WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY (HOMEOSTASIS) CURRENTLY
TESTING QUESTIONSWITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
1. Which condition is caused by an increase in the amount of potassium in the blood?
Hyperkalemia
Feedback: This is correct. A potassium ion increase in the blood leads to hyperkalemia.
2. A health-care provider prescribes IV potassium infusion for a hypokalemic client
who is NPO (nothing by mouth). Which intervention by the nurse is correct when
administering IV potassium?
Validate the preparation of diluted IV potassium solution
3. A client has increased serum phosphorus levels. Which condition related to
hyperphosphatemia would the nurse expect to find in the client?
Hypocalcemia
Feedback: This is correct. Hyperphosphatemia is generally accompanied by low serum
calcium levels, also known as hypocalcemia.
4. A client is on digitalis, and the laboratory results show that the client is
hypokalemic. Which effect does hypokalemia have on the drug administered?
It can cause digitalis toxicity.
Feedback: This is correct. Digitalis binds to the open binding sites of potassium and
causes digitalis toxicity when the drug is administered to hypokalemic clients.
5. The nurse is providing care for a client being treated for diabetic ketoacidosis.
Assessment reveals the presence of tremors, muscle spasms, a positive Babinski’s sign,
and cardiac arrhythmias. Which condition does the nurse recognize?
Hypomagnesemia
6. A client is running a high temperature and is found to have fluid volume deficit.
Which signs and symptoms are likely to appear in the client because of fluid volume
deficit? Select two.
Poor skin turgor
Orthostatic
hypotension
7. A registered nurse is teaching a student nurse about the reason for the development
of natriuresis. Which statement made by the student nurse indicates effective teaching?
“Natriuresis develops as a result of the excretion of large amounts of sodium.”
8. A registered nurse is teaching a student nurse about the effects of aldosterone. Which
statement made by the student nurse is correct?
“It stimulates the excretion of sodium.”
“It decreases renal perfusion.”
“It increases blood volume and blood pressure.”
, Feedback: This is correct. Aldosterone increases the absorption of water and increases
the blood volume. Also increases blood pressure
“It stimulates the reabsorption of potassium.”
9. Which is the compound that donates hydrogen ions in a solution?
Acid
Feedback: This is correct. An acid is the compound that donates hydrogen ions in a
solution. When the hydrogen ions are excessive in a solution, the solution is acidic.
10. An adult client who has hypervolemia reports a headache, muscle cramps, and
vomiting. The nurse notices confusion. Which condition has the client developed?
Hyponatremia
11. The nurse is providing care for a client with an undiagnosed illness. Calculations of
the anion gap indicate an elevation, and the client is identified as being positive for
metabolic acidosis. Which question does the nurse ask the client?
“Are you taking regular doses of aspirin?”
Feedback: This is correct. Calculating the anion gap is clinically useful, as it helps
differentiate types of metabolic acidosis disease states. Metabolic acidosis with an
elevated anion gap can be related to overdose of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), also known as
aspirin.
12. A client’s laboratory test results show overproduction of aldosterone. Which is the
best nursing intervention to maintain serum electrolyte levels in the client?
Provide spironolactone
Feedback: This is correct. Spironolactone is an aldosterone antagonist that causes
potassium retention in the bloodstream. It interferes with sodium reabsorption in the
distal tubules and stimulates the excretion of sodium. Hence, the appropriate nursing
intervention in the situation given is the administration of spironolactone.
13. The nurse is providing care for a client with cerebral edema. Which IV does the nurse
expect to be prescribed?
Isotonic with glucose
solution Hypotonic solution
Hypertonic solution
Feedback: This is correct. A hypertonic solution causes the cells to shrink by adding
solutes to the bloodstream when infused. Hence, a hypertonic solution is generally used
to reduce cell swelling in the cerebral edema.
Isotonic solution
14. A comatose client’s blood pH is 7.1, partial pressure of carbon dioxide is 16
millimeters of mercury, and bicarbonate concentration is 5 milliequivalent/liter.
Which acid–base imbalance has the client developed?
Metabolic acidosis
Feedback: This is correct. The client has developed metabolic acidosis as indicated by
low blood pH and low bicarbonate levels.
15. Which is an acidic pH of blood?
6.00
TESTING QUESTIONSWITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
1. Which condition is caused by an increase in the amount of potassium in the blood?
Hyperkalemia
Feedback: This is correct. A potassium ion increase in the blood leads to hyperkalemia.
2. A health-care provider prescribes IV potassium infusion for a hypokalemic client
who is NPO (nothing by mouth). Which intervention by the nurse is correct when
administering IV potassium?
Validate the preparation of diluted IV potassium solution
3. A client has increased serum phosphorus levels. Which condition related to
hyperphosphatemia would the nurse expect to find in the client?
Hypocalcemia
Feedback: This is correct. Hyperphosphatemia is generally accompanied by low serum
calcium levels, also known as hypocalcemia.
4. A client is on digitalis, and the laboratory results show that the client is
hypokalemic. Which effect does hypokalemia have on the drug administered?
It can cause digitalis toxicity.
Feedback: This is correct. Digitalis binds to the open binding sites of potassium and
causes digitalis toxicity when the drug is administered to hypokalemic clients.
5. The nurse is providing care for a client being treated for diabetic ketoacidosis.
Assessment reveals the presence of tremors, muscle spasms, a positive Babinski’s sign,
and cardiac arrhythmias. Which condition does the nurse recognize?
Hypomagnesemia
6. A client is running a high temperature and is found to have fluid volume deficit.
Which signs and symptoms are likely to appear in the client because of fluid volume
deficit? Select two.
Poor skin turgor
Orthostatic
hypotension
7. A registered nurse is teaching a student nurse about the reason for the development
of natriuresis. Which statement made by the student nurse indicates effective teaching?
“Natriuresis develops as a result of the excretion of large amounts of sodium.”
8. A registered nurse is teaching a student nurse about the effects of aldosterone. Which
statement made by the student nurse is correct?
“It stimulates the excretion of sodium.”
“It decreases renal perfusion.”
“It increases blood volume and blood pressure.”
, Feedback: This is correct. Aldosterone increases the absorption of water and increases
the blood volume. Also increases blood pressure
“It stimulates the reabsorption of potassium.”
9. Which is the compound that donates hydrogen ions in a solution?
Acid
Feedback: This is correct. An acid is the compound that donates hydrogen ions in a
solution. When the hydrogen ions are excessive in a solution, the solution is acidic.
10. An adult client who has hypervolemia reports a headache, muscle cramps, and
vomiting. The nurse notices confusion. Which condition has the client developed?
Hyponatremia
11. The nurse is providing care for a client with an undiagnosed illness. Calculations of
the anion gap indicate an elevation, and the client is identified as being positive for
metabolic acidosis. Which question does the nurse ask the client?
“Are you taking regular doses of aspirin?”
Feedback: This is correct. Calculating the anion gap is clinically useful, as it helps
differentiate types of metabolic acidosis disease states. Metabolic acidosis with an
elevated anion gap can be related to overdose of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), also known as
aspirin.
12. A client’s laboratory test results show overproduction of aldosterone. Which is the
best nursing intervention to maintain serum electrolyte levels in the client?
Provide spironolactone
Feedback: This is correct. Spironolactone is an aldosterone antagonist that causes
potassium retention in the bloodstream. It interferes with sodium reabsorption in the
distal tubules and stimulates the excretion of sodium. Hence, the appropriate nursing
intervention in the situation given is the administration of spironolactone.
13. The nurse is providing care for a client with cerebral edema. Which IV does the nurse
expect to be prescribed?
Isotonic with glucose
solution Hypotonic solution
Hypertonic solution
Feedback: This is correct. A hypertonic solution causes the cells to shrink by adding
solutes to the bloodstream when infused. Hence, a hypertonic solution is generally used
to reduce cell swelling in the cerebral edema.
Isotonic solution
14. A comatose client’s blood pH is 7.1, partial pressure of carbon dioxide is 16
millimeters of mercury, and bicarbonate concentration is 5 milliequivalent/liter.
Which acid–base imbalance has the client developed?
Metabolic acidosis
Feedback: This is correct. The client has developed metabolic acidosis as indicated by
low blood pH and low bicarbonate levels.
15. Which is an acidic pH of blood?
6.00
