PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2 QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
A nurse is reviewing lab reports. The nurse recalls blood plasma is located in which of
the following fluid compartments? - Answers-Intravascular fluid
A 35-year-old male weighs 70 kg. Approximately how much of this weight is ICF? -
Answers-42 L- the total volume of body water for a 70 kg person is about 42 L (60%)
While planning care for elderly individuals, the nurse remembers the elderly are at a
higher risk for developing dehydration because they have a(n): - Answers-decreased
muscle mass
Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for a decreased oncotic
pressure in the capillaries? A patient with: - Answers-liver failure
Water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments is determined by: - Answers-
osmotic forces
An experiment was designed to test the effects of the Starling forces on fluid movement.
Which of the following alterations would result in fluid moving into the interstitial space?
- Answers-Increased interstitial oncotic pressure
When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse remembers the principle of
water balance is closely related to _____ balance. - Answers-Sodium
A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with edema. Which of the
following is the most likely cause of this condition? - Answers-Increased capillary
hydrostatic pressure
A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room (ER) because he is incoherent
and semiconscious. CT scan reveals that he is suffering from cerebral edema. This type
of edema is referred to as: - Answers-localized edema
A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which information
should the nurse include? Secretion of ADH is stimulated by: - Answers-increased
plasma osmolality
Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful concerning
aldosterone? Secretion of aldosterone results in: - Answers-increased blood volume
A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumor of the adrenal cortex.
Which finding would the nurse expect to see in the lab results? - Answers-Decreased
blood K+ levels
,A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic hormones. When the
patient asks the nurse what do these hormones do, how should the nurse respond?
Natriuretic hormones affect the balance of: - Answers-Sodium
A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken eyes. After diagnosing
him with severe dehydration, the primary care provider orders fluid replacement. The
nurse administers a hypertonic intravenous solution. Which of the following would be
expected? - Answers-Intracellular dehydration
Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing hypernatremia? A
patient with: - Answers-dehydration
The most common cause of pure water deficit is: - Answers-A. renal water loss
Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with: - Answers-Hypertonic
hyponatremia
A 52-year-old diabetic male presents to the ER with lethargy, confusion, and depressed
reflexes. His wife indicates that he does not follow the prescribed diet and takes his
medication sporadically. Lab results indicate hyperglycemia. Which assessment finding
is most likely to occur? - Answers-decreased sodium
When taking care of a patient with hyperkalemia, which principle is priority?
Hyperkalemia causes a(n) _____ in resting membrane potential with _____ excitability
of cardiac muscle. - Answers-increase, increased
Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia? A patient with: -
Answers-Increased bicarbonate intake
Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for hyperkalemia? -
Answers-Acute acidosis
Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has long-term
potassium deficits? - Answers-kidneys
A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider reporting muscle weakness
and cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of
the following could be the cause of her condition? - Answers-Primary
hyperaldosteronism
A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider reporting restlessness, muscle
cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following
could have caused his condition? - Answers-acidosis
A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which assessment finding should
the nurse expect to observe? - Answers-oliguria
, Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma buffering system? -
Answers-carbonic acid and bicarbonate
A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal or retention of volatile
acids is accomplished by the: - Answers-lungs
Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid and bicarbonate exist in
a ratio of: - Answers-20:1
Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient with: - Answers-Excessive
loss of chloride (Cl)
Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis? A
patient diagnosed with: - Answers-renal failure
For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate by: - Answers-
hyperventilating
Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis? - Answers-
pneumonia
A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of excessive tiredness,
shortness of breath, and overall ill feelings. Lab results reveal decreased pH, increased
CO2, and normal bicarbonate ion. These findings help to confirm the diagnosis of: -
Answers-respiratory acidosis
For a patient with respiratory acidosis, chronic compensation by the body will include: -
Answers-Kidney excretion of H+
A 55-year-old female presents to her primary care provider and reports dizziness,
confusion, and tingling in the extremities. Blood tests reveal an elevated pH, decreased
PCO2, and slightly decreased HCO3. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis? - Answers-Respiratory alkalosis with renal compensation
Outcomes of laboratory tests include an elevated level of natriuretic peptides. Which
organ is the priority assessment? - Answers-heart
A 60-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is diagnosed with a hormone-
secreting lung tumor. Further testing indicates that the tumor secretes ADH. Which of
the following assessment findings should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.) -
Answers--Confusion
-Weakness
-Nausea
-Muscle twitching
ANSWERS
A nurse is reviewing lab reports. The nurse recalls blood plasma is located in which of
the following fluid compartments? - Answers-Intravascular fluid
A 35-year-old male weighs 70 kg. Approximately how much of this weight is ICF? -
Answers-42 L- the total volume of body water for a 70 kg person is about 42 L (60%)
While planning care for elderly individuals, the nurse remembers the elderly are at a
higher risk for developing dehydration because they have a(n): - Answers-decreased
muscle mass
Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for a decreased oncotic
pressure in the capillaries? A patient with: - Answers-liver failure
Water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments is determined by: - Answers-
osmotic forces
An experiment was designed to test the effects of the Starling forces on fluid movement.
Which of the following alterations would result in fluid moving into the interstitial space?
- Answers-Increased interstitial oncotic pressure
When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse remembers the principle of
water balance is closely related to _____ balance. - Answers-Sodium
A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with edema. Which of the
following is the most likely cause of this condition? - Answers-Increased capillary
hydrostatic pressure
A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room (ER) because he is incoherent
and semiconscious. CT scan reveals that he is suffering from cerebral edema. This type
of edema is referred to as: - Answers-localized edema
A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which information
should the nurse include? Secretion of ADH is stimulated by: - Answers-increased
plasma osmolality
Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful concerning
aldosterone? Secretion of aldosterone results in: - Answers-increased blood volume
A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumor of the adrenal cortex.
Which finding would the nurse expect to see in the lab results? - Answers-Decreased
blood K+ levels
,A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic hormones. When the
patient asks the nurse what do these hormones do, how should the nurse respond?
Natriuretic hormones affect the balance of: - Answers-Sodium
A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken eyes. After diagnosing
him with severe dehydration, the primary care provider orders fluid replacement. The
nurse administers a hypertonic intravenous solution. Which of the following would be
expected? - Answers-Intracellular dehydration
Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing hypernatremia? A
patient with: - Answers-dehydration
The most common cause of pure water deficit is: - Answers-A. renal water loss
Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with: - Answers-Hypertonic
hyponatremia
A 52-year-old diabetic male presents to the ER with lethargy, confusion, and depressed
reflexes. His wife indicates that he does not follow the prescribed diet and takes his
medication sporadically. Lab results indicate hyperglycemia. Which assessment finding
is most likely to occur? - Answers-decreased sodium
When taking care of a patient with hyperkalemia, which principle is priority?
Hyperkalemia causes a(n) _____ in resting membrane potential with _____ excitability
of cardiac muscle. - Answers-increase, increased
Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia? A patient with: -
Answers-Increased bicarbonate intake
Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for hyperkalemia? -
Answers-Acute acidosis
Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has long-term
potassium deficits? - Answers-kidneys
A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider reporting muscle weakness
and cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of
the following could be the cause of her condition? - Answers-Primary
hyperaldosteronism
A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider reporting restlessness, muscle
cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following
could have caused his condition? - Answers-acidosis
A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which assessment finding should
the nurse expect to observe? - Answers-oliguria
, Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma buffering system? -
Answers-carbonic acid and bicarbonate
A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal or retention of volatile
acids is accomplished by the: - Answers-lungs
Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid and bicarbonate exist in
a ratio of: - Answers-20:1
Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient with: - Answers-Excessive
loss of chloride (Cl)
Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis? A
patient diagnosed with: - Answers-renal failure
For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate by: - Answers-
hyperventilating
Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis? - Answers-
pneumonia
A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of excessive tiredness,
shortness of breath, and overall ill feelings. Lab results reveal decreased pH, increased
CO2, and normal bicarbonate ion. These findings help to confirm the diagnosis of: -
Answers-respiratory acidosis
For a patient with respiratory acidosis, chronic compensation by the body will include: -
Answers-Kidney excretion of H+
A 55-year-old female presents to her primary care provider and reports dizziness,
confusion, and tingling in the extremities. Blood tests reveal an elevated pH, decreased
PCO2, and slightly decreased HCO3. Which of the following is the most likely
diagnosis? - Answers-Respiratory alkalosis with renal compensation
Outcomes of laboratory tests include an elevated level of natriuretic peptides. Which
organ is the priority assessment? - Answers-heart
A 60-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is diagnosed with a hormone-
secreting lung tumor. Further testing indicates that the tumor secretes ADH. Which of
the following assessment findings should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.) -
Answers--Confusion
-Weakness
-Nausea
-Muscle twitching
