PATHOPHYSIOLOGY NURSING
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 Q&A STUDY
GUIDE
◉1. Long-term potassium deficits increase the risk of: Answer: Cardiac
Dysrhythmia
◉1. A 19-year-old male presents to his physician complaining of
restlessness, muscle cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is
hyperkalemic. The severity of his condition is not related to what factor?
Answer: Age of symptom onset
◉1. Which of the following conditions is the most significant risk factor
for developing hypernatremia? Answer: Diarrhea
◉1. A 10-year-old male is brought to the ER because he is incoherent
and semiconscious. The CT scan reveals that he is suffering from
cerebral edema. This type of edema is referred to as: Answer: Localized
Edema
◉1. Which of the following conditions would likely not increase
permeability in the capillaries? Answer: Low blood glucose
,◉1. Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major renal
buffering system? Answer: HPO4/NH3
◉1. Which of the following conditions is commonly associated with
metabolic acidosis? Answer: Hyperventilation
◉A 42-year-old female has findings of muscle spasms and cardiac
abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate that she is hypocalcemic. Which
of the following occurrences is the most likely cause of her condition?
Answer: Recent blood administration
◉1. The most likely EKG finding in the patient whose lab results
indicate hypokalemia is: Answer: Shallow T wave
◉1. The nurse admits a 1 week old newborn to the pediatric unit with a
likely medical diagnosis of severe dehydration due to feeding
intolerance and vomiting. Which physical findings are probable?
Answer: Sunken fontanels, increased heart rate, dry mucus membranes
◉1. The percentage of total body water of a 70 kilogram male is about:
Answer: 60%
◉1. An early sign of respiratory acidosis includes all except: Answer:
Tremors
,◉1. Water movement from the capillaries into the tissues is most likely
determined by: Answer: Plasma oncotic pressure
◉1. A 25 year old woman reports edema in her lower legs and feet after
a shift standing as a grocery clerk. The likely cause of this edema is:
Answer: Venous obstruction
◉1. The nurse caring for an elderly patient with congestive heart
failure(CHF) is discussing wound care for his recent leg injury. The
nurse accurately teaches the following finding, important for the patient
to understand: Answer: Avoid edema in the legs, as it slows wound
healing
◉The most commonly found cation in the intracellular fluid of the body
is: Answer: Potassium
◉1. The following elements in plasma move readily across the capillary
membrane except: Answer: Protein
◉1. To provide homeostasis in the body, the enzyme renin is released in
which of the following circumstances? Answer: Sodium level decreases
◉1. To preserve water balance in the body, circulating aldosterone
produces all except the following effect: Answer: Potassium
reabsorption
, ◉1. Which of the following is a true statement about total body water
(TBW)? Answer: TBW decreases in the elderly
◉1. The usual compensatory mechanism for respiratory acidosis is:
Answer: Renal bicarbonate retention
◉1. Central nervous system findings in the patient with respiratory
alkalosis can include all of the following except: Answer: Cataracts
◉1. Calcium and phosphate concentrations in the body are controlled by
each of the following except: Answer: Hydrogen
◉1. An increase in the concentration of hydrogen ions in the blood is
referred to as: Answer: Acidosis
◉A 50-year-old female develops skin cancer on her head and neck
following years of sunbathing. Which of the following cancers are the
most likely? Answer: Basal Cell Carcinoma
◉The nurse accurately teaches a group of adolescents in a high school
health class that the largest preventable risk factor for cancer is exposure
to: Answer: Tobacco
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 Q&A STUDY
GUIDE
◉1. Long-term potassium deficits increase the risk of: Answer: Cardiac
Dysrhythmia
◉1. A 19-year-old male presents to his physician complaining of
restlessness, muscle cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is
hyperkalemic. The severity of his condition is not related to what factor?
Answer: Age of symptom onset
◉1. Which of the following conditions is the most significant risk factor
for developing hypernatremia? Answer: Diarrhea
◉1. A 10-year-old male is brought to the ER because he is incoherent
and semiconscious. The CT scan reveals that he is suffering from
cerebral edema. This type of edema is referred to as: Answer: Localized
Edema
◉1. Which of the following conditions would likely not increase
permeability in the capillaries? Answer: Low blood glucose
,◉1. Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major renal
buffering system? Answer: HPO4/NH3
◉1. Which of the following conditions is commonly associated with
metabolic acidosis? Answer: Hyperventilation
◉A 42-year-old female has findings of muscle spasms and cardiac
abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate that she is hypocalcemic. Which
of the following occurrences is the most likely cause of her condition?
Answer: Recent blood administration
◉1. The most likely EKG finding in the patient whose lab results
indicate hypokalemia is: Answer: Shallow T wave
◉1. The nurse admits a 1 week old newborn to the pediatric unit with a
likely medical diagnosis of severe dehydration due to feeding
intolerance and vomiting. Which physical findings are probable?
Answer: Sunken fontanels, increased heart rate, dry mucus membranes
◉1. The percentage of total body water of a 70 kilogram male is about:
Answer: 60%
◉1. An early sign of respiratory acidosis includes all except: Answer:
Tremors
,◉1. Water movement from the capillaries into the tissues is most likely
determined by: Answer: Plasma oncotic pressure
◉1. A 25 year old woman reports edema in her lower legs and feet after
a shift standing as a grocery clerk. The likely cause of this edema is:
Answer: Venous obstruction
◉1. The nurse caring for an elderly patient with congestive heart
failure(CHF) is discussing wound care for his recent leg injury. The
nurse accurately teaches the following finding, important for the patient
to understand: Answer: Avoid edema in the legs, as it slows wound
healing
◉The most commonly found cation in the intracellular fluid of the body
is: Answer: Potassium
◉1. The following elements in plasma move readily across the capillary
membrane except: Answer: Protein
◉1. To provide homeostasis in the body, the enzyme renin is released in
which of the following circumstances? Answer: Sodium level decreases
◉1. To preserve water balance in the body, circulating aldosterone
produces all except the following effect: Answer: Potassium
reabsorption
, ◉1. Which of the following is a true statement about total body water
(TBW)? Answer: TBW decreases in the elderly
◉1. The usual compensatory mechanism for respiratory acidosis is:
Answer: Renal bicarbonate retention
◉1. Central nervous system findings in the patient with respiratory
alkalosis can include all of the following except: Answer: Cataracts
◉1. Calcium and phosphate concentrations in the body are controlled by
each of the following except: Answer: Hydrogen
◉1. An increase in the concentration of hydrogen ions in the blood is
referred to as: Answer: Acidosis
◉A 50-year-old female develops skin cancer on her head and neck
following years of sunbathing. Which of the following cancers are the
most likely? Answer: Basal Cell Carcinoma
◉The nurse accurately teaches a group of adolescents in a high school
health class that the largest preventable risk factor for cancer is exposure
to: Answer: Tobacco
