NR 283 Pathophysiology Comprehensive
Practice Questions | 100 Original NCLEX-
Style Questions & Answer Rationales |
Chamberlain University Study Guide
1. A patient with hyperkalemia is at greatest risk for which complication?
A. Bradycardia and cardiac dysrhythmias
B. Hypertension
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Increased urine output
Answer: A
Rationale: Elevated potassium interferes with cardiac conduction and can cause life-threatening
dysrhythmias.
2. Which electrolyte is primarily responsible for maintaining extracellular fluid volume?
A. Potassium
B. Calcium
C. Sodium
D. Magnesium
Answer: C
Rationale: Sodium is the major extracellular cation and regulates extracellular fluid balance.
3. A patient with metabolic acidosis would most likely exhibit which compensatory response?
A. Slow, shallow respirations
B. Rapid, deep respirations
C. Bradycardia
D. Increased insulin secretion
Answer: B
,Rationale: The lungs compensate by increasing ventilation to remove carbon dioxide and help
raise blood pH.
4. Which cellular adaptation occurs when skeletal muscles enlarge after consistent strength
training?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to enlargement of the tissue.
5. Which process best describes programmed cell death?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Gangrene
D. Autolysis
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is an organized, controlled process that removes damaged or unnecessary
cells.
6. Which finding is an early sign of inflammation?
A. Cyanosis
B. Redness and warmth
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Vasodilation increases blood flow, producing redness and warmth at the affected
site.
, 7. Histamine released during an allergic reaction causes:
A. Vasodilation and increased capillary permeability
B. Increased red blood cell production
C. Platelet destruction
D. Decreased immune response
Answer: A
Rationale: Histamine promotes vasodilation and allows immune cells to move into injured
tissues.
8. Which immune cell is primarily responsible for producing antibodies?
A. Neutrophil
B. B lymphocyte
C. Macrophage
D. Natural killer cell
Answer: B
Rationale: B lymphocytes differentiate into plasma cells that produce antibodies.
9. Which white blood cell is the first responder during an acute bacterial infection?
A. Eosinophil
B. Basophil
C. Neutrophil
D. Monocyte
Answer: C
Rationale: Neutrophils rapidly migrate to sites of bacterial infection and perform phagocytosis.
10. A patient develops generalized edema due to low serum albumin. Which mechanism is
responsible?
A. Increased hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased oncotic pressure
C. Increased lymphatic drainage
D. Hypernatremia
Practice Questions | 100 Original NCLEX-
Style Questions & Answer Rationales |
Chamberlain University Study Guide
1. A patient with hyperkalemia is at greatest risk for which complication?
A. Bradycardia and cardiac dysrhythmias
B. Hypertension
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Increased urine output
Answer: A
Rationale: Elevated potassium interferes with cardiac conduction and can cause life-threatening
dysrhythmias.
2. Which electrolyte is primarily responsible for maintaining extracellular fluid volume?
A. Potassium
B. Calcium
C. Sodium
D. Magnesium
Answer: C
Rationale: Sodium is the major extracellular cation and regulates extracellular fluid balance.
3. A patient with metabolic acidosis would most likely exhibit which compensatory response?
A. Slow, shallow respirations
B. Rapid, deep respirations
C. Bradycardia
D. Increased insulin secretion
Answer: B
,Rationale: The lungs compensate by increasing ventilation to remove carbon dioxide and help
raise blood pH.
4. Which cellular adaptation occurs when skeletal muscles enlarge after consistent strength
training?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Hypertrophy
C. Atrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size, leading to enlargement of the tissue.
5. Which process best describes programmed cell death?
A. Necrosis
B. Apoptosis
C. Gangrene
D. Autolysis
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is an organized, controlled process that removes damaged or unnecessary
cells.
6. Which finding is an early sign of inflammation?
A. Cyanosis
B. Redness and warmth
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Vasodilation increases blood flow, producing redness and warmth at the affected
site.
, 7. Histamine released during an allergic reaction causes:
A. Vasodilation and increased capillary permeability
B. Increased red blood cell production
C. Platelet destruction
D. Decreased immune response
Answer: A
Rationale: Histamine promotes vasodilation and allows immune cells to move into injured
tissues.
8. Which immune cell is primarily responsible for producing antibodies?
A. Neutrophil
B. B lymphocyte
C. Macrophage
D. Natural killer cell
Answer: B
Rationale: B lymphocytes differentiate into plasma cells that produce antibodies.
9. Which white blood cell is the first responder during an acute bacterial infection?
A. Eosinophil
B. Basophil
C. Neutrophil
D. Monocyte
Answer: C
Rationale: Neutrophils rapidly migrate to sites of bacterial infection and perform phagocytosis.
10. A patient develops generalized edema due to low serum albumin. Which mechanism is
responsible?
A. Increased hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased oncotic pressure
C. Increased lymphatic drainage
D. Hypernatremia
