Pathophysiology Final Exam Version 2 Questions & Answers| Grade A| 100%
Correct (Verified Solutions)Newest Update 2026
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
, 2
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
, 3
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
, 4
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
Correct (Verified Solutions)Newest Update 2026
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
, 2
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
, 3
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
, 4
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
