NSG 520 (HU) Pathophysiology & Pharmacology
Final Exam 2026/2027 | 100 Practice Questions
with Answers & Detailed Rationales | Nursing
Study Guide
INTRODUCTION
This NSG 520 Pathophysiology & Pharmacology Final Exam is designed to help nursing
students master complex disease processes and medication management concepts. It includes
100 high-quality, scenario-based questions with clear answers and detailed explanations to
reinforce clinical reasoning and exam readiness.
COVERAGE
This exam focuses on major systems and pharmacologic principles, including:
Cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and endocrine disorders
Neurological and immune system pathophysiology
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
Drug classifications, mechanisms of action, and side effects
Clinical decision-making and patient safety considerations
1. A patient with long-standing hypertension presents with
left ventricular hypertrophy. What is the underlying
pathophysiological mechanism?
A. Decreased cardiac workload
B. Increased afterload causing myocardial muscle thickening
C. Reduced oxygen demand
D. Increased venous return only
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Chronic hypertension increases afterload, forcing the heart to work harder, leading
to compensatory myocardial hypertrophy.
,2. A patient taking ACE inhibitors develops a persistent dry
cough. What is the pharmacological cause of this side effect?
A. Increased aldosterone secretion
B. Accumulation of bradykinin in respiratory tract
C. Reduced sodium excretion
D. Increased heart rate
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: ACE inhibitors prevent bradykinin breakdown, leading to accumulation that
irritates airways and causes cough.
3. A diabetic patient experiences polyuria and polydipsia.
What is the primary pathophysiological cause?
A. Decreased glucose filtration
B. Osmotic diuresis due to hyperglycemia
C. Reduced kidney perfusion
D. Increased insulin sensitivity
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: High blood glucose leads to glucose spilling into urine, pulling water with it and
causing excessive urination.
4. A patient is prescribed beta-blockers for hypertension.
What is the primary mechanism of action?
A. Increase heart rate
B. Block beta-adrenergic receptors to reduce cardiac output
C. Increase sodium retention
D. Stimulate sympathetic system
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Beta-blockers reduce heart rate and contractility, lowering blood pressure.
5. A patient with chronic kidney disease develops anemia.
What is the main underlying cause?
, A. Increased iron absorption
B. Decreased erythropoietin production
C. Increased red blood cell destruction
D. Increased oxygen delivery
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Damaged kidneys produce less erythropoietin, reducing red blood cell production.
6. A patient develops edema due to heart failure. What is the
primary mechanism?
A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Sodium and water retention leading to fluid accumulation
C. Decreased capillary permeability
D. Reduced venous pressure
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Heart failure leads to fluid retention and increased hydrostatic pressure, causing
edema.
7. A patient is given diuretics and develops hypokalemia.
What is the pharmacological explanation?
A. Increased potassium retention
B. Increased potassium excretion in urine
C. Reduced sodium loss
D. Increased calcium retention
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Many diuretics increase urinary potassium loss, leading to hypokalemia.
8. A patient with asthma uses a bronchodilator. What is the
main mechanism of action?
A. Constrict bronchial muscles
B. Relax smooth muscle via beta-2 receptor stimulation
C. Increase mucus production
D. Reduce oxygen levels
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Beta-2 agonists relax bronchial smooth muscles, improving airflow.
Final Exam 2026/2027 | 100 Practice Questions
with Answers & Detailed Rationales | Nursing
Study Guide
INTRODUCTION
This NSG 520 Pathophysiology & Pharmacology Final Exam is designed to help nursing
students master complex disease processes and medication management concepts. It includes
100 high-quality, scenario-based questions with clear answers and detailed explanations to
reinforce clinical reasoning and exam readiness.
COVERAGE
This exam focuses on major systems and pharmacologic principles, including:
Cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and endocrine disorders
Neurological and immune system pathophysiology
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
Drug classifications, mechanisms of action, and side effects
Clinical decision-making and patient safety considerations
1. A patient with long-standing hypertension presents with
left ventricular hypertrophy. What is the underlying
pathophysiological mechanism?
A. Decreased cardiac workload
B. Increased afterload causing myocardial muscle thickening
C. Reduced oxygen demand
D. Increased venous return only
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Chronic hypertension increases afterload, forcing the heart to work harder, leading
to compensatory myocardial hypertrophy.
,2. A patient taking ACE inhibitors develops a persistent dry
cough. What is the pharmacological cause of this side effect?
A. Increased aldosterone secretion
B. Accumulation of bradykinin in respiratory tract
C. Reduced sodium excretion
D. Increased heart rate
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: ACE inhibitors prevent bradykinin breakdown, leading to accumulation that
irritates airways and causes cough.
3. A diabetic patient experiences polyuria and polydipsia.
What is the primary pathophysiological cause?
A. Decreased glucose filtration
B. Osmotic diuresis due to hyperglycemia
C. Reduced kidney perfusion
D. Increased insulin sensitivity
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: High blood glucose leads to glucose spilling into urine, pulling water with it and
causing excessive urination.
4. A patient is prescribed beta-blockers for hypertension.
What is the primary mechanism of action?
A. Increase heart rate
B. Block beta-adrenergic receptors to reduce cardiac output
C. Increase sodium retention
D. Stimulate sympathetic system
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Beta-blockers reduce heart rate and contractility, lowering blood pressure.
5. A patient with chronic kidney disease develops anemia.
What is the main underlying cause?
, A. Increased iron absorption
B. Decreased erythropoietin production
C. Increased red blood cell destruction
D. Increased oxygen delivery
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Damaged kidneys produce less erythropoietin, reducing red blood cell production.
6. A patient develops edema due to heart failure. What is the
primary mechanism?
A. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Sodium and water retention leading to fluid accumulation
C. Decreased capillary permeability
D. Reduced venous pressure
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Heart failure leads to fluid retention and increased hydrostatic pressure, causing
edema.
7. A patient is given diuretics and develops hypokalemia.
What is the pharmacological explanation?
A. Increased potassium retention
B. Increased potassium excretion in urine
C. Reduced sodium loss
D. Increased calcium retention
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Many diuretics increase urinary potassium loss, leading to hypokalemia.
8. A patient with asthma uses a bronchodilator. What is the
main mechanism of action?
A. Constrict bronchial muscles
B. Relax smooth muscle via beta-2 receptor stimulation
C. Increase mucus production
D. Reduce oxygen levels
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Beta-2 agonists relax bronchial smooth muscles, improving airflow.
