SCI 225 – Pathophysiology Nightingale College Midterm
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update
1. Which of the following would increase a patient's risk for thrombotic stroke?
a. Anemia
b. Dehydration
c. Hyperthyroidism
d. Hypertension - Correct Answer: b
2. A 30-year-old white male recently suffered a cerebrovascular accident. Which of the
following is the most likely factor that contributed to his stroke?
a. Race
b. Age
c. Gender
d. Diabetes - Correct Answer: d
3. When the nurse is taking a patient's temperature, which principle should the nurse
remember? Regulation of body temperature primarily occurs in the:
a. hypothalamus.
b. cerebrum.
c. brainstem.
d. pituitary gland. - Correct Answer: a
,4. A 50-year-old diabetic patient experiences visual disturbances and decides to visit his
primary care provider. After examination, the primary care provider tells the patient that the
cells that allow him to see are degenerated. Which of the following structures is most likely
damaged?
a. Cornea
b. Retina
c. Pupil
d. Lens - Correct Answer: b
5. A 52-year-old male enters a sleep study to gather information about his sleep disturbances.
He reports that his wife will not let him sleep in the bed with her until he stops snoring so
loudly. He also reports feeling tired a lot through the day. When the nurse checks the chart,
what is the most likely diagnosis?
a. Jet-lag syndrome
b. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)
c. Somnambulism
d. Insomnia - Correct Answer: b
6. A coup injury resulting from a blow to the frontal portion of the skull would occur in which
region of the brain?
a. Frontal
b. Occipital
c. Temporal
d. Parietal - Correct Answer: a
7. The patient reports generalized muscle weakness. The health care provider orders
administration of the medication edrophonium chloride (Tensilon). This medication is used in
the diagnosis of:
,a. autonomic hyperreflexia.
b. multiple sclerosis (MS).
c. myasthenia gravis.
d. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). - Correct Answer: c
8. A patient asks when adjuvant chemotherapy is used. How should the nurse respond?
Adjuvant chemotherapy treatment is used:
a. as the primary treatment.
b. in cancer with little risk of metastasis.
c. after surgical removal of a tumor.
d. before radiation therapy. - Correct Answer: c
9. While planning care for infants, which principles should the nurse remember? (select all that
apply) Infants have problems with thermoregulation because they:
a. have decreased metabolic rates.
b. cannot conserve heat.
c. rarely sweat.
d. have excess subcutaneous fat.
e. do not shiver. - Correct Answer: b,e
10. For legal purposes, brain death is defined as:
a. cessation of entire brain function.
b. death of the brainstem.
c. lack of cortical function.
d. a consistent vegetative state (VS). - Correct Answer: a
, 11. When a nurse cares for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the nurse
remembers this disease is an example of:
a. autoimmunity.
b. alleimmunity.
c. homoimmunity.
d. alloimmunity. - Correct Answer: a
12. A patient is undergoing a sleep lab test. When the sleep lab worker notices EEG patterns
with brain activity similar to the normal awake pattern, which phase of sleep is occurring?
a. REM
b. Fast wave
c. Non-rapid eye movement (REM)
d. Delta wave - Correct Answer: a
13. Six weeks ago a patient suffered a T6 spinal cord injury. What complication does the nurse
suspect when the patient develops a blood pressure of 200/120, a severe headache, blurred
vision, and bradycardia?
a. Extreme spinal shock
b. Parasympathetic areflexia
c. Autonomic hyperreflexia
d. Acute anxiety - Correct Answer: c
14. Which information is basic to the assessment findings associated with a patient diagnosed
with an aneurysm?
a. Epidural hemorrhage occurs in over 80% of patients.
b. The majority are asymptomatic.
c. A headache is the most common symptom.
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update
1. Which of the following would increase a patient's risk for thrombotic stroke?
a. Anemia
b. Dehydration
c. Hyperthyroidism
d. Hypertension - Correct Answer: b
2. A 30-year-old white male recently suffered a cerebrovascular accident. Which of the
following is the most likely factor that contributed to his stroke?
a. Race
b. Age
c. Gender
d. Diabetes - Correct Answer: d
3. When the nurse is taking a patient's temperature, which principle should the nurse
remember? Regulation of body temperature primarily occurs in the:
a. hypothalamus.
b. cerebrum.
c. brainstem.
d. pituitary gland. - Correct Answer: a
,4. A 50-year-old diabetic patient experiences visual disturbances and decides to visit his
primary care provider. After examination, the primary care provider tells the patient that the
cells that allow him to see are degenerated. Which of the following structures is most likely
damaged?
a. Cornea
b. Retina
c. Pupil
d. Lens - Correct Answer: b
5. A 52-year-old male enters a sleep study to gather information about his sleep disturbances.
He reports that his wife will not let him sleep in the bed with her until he stops snoring so
loudly. He also reports feeling tired a lot through the day. When the nurse checks the chart,
what is the most likely diagnosis?
a. Jet-lag syndrome
b. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)
c. Somnambulism
d. Insomnia - Correct Answer: b
6. A coup injury resulting from a blow to the frontal portion of the skull would occur in which
region of the brain?
a. Frontal
b. Occipital
c. Temporal
d. Parietal - Correct Answer: a
7. The patient reports generalized muscle weakness. The health care provider orders
administration of the medication edrophonium chloride (Tensilon). This medication is used in
the diagnosis of:
,a. autonomic hyperreflexia.
b. multiple sclerosis (MS).
c. myasthenia gravis.
d. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). - Correct Answer: c
8. A patient asks when adjuvant chemotherapy is used. How should the nurse respond?
Adjuvant chemotherapy treatment is used:
a. as the primary treatment.
b. in cancer with little risk of metastasis.
c. after surgical removal of a tumor.
d. before radiation therapy. - Correct Answer: c
9. While planning care for infants, which principles should the nurse remember? (select all that
apply) Infants have problems with thermoregulation because they:
a. have decreased metabolic rates.
b. cannot conserve heat.
c. rarely sweat.
d. have excess subcutaneous fat.
e. do not shiver. - Correct Answer: b,e
10. For legal purposes, brain death is defined as:
a. cessation of entire brain function.
b. death of the brainstem.
c. lack of cortical function.
d. a consistent vegetative state (VS). - Correct Answer: a
, 11. When a nurse cares for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the nurse
remembers this disease is an example of:
a. autoimmunity.
b. alleimmunity.
c. homoimmunity.
d. alloimmunity. - Correct Answer: a
12. A patient is undergoing a sleep lab test. When the sleep lab worker notices EEG patterns
with brain activity similar to the normal awake pattern, which phase of sleep is occurring?
a. REM
b. Fast wave
c. Non-rapid eye movement (REM)
d. Delta wave - Correct Answer: a
13. Six weeks ago a patient suffered a T6 spinal cord injury. What complication does the nurse
suspect when the patient develops a blood pressure of 200/120, a severe headache, blurred
vision, and bradycardia?
a. Extreme spinal shock
b. Parasympathetic areflexia
c. Autonomic hyperreflexia
d. Acute anxiety - Correct Answer: c
14. Which information is basic to the assessment findings associated with a patient diagnosed
with an aneurysm?
a. Epidural hemorrhage occurs in over 80% of patients.
b. The majority are asymptomatic.
c. A headache is the most common symptom.
