NR283 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ ways to prevent asthma attacks Answer: Identify and avoid
asthma triggers
Get regular exercise
Create and follow a plan of what to do if an attack does occur
Take the regular asthma medications as prescribed
Recognize and treat an attack early
Notice a progressive increase in "rescue" inhaler use and follow-up
with a health care provider
Get vaccinated to prevent infections that may make asthma worse
◉ asthma signs that need immediate intervention Answer:
Shortness of breath with the inability to say more than one to two
words between breaths
Cyanosis (a bluish coloration to the lips and skin) may indicate
severely low oxygen saturation
No rescue medications are available
History of asthma attacks with hospitalization (primarily if the
person was placed on a ventilator to support breathing)
,Severe shortness of breath with no wheezing (indicates minimal air
movement)
◉ how does age affect asthma? Answer: -decrease in lung function
means a higher likelihood of death from an asthma attack
-the mortality rate among adults was four times higher than children
-the elderly have other potential heart and lung problems that can
aggravate asthma
◉ pulmonary embolus Answer: a blood clot becomes lodged in the
lung and blocks the ability of the blood to flow through the capillary
beds and exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen.
◉ Which clients are at risk for a pulmonary embolus? Answer:
Someone with trauma to an extremity
Someone who sits for a prolonged period
Someone who does not get out of bed
Mothers during childbirth
◉ how does reduced blood flow cause a blood clot? Answer: The
lack of blood flow causes platelets to activate and stick red blood
cells together.
, ◉ how does increased clotting cause a blood clot? Answer: Illnesses
can cause an increase in the inflammatory response, which produces
and activates platelets, while making them most sensitive, and
therefore, more likely to produce a clot. Sometimes the first sign of
cancer can be a deep vein thrombosis due to hypercoagulability
(excess clotting). This can also occur with pregnancy and birth, and
after surgery.
◉ small pulmonary embolus Answer: lodge deep in the lung and
may only prevent blood flow to some of the alveoli in the lung.
◉ large pulmonary embolus Answer: lodge close to the pulmonary
trunk and can block large portions of the lung. These clots can cause
the right ventricle of the heart to pump with more force to overcome
the pressure the blockage causes. This and the reduced oxygen from
the blockage can force significant pressure changes in the venous
system, causing increased edema, and right-sided heart failure
◉ signs and symptoms of pulmonary emboli Answer: tachypnea
(breaths per minute over 20)
tachycardia (heart beats per minute over 100)
elevated or low blood pressure (systolic blood pressure over 140 or
under 90)
decreased oxygen saturation (oxygen saturation below 90%)
loss of skin color and/or cyanosis (pale or grey depending on the
pigment)
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ ways to prevent asthma attacks Answer: Identify and avoid
asthma triggers
Get regular exercise
Create and follow a plan of what to do if an attack does occur
Take the regular asthma medications as prescribed
Recognize and treat an attack early
Notice a progressive increase in "rescue" inhaler use and follow-up
with a health care provider
Get vaccinated to prevent infections that may make asthma worse
◉ asthma signs that need immediate intervention Answer:
Shortness of breath with the inability to say more than one to two
words between breaths
Cyanosis (a bluish coloration to the lips and skin) may indicate
severely low oxygen saturation
No rescue medications are available
History of asthma attacks with hospitalization (primarily if the
person was placed on a ventilator to support breathing)
,Severe shortness of breath with no wheezing (indicates minimal air
movement)
◉ how does age affect asthma? Answer: -decrease in lung function
means a higher likelihood of death from an asthma attack
-the mortality rate among adults was four times higher than children
-the elderly have other potential heart and lung problems that can
aggravate asthma
◉ pulmonary embolus Answer: a blood clot becomes lodged in the
lung and blocks the ability of the blood to flow through the capillary
beds and exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen.
◉ Which clients are at risk for a pulmonary embolus? Answer:
Someone with trauma to an extremity
Someone who sits for a prolonged period
Someone who does not get out of bed
Mothers during childbirth
◉ how does reduced blood flow cause a blood clot? Answer: The
lack of blood flow causes platelets to activate and stick red blood
cells together.
, ◉ how does increased clotting cause a blood clot? Answer: Illnesses
can cause an increase in the inflammatory response, which produces
and activates platelets, while making them most sensitive, and
therefore, more likely to produce a clot. Sometimes the first sign of
cancer can be a deep vein thrombosis due to hypercoagulability
(excess clotting). This can also occur with pregnancy and birth, and
after surgery.
◉ small pulmonary embolus Answer: lodge deep in the lung and
may only prevent blood flow to some of the alveoli in the lung.
◉ large pulmonary embolus Answer: lodge close to the pulmonary
trunk and can block large portions of the lung. These clots can cause
the right ventricle of the heart to pump with more force to overcome
the pressure the blockage causes. This and the reduced oxygen from
the blockage can force significant pressure changes in the venous
system, causing increased edema, and right-sided heart failure
◉ signs and symptoms of pulmonary emboli Answer: tachypnea
(breaths per minute over 20)
tachycardia (heart beats per minute over 100)
elevated or low blood pressure (systolic blood pressure over 140 or
under 90)
decreased oxygen saturation (oxygen saturation below 90%)
loss of skin color and/or cyanosis (pale or grey depending on the
pigment)
