing 33 breaths per minute. Which ABG value is consistent with the clinical
scenario?
PCO2 15
pH 7.30
pH 7.45
O2 sat 100%
Correct Answer
A patient who is breathing 33 breaths per minute is hyperventilating and blowing off CO2; therefore the PCO2 level will
be low. The patient will most likely experience a respiratory alkalosis and the two pH values provided are not consistent
with this diagnosis.
Page 1 of 31
,Question 2
A patient has a sodium level of 115 mEq/L and is disoriented and lethargic. Which pathological process best explains this
patient's symptoms?
a. The action potential has become hyperpolarized.
b. Water has shifted into the neurons and caused them to swell.
c. Water has shifted into the vascular space and dehydrated the neurons.
d. The action potential has become hypopolarized.
Correct Answer
b. The cause of neurologic symptoms associated with a sodium imbalance is directly related to fluid shifting into or out
of the neurons of the brain. With a serum sodium of 115 mEq/L, water shifts into the neurons and causes them to swell.
Hypernatremia causes water to shift out of the cell into the intravascular space and causes the neurons to become
dehydrated. An alteration in the action potential is not seen with sodium imbalances.
Question 3
A patient experiencing dehydration should be monitored for which electrolyte imbalance?
a. Hyperkalemia
b. Hypocalcemia
c. Hypercalcemia
d. Hyponatermia
Correct Answer
a. Serum osmolality is increased during times of dehydration. An elevated serum osmolality will pull potassium into the
intravascular space from the intracellular space and cause a rise in serum potassium.
Page 2 of 31
,Question 4
A married couple presents to your office for genetic counseling. The husband has an autosomal recessive disease and his
wife has a heterozygous genotype for the disease. They ask you, What is the chance that our baby will have the disease?
Which of the following answers is correct?
25%
50%
75%
100%
Correct Answer
A chromosome is a package of material located inside the cell nucleus which is made of proteins and a single molecule
of DNA. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in each human cell for a total of 46 chromosomes. Chromosomes are
separated into two identical sets during mitosis or meiosis. This provides a set of chromosomes to each daughter cell
which results from cell division. This process is responsible for the transfer of genetic information to the daughter cells.
The first 22 pairs of chromosomes are known as autosomes. The 23rd pair of chromosomes is the pair which contains the
genetic information for gender. This pair contains the genetic information which delineates between the male and female
genders. Females have two X chromosomes (XX) and males have an XY chromosome pair. Autosomal chromosomes are
said to be autologous. This means they do not carry genetic information pertaining to gender. Autosomal genetic
diseases are carried on the first 22 pairs of chromosomes. Sex-linked diseases are only carried on the 23rd pair of
chromosomes. The autosomal chromosomes are nearly identical to one another and are considered homologous to one
another. Each autosomal chromosome in a pair carries identical genes. These two genes are known as alleles. The alleles
occupy the same site on each partner of the chromosome pair and code for the same genetic trait or physiologic
function. Alleles can be dominant or recessive. One allele may be dominant and the other recessive, or they both may be
dominant or both recessive. The dominant alleles' genetic code will always manifest in the individual's phenotype. The
information in the recessive allele is typically not expressed in the phenotype unless both alleles are recessive. For the
purpose of clarity in use, the dominant gene is assigned a capital letter and the recessive gene is assigned a lower case
letter. Any letter is okay to use but make sure you use the same letter for the genotype - for example, "Bb or aa." The
term homozygous refers to a pair of alleles which are either both dominant or recessive. For example, "BB or bb" are said
to be homozygous because the alleles are either both dominant or recessive. An allele pair in which one is dominant and
one is recessive is said to be heterozygous. In autosomal recessive disorders both alleles on the chromosome are
affected by the genetic aberration. If only one recessive gene is affected by the genetic aberration then the person is said
to be a carrier and will not have the phenotypic expression of the disease. The healthy, recessive allele will compensate
Page 3 of 31
, for the allele which is affected by the genetic aberration. The carrier can pass the trait but does not have the genetic
disease. In an autosomal dominant disorder the dominant gene is the only gene that has to be affected by the genetic
aberration in order to have the phenotypic expression of the disease. A healthy recessive allele cannot compensate for a
diseased dominant allele. In order to answer this question one must understand the above information and draw a
Punnett Square.
The husband has an autosomal recessive disease which means his genotype must be aa. The wife has a heterozygous
genotype for the disease which means her genotype is Aa. The capital A reflects a healthy gene so she is merely a carrier
and does not express the disease phenotype. The father's genotype is written across the top line and the mother's
genotype is written in the boxes to the left. The four boxes in the middle are the possible genotypes of their offspring.
Each box represents a 25% chance for the offspring to have that particular genotype. The question asks you to determine
the chances the offspring will have the autosomal recessive disease or in other words, express the phenotype for the
disease. The genotype which will result in the disease is "aa." Therefore, there is a 50% chance that their offspring will
have the autosomal recessive disease.
Question 5
A child is diagnosed with hemophilia. This is an example of which genetic concept?
Phenotype
Genotype
Autosomal transmission of the disease
Transcription
Correct Answer
The expression of a genetic disease is an example of a phenotype. A genotype is a gene's programming. Hemophilia is
transmitted on the x-chromosome and is not transmitted via the autosomes. This is not an example of transcription.
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