PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM
PRACTICE QUIZ QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS PASSED ALREADY
GRADED A+
A client receives a phone call from her gynecologist's office nurse and is informed that
her Pap test results identified mild dysplasia. The best explanation for the nurse to
provide would be:
a. "Minor degrees of dysplasia are associated with chronic irritation or inflammation.
However, we will need to do additional diagnostic studies to confirm the diagnosis."
b. "You definitely have cancer."
c. "Do not be concerned; this is not abnormal."
d. "You need emergency treatment; please come in to the office today." - CORRECT
ANSWER a
The nurse is educating about the importance of improving the metabolic process in a
client who has morbid obesity and is beginning a weight loss program with exercise.
What should the nurse inform the client about the importance of improving the metabolic
rate?
a. Increasing metabolism improves the process by which cells engulf materials from
their surroundings to improve electrolyte function.
b. Increasing metabolism will allow the client to be able to eat whatever foods he wants
as long as he is exercising.
c. Increasing metabolism improves the secretion of intracellular substances into the
extracellular spaces.
d. Increasing metabolism will improve the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins to provide energy for cell function. - CORRECT ANSWER d
A client has been exercising his arms repeatedly. Which statement by the nurse
explains the increase in the size of the arms?
a. "Your cells have atrophied in response to increased oxygen."
b. "Your cells have hypertrophied in response to increased workload."
c. "You have increased your number of cells due to increased oxygenation."
d. "You have caused the cells to clump together in response to exercise." - CORRECT
ANSWER b
,What can the nurse tell family members to best explain muscle atrophy of a family
member who has been in a persistent coma?
a. "Cell size has increased in response to immobility."
b. "Cells hypertrophy in response to disuse."
c. "Cell size decreases as workload declines."
d. "Cells need more oxygen the longer they are immobile." - CORRECT ANSWER c
Which statement would a nurse tell a client to best describe apoptosis?
a. "Apoptosis describes increase in number of cells."
b. "Apoptosis occurs in irreversibly damaged cells."
c. "Apoptosis is an increase in the size of cells."
d. "Apoptosis is the natural removal of injured or worn out cells." - CORRECT
ANSWER d
The student nurse is removing sutures on client after abdominal surgery, and the wound
begins to pull apart. The student asks the instructor, "Did I do something wrong?" The
instructor reviews wound healing and replies:
a. "Maybe the wound edges were not close enough together to allow epithelialization of
the wound to occur."
b. "Maybe the client was 'picking' at the wound and caused the edges to not be well-
approximated."
c. "Maybe you were a little rough when you pulled out the sutures."
d. "Maybe the sutures were left in too long and impeded healing." - CORRECT
ANSWER a
Following hip replacement surgery, the client has had many weeks of physical therapy.
Upon assessing the wound, it is still red and draining thick, green, odoriferous
secretions. The client has limited range-of-motion and is constantly reporting pain. The
physician explains that the hip device needs to be removed. Why is removal required?
a. A fragment of bone may be rubbing at the insertion site of the joint and keeping it
inflamed.
b. The body considers the hip replacement device a foreign body and an infection has
developed around the joint.
c. The device is impeding the supply of nutrients and oxygen to reach the inflamed area.
d. No amount of antibiotic therapy will be able to reach the area around the new joint
and kill the infection. - CORRECT ANSWER b
A nurse is assessing a client for the classic signs of acute inflammation. The nurse
would assess the client for:
a. Cyanosis, heat, and swelling
b. Paresthesias, redness, and coolness
, c. Pain, pulselessness, and edema
d. Rubor, swelling, and pain - CORRECT ANSWER d
During a review session discussing cells, a student asks, "What do you call it when a
cell becomes more specialized in terms of structure?" Which response answers the
question correctly?
a. Cell proliferation
b. Matrix
c. Mitosis
d. Cell differentiation - CORRECT ANSWER d
A client with pneumonia is admitted with these vital signs: temperature 99.7ºF (37.6°F),
pulse 80 beats/min, respirations 18/minute, and BP 120/80 mm Hg. Which set of vital
signs does the nurse anticipate when the client begins to shiver and requests another
blanket several hours later?
a. T 98.4ºF (36.9°C), P 82/min, R 16/min, BP 106/70 mm Hg
b. T 100.9ºF (38.3°C), P 90/min, R 20/min, BP 126/80 mm Hg
c. T 99.7ºF (37.6°C), P 86/min, R 18/min, BP 130/82 mm Hg
d. T 97.2ºF (36.2°C), P 70/min, R 12/min, BP 114/60 mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER b
The daughter of a 79-year-old woman asks the nurse why her mother gets so many
infections. The daughter states, "My mother has always been healthy, but now she has
pneumonia. Last month she got cellulitis from a bug bite she scratched. The month
before that was some other infection. How come she seems to get sick so often now?"
What is the nurse's best response?
a. As people get older, their immune system does not respond as well as it did when
they were younger.
b. About the time we are 75 or 76 years old, our immune system quits working.
c. Your mother gets infections frequently because she wants attention from you.
d. Your mother just seems to be prone to getting infections. - CORRECT ANSWER a
The nurse is teaching a male client who has been diagnosed as HIV positive. The client
asks what precautions he should take to prevent his family members from contracting
HIV. Which statement will the nurse include in teaching this client?
a. You and your family members should use separate toilet facilities.
b. You should not place your toothbrush near the other family members' toothbrushes.
c. Family members should not come in contact with your blood.
d. Dishes and eating utensils should be soaked in bleach. - CORRECT ANSWER c
A client stepped on a nail at work. The emergency room physician prescribes a tetanus
"booster" shot. The client asks the nurse, "If I have already been vaccinated for tetanus
why do I need to have another shot?" How should the nurse respond?
PRACTICE QUIZ QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS PASSED ALREADY
GRADED A+
A client receives a phone call from her gynecologist's office nurse and is informed that
her Pap test results identified mild dysplasia. The best explanation for the nurse to
provide would be:
a. "Minor degrees of dysplasia are associated with chronic irritation or inflammation.
However, we will need to do additional diagnostic studies to confirm the diagnosis."
b. "You definitely have cancer."
c. "Do not be concerned; this is not abnormal."
d. "You need emergency treatment; please come in to the office today." - CORRECT
ANSWER a
The nurse is educating about the importance of improving the metabolic process in a
client who has morbid obesity and is beginning a weight loss program with exercise.
What should the nurse inform the client about the importance of improving the metabolic
rate?
a. Increasing metabolism improves the process by which cells engulf materials from
their surroundings to improve electrolyte function.
b. Increasing metabolism will allow the client to be able to eat whatever foods he wants
as long as he is exercising.
c. Increasing metabolism improves the secretion of intracellular substances into the
extracellular spaces.
d. Increasing metabolism will improve the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins to provide energy for cell function. - CORRECT ANSWER d
A client has been exercising his arms repeatedly. Which statement by the nurse
explains the increase in the size of the arms?
a. "Your cells have atrophied in response to increased oxygen."
b. "Your cells have hypertrophied in response to increased workload."
c. "You have increased your number of cells due to increased oxygenation."
d. "You have caused the cells to clump together in response to exercise." - CORRECT
ANSWER b
,What can the nurse tell family members to best explain muscle atrophy of a family
member who has been in a persistent coma?
a. "Cell size has increased in response to immobility."
b. "Cells hypertrophy in response to disuse."
c. "Cell size decreases as workload declines."
d. "Cells need more oxygen the longer they are immobile." - CORRECT ANSWER c
Which statement would a nurse tell a client to best describe apoptosis?
a. "Apoptosis describes increase in number of cells."
b. "Apoptosis occurs in irreversibly damaged cells."
c. "Apoptosis is an increase in the size of cells."
d. "Apoptosis is the natural removal of injured or worn out cells." - CORRECT
ANSWER d
The student nurse is removing sutures on client after abdominal surgery, and the wound
begins to pull apart. The student asks the instructor, "Did I do something wrong?" The
instructor reviews wound healing and replies:
a. "Maybe the wound edges were not close enough together to allow epithelialization of
the wound to occur."
b. "Maybe the client was 'picking' at the wound and caused the edges to not be well-
approximated."
c. "Maybe you were a little rough when you pulled out the sutures."
d. "Maybe the sutures were left in too long and impeded healing." - CORRECT
ANSWER a
Following hip replacement surgery, the client has had many weeks of physical therapy.
Upon assessing the wound, it is still red and draining thick, green, odoriferous
secretions. The client has limited range-of-motion and is constantly reporting pain. The
physician explains that the hip device needs to be removed. Why is removal required?
a. A fragment of bone may be rubbing at the insertion site of the joint and keeping it
inflamed.
b. The body considers the hip replacement device a foreign body and an infection has
developed around the joint.
c. The device is impeding the supply of nutrients and oxygen to reach the inflamed area.
d. No amount of antibiotic therapy will be able to reach the area around the new joint
and kill the infection. - CORRECT ANSWER b
A nurse is assessing a client for the classic signs of acute inflammation. The nurse
would assess the client for:
a. Cyanosis, heat, and swelling
b. Paresthesias, redness, and coolness
, c. Pain, pulselessness, and edema
d. Rubor, swelling, and pain - CORRECT ANSWER d
During a review session discussing cells, a student asks, "What do you call it when a
cell becomes more specialized in terms of structure?" Which response answers the
question correctly?
a. Cell proliferation
b. Matrix
c. Mitosis
d. Cell differentiation - CORRECT ANSWER d
A client with pneumonia is admitted with these vital signs: temperature 99.7ºF (37.6°F),
pulse 80 beats/min, respirations 18/minute, and BP 120/80 mm Hg. Which set of vital
signs does the nurse anticipate when the client begins to shiver and requests another
blanket several hours later?
a. T 98.4ºF (36.9°C), P 82/min, R 16/min, BP 106/70 mm Hg
b. T 100.9ºF (38.3°C), P 90/min, R 20/min, BP 126/80 mm Hg
c. T 99.7ºF (37.6°C), P 86/min, R 18/min, BP 130/82 mm Hg
d. T 97.2ºF (36.2°C), P 70/min, R 12/min, BP 114/60 mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER b
The daughter of a 79-year-old woman asks the nurse why her mother gets so many
infections. The daughter states, "My mother has always been healthy, but now she has
pneumonia. Last month she got cellulitis from a bug bite she scratched. The month
before that was some other infection. How come she seems to get sick so often now?"
What is the nurse's best response?
a. As people get older, their immune system does not respond as well as it did when
they were younger.
b. About the time we are 75 or 76 years old, our immune system quits working.
c. Your mother gets infections frequently because she wants attention from you.
d. Your mother just seems to be prone to getting infections. - CORRECT ANSWER a
The nurse is teaching a male client who has been diagnosed as HIV positive. The client
asks what precautions he should take to prevent his family members from contracting
HIV. Which statement will the nurse include in teaching this client?
a. You and your family members should use separate toilet facilities.
b. You should not place your toothbrush near the other family members' toothbrushes.
c. Family members should not come in contact with your blood.
d. Dishes and eating utensils should be soaked in bleach. - CORRECT ANSWER c
A client stepped on a nail at work. The emergency room physician prescribes a tetanus
"booster" shot. The client asks the nurse, "If I have already been vaccinated for tetanus
why do I need to have another shot?" How should the nurse respond?
