Test Bank for Porth's Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States 11th
Edition by Tommie L. Norris
, Chapter 1- Concepts of Health and Disease
1. During an international nursing summit, numerous sessions centered around the World Health Organization's
(WHO) perspective on health. Which of the following nurse comments align with WHO's definition? (Select all
that apply.)
A) Promoting social interaction among seniors through book discussions and word puzzles
B) Offering more seated exercise classes in long-term care homes
C) Helping older adults with diabetes control their blood sugar through cooking lessons at home
D) Organizing transport services for patients undergoing dialysis
E) Teaching young kids proper handwashing techniques
Correct Answers: A, B, C, E
Rationale: WHO defines health as a state of total physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of
disease. Activities like book discussions support mental and social health; seated aerobics support physical
wellness; and diabetic education promotes chronic condition management. Hand hygiene instruction helps prevent
the spread of infection.
2. A community health nurse is instructing new graduates on the wide range of elements influencing individual
health. Using Healthy People 2020 as a reference, which scenario does not fall under its determinants of health?
A) A person with Asian and Native American roots who practices stress-reducing alternative therapies
B) A patient with a family history of heart disease who fails to follow treatment recommendations
C) An individual with a stable job and access to comprehensive preventive health coverage
D) A resident of a clean, wealthy suburban area with ample healthcare facilities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Healthy People 2020 aims to promote health equity and eliminate disparities. Lifestyle choices such as
non-adherence to treatment aren't considered determinants in this framework, unlike environmental, genetic, or
healthcare access factors.
3. A physician on a university hospital unit is reviewing cases with a colleague. Which patient best represents a
case where disease results from an external molecule causing illness?
A) A 31-year-old woman with sickle cell anemia receiving red blood cell transfusions
B) A 91-year-old woman who had a stroke due to inherited high cholesterol
C) A 19-year-old man hospitalized for cystic fibrosis complications
D) A 30-year-old man with PCP pneumonia and HIV
Correct Answer: D
,Rationale: PCP pneumonia results from an infectious agent (Pneumocystis), a molecule that directly causes
disease. The other conditions are genetic or hereditary and reflect abnormal internal molecules.
4. A healthcare team member is studying the disease processes in several hospitalized patients. Which scenario
represents pathogenesis rather than etiology?
A) Exposure to the tuberculosis bacteria
B) Rising ammonia levels in a cirrhosis patient
C) Poisoning from methyl alcohol ingestion
D) Multiple bone fractures after a car crash
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pathogenesis refers to how a disease develops and progresses, such as increasing ammonia from liver
failure. Etiology relates to the cause—bacteria, toxins, or trauma.
5. A heart attack patient is attending his first cardiac rehab session, which includes education about coronary artery
disease. Which comment shows understanding of the disease's development?
A) “Quitting smoking will stop all future heart attacks.”
B) “Fats in foods like fries caused my artery blockage.”
C) “Inflammation in my artery led to fatty buildup and blockage.”
D) “Without regular workouts, my blood pools and causes clots.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Coronary artery disease begins with arterial inflammation leading to fatty deposits and vessel
blockage. It's a progressive process, not caused solely by a single lifestyle factor.
6. A respiratory therapist is assessing a hospitalized elderly patient with COPD. Which finding is a symptom
rather than a sign?
A) Oxygen level at 83%
B) Patient says breathing worsens when lying down
C) Diminished breath sounds noted by auscultation
D) Breathing rate is 31 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Symptoms are subjective, reported by the patient, while signs are observable and measurable.
, 7. Which of these represent a complication of illness or treatment? (Select all that apply.)
A) A pulmonary embolism following new atrial fibrillation
B) Severe surgical pain after colon surgery
C) Lung scarring after chemotherapy with bleomycin
D) Gradual loss of mobility in a Parkinson’s patient
E) Memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease
Correct Answers: A, C
Rationale: Complications are unexpected or adverse results. Pulmonary embolism and fibrosis after chemotherapy
are complications; the other examples are expected disease progressions.
8. A male patient has routine bloodwork for hypertension follow-up. The nurse understands:
A) Normal values fall within a statistical bell curve
B) Results above 50% indicate high levels
C) All values are adjusted based on gender and weight
D) A negative sensitive test still leaves disease unruled
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: “Normal” lab ranges are based on population data within a standard distribution curve. While some
values are adjusted for factors like gender, most sensitive tests with negative results typically rule out disease.
9. A new test distinguishes between heart and lung causes of shortness of breath. It shows a 99.8% positive rate for
true heart conditions but also shows positives in 1.3% without heart issues. How is this test best described?
A) Low validity; high reliability
B) High sensitivity; low specificity
C) High specificity; low reliability
D) High sensitivity; low reliability
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The test correctly identifies nearly all heart-related cases (high sensitivity), but the false positives
indicate low specificity.
10. Men at a senior center are undergoing PSA tests. Which outcome reflects high positive predictive value but
low negative predictive value?
A) All men with high PSA developed cancer; some with low PSA did too
B) All men with low PSA were cancer-free; some with high PSA were also cancer-free
C) Low PSA results included false positives; high PSA results often incorrect
Edition by Tommie L. Norris
, Chapter 1- Concepts of Health and Disease
1. During an international nursing summit, numerous sessions centered around the World Health Organization's
(WHO) perspective on health. Which of the following nurse comments align with WHO's definition? (Select all
that apply.)
A) Promoting social interaction among seniors through book discussions and word puzzles
B) Offering more seated exercise classes in long-term care homes
C) Helping older adults with diabetes control their blood sugar through cooking lessons at home
D) Organizing transport services for patients undergoing dialysis
E) Teaching young kids proper handwashing techniques
Correct Answers: A, B, C, E
Rationale: WHO defines health as a state of total physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of
disease. Activities like book discussions support mental and social health; seated aerobics support physical
wellness; and diabetic education promotes chronic condition management. Hand hygiene instruction helps prevent
the spread of infection.
2. A community health nurse is instructing new graduates on the wide range of elements influencing individual
health. Using Healthy People 2020 as a reference, which scenario does not fall under its determinants of health?
A) A person with Asian and Native American roots who practices stress-reducing alternative therapies
B) A patient with a family history of heart disease who fails to follow treatment recommendations
C) An individual with a stable job and access to comprehensive preventive health coverage
D) A resident of a clean, wealthy suburban area with ample healthcare facilities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Healthy People 2020 aims to promote health equity and eliminate disparities. Lifestyle choices such as
non-adherence to treatment aren't considered determinants in this framework, unlike environmental, genetic, or
healthcare access factors.
3. A physician on a university hospital unit is reviewing cases with a colleague. Which patient best represents a
case where disease results from an external molecule causing illness?
A) A 31-year-old woman with sickle cell anemia receiving red blood cell transfusions
B) A 91-year-old woman who had a stroke due to inherited high cholesterol
C) A 19-year-old man hospitalized for cystic fibrosis complications
D) A 30-year-old man with PCP pneumonia and HIV
Correct Answer: D
,Rationale: PCP pneumonia results from an infectious agent (Pneumocystis), a molecule that directly causes
disease. The other conditions are genetic or hereditary and reflect abnormal internal molecules.
4. A healthcare team member is studying the disease processes in several hospitalized patients. Which scenario
represents pathogenesis rather than etiology?
A) Exposure to the tuberculosis bacteria
B) Rising ammonia levels in a cirrhosis patient
C) Poisoning from methyl alcohol ingestion
D) Multiple bone fractures after a car crash
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pathogenesis refers to how a disease develops and progresses, such as increasing ammonia from liver
failure. Etiology relates to the cause—bacteria, toxins, or trauma.
5. A heart attack patient is attending his first cardiac rehab session, which includes education about coronary artery
disease. Which comment shows understanding of the disease's development?
A) “Quitting smoking will stop all future heart attacks.”
B) “Fats in foods like fries caused my artery blockage.”
C) “Inflammation in my artery led to fatty buildup and blockage.”
D) “Without regular workouts, my blood pools and causes clots.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Coronary artery disease begins with arterial inflammation leading to fatty deposits and vessel
blockage. It's a progressive process, not caused solely by a single lifestyle factor.
6. A respiratory therapist is assessing a hospitalized elderly patient with COPD. Which finding is a symptom
rather than a sign?
A) Oxygen level at 83%
B) Patient says breathing worsens when lying down
C) Diminished breath sounds noted by auscultation
D) Breathing rate is 31 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Symptoms are subjective, reported by the patient, while signs are observable and measurable.
, 7. Which of these represent a complication of illness or treatment? (Select all that apply.)
A) A pulmonary embolism following new atrial fibrillation
B) Severe surgical pain after colon surgery
C) Lung scarring after chemotherapy with bleomycin
D) Gradual loss of mobility in a Parkinson’s patient
E) Memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease
Correct Answers: A, C
Rationale: Complications are unexpected or adverse results. Pulmonary embolism and fibrosis after chemotherapy
are complications; the other examples are expected disease progressions.
8. A male patient has routine bloodwork for hypertension follow-up. The nurse understands:
A) Normal values fall within a statistical bell curve
B) Results above 50% indicate high levels
C) All values are adjusted based on gender and weight
D) A negative sensitive test still leaves disease unruled
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: “Normal” lab ranges are based on population data within a standard distribution curve. While some
values are adjusted for factors like gender, most sensitive tests with negative results typically rule out disease.
9. A new test distinguishes between heart and lung causes of shortness of breath. It shows a 99.8% positive rate for
true heart conditions but also shows positives in 1.3% without heart issues. How is this test best described?
A) Low validity; high reliability
B) High sensitivity; low specificity
C) High specificity; low reliability
D) High sensitivity; low reliability
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The test correctly identifies nearly all heart-related cases (high sensitivity), but the false positives
indicate low specificity.
10. Men at a senior center are undergoing PSA tests. Which outcome reflects high positive predictive value but
low negative predictive value?
A) All men with high PSA developed cancer; some with low PSA did too
B) All men with low PSA were cancer-free; some with high PSA were also cancer-free
C) Low PSA results included false positives; high PSA results often incorrect
