NURSING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL
EXAM REVIEW
While;viewing;the;electrocardiogram,;the;nurse;recalls;the;_____;conducts;action
potentials;down;the;atrioventricular;septum.;-;ans-✔✔Bundle;of;His
Which;of;the;following;patient;would;be;most;prone;to;metabolic;acidosis?;A;patient;with:;-;
ans-✔✔Diabetes;whose;glucoses;are;uncontrolled
A;76-year-
old;patient;had;the;following;arterial;blood;gas;sample;after;his;stomach;surgery;in
which;his;gastric;content;and;fluid;were;removed:;pH;7.55,;PCO2;50,;HCO3;35.;What;acid
base
imbalance;is;most;likely;in;this;patient?;-;ans-✔✔Metabolic;alkalosis,;compensating
A;50-year-old;male;visits;the;cardiologist;for;an;EKG.;Results;indicate;that;he;has;no
PR;interval;and;a;variable;QRS;rate;with;rhythm;irregularity.;Which;of;the;following;is
the;most;likely;diagnosis;to;be;recorded;on;the;chart?;-;ans-✔✔Atrial;fibrillation
A;65-year-old;male;is;transported;to;the;ER;for;chest;pain.;An;electrocardiogram
reveals;a;prolonged;QRS;interval.;What;is;the;nurse;monitoring;when;the;nurse
observes;the;QRS;complex;on;the;electrocardiogram?;The;QRS;complex;reflects:;-;ans-
✔✔Ventricular;activity
Which;is;one;of;the;acid/
base;conditions;that;would;cause;the;nurse;to;monitor;for;hyperkalemia?;-;ans-
✔✔metabolic;acidosis
A;20-year-old;male;is;in;acute;pain;with;restlessness;and;anxiety.;An;arterial;blood;gas
reveals;decreased;carbon;dioxide;(CO2);levels.;Which;of;the;following;does;the;nurse
suspect;is;the;most;likely;cause?;-;ans-✔✔hyperventilation
A;24-year-old;female;presents;with;excessive;menstrual;bleeding.;The;physician;identified
endometrial;changes;that;are;due;to;hormonal;imbalances.;These;cellular;changes;would;
be
referred;to;as:;-;ans-✔✔Pathologic;hyperplasia
,A;34-year-old;was;diagnosed;with;malignant;tumor;
(cancer).;The;nurse;teaches;the;patient
about;malignant;cells.;Which;of;the;following;is;most;appropriate;explanation;when;describ
ing
malignant;cells?;-;ans-✔✔Malignant;cells;are;dysplastic;cells;and;are;irreversible
A;characteristic;of;a;malignant;tumor;includes;that;it:;-;ans-
✔✔can;spread;far;from;the;tissue;of;origin
A;25-year-
old;male;develops;cancer;of;the;breast;glandular;tissue.;What;type;of;cancer;does;he
have?;-;ans-✔✔adenocarcinoma
When;planning;care;for;a;cardiac;patient,;the;nurse;knows;that;in;response;to;an;increased
workload,;cardiac;myocardial;cells;will:;-;ans-✔✔Increase;in;size
The;term;apoptosis;is;appropriately;defined;as:;-;ans-✔✔programmed;cell;death
A;report;comes;back;indicating;that;muscular;atrophy;has;occurred.;A;nurse;recalls;that
muscular;atrophy;involves;a;decrease;in;muscle;cell;-;ans-✔✔size
A;nursing;student;is;studying;about;cancer;and;the;associated;risks;for;cancer.;The;instruc
tor
knows;the;student;understands;cancer;when;which;of;the;following;are;associated;risks;for
cancer?;-;ans-✔✔-Epstein-Barr;virus;(EBV)
-hepatitis;C;virus;(HCV)
-hepatitis;B;virus;(HBV)
-human;papillomavirus;(HPV)
A;primary;care;provider;is;attempting;to;diagnose;cancer;and;is;looking;for;a;tumor;marker.
Which;of;the;following;could;be;a;possible;marker?;-;ans-✔✔Enzymes
A;30-year-
old;homeless;was;seen;in;the;emergency;room;with;productive;cough;of;bloodtinged
sputum.;His;chest;x-ray;showed;granulomatous;disease.;Upon;further;questioning,;he
was;found;to;have;had;tuberculosis;(TB);in;distant;past.;TB;infections;are;likely;to;result;in
which;of;the;following;forms;of;necrosis?;-;ans-✔✔caseous
When;discussing;body;fluid,;it;is;correct;to;state;that:;-;ans-✔✔Two-
thirds;of;the;body's;water;is;intracellular.;
Rationale:;One-
third;is;extracellular.;There;are;two;components;of;the;extracellular;compartment:;interstiti
al;and;intravascular.;Total;body;water;is;about;60%;of;body;weight.
, Which;of;the;following;statements;is;TRUE?;When;discussing;body;fluid;movement,;it;is;co
rrect;to;state;that:
A);Potassium;is;the;most;abundant;extracellular;fluid;(ECF);ion.
B);Sodium;maintains;the;osmotic;balance;of;the;intracellular;fluid;(ICF);space.;
C);Water;moves;freely;across;membranes.;
D);Aquaporins;block;water;movement;across;the;membrane.;-;ans-
✔✔C);Water;moves;freely;across;the;capillary;or;cell;membrane.;
Rationale:;Aquaporins;are;a;family;of;water;channel;proteins;that;provide;permeability;to;w
ater;at;the;capillary;membrane.;Sodium;is;the;major;ECF;cation,;and;potassium;is;the;majo
r;ICF;cation;;this;is;due;to;the;sodium-potassium;pump.
When;discussing;aldosterone,;it;is;correct;to;state;that:;-;ans-
✔✔It;is;a;hormone;that;is;secreted;when;sodium;levels;are;depressed.
Rationale:;Aldosterone;is;a;minerocorticoid;secreted;from;the;adrenal;gland;that;is;located;
on;the;kidney.;Aldosterone;is;secreted;when;potassium;is;increased;or;sodium;is;decrease
d.;Therefore,;it;makes;sense;that;aldosterone;increases;sodium;reabsorption;to;increase;a
;depleted;supply.;It;also;increases;potassium;secretion.
When;discussing;hyperchloremia;
(elevated;serum;chlorine),;it;is;correct;to;state;that;it:;-;ans-
✔✔Is;a;result;of;an;underlying;disorder.
Rationale:;Hyperchloremia;is;usually;related;to;an;underlying;disorder,;and;therefore,;treat
ment;is;centered;on;the;underlying;disorder.;It;usually;occurs;with;an;increase;in;sodium;a
nd;a;deficit;of;bicarbonate.;There;are;normally;no;specific;symptoms;associated;with;this;s
yndrome.
When;discussing;hyponatremia;
(low;serum;sodium),;it;is;correct;to;state;that;it;is;generally:;-;ans-
✔✔An;outcome;of;serious;burns,;vomiting,;or;diarrhea.;
Rationale:;Hyponatremia;occurs;when;the;serum;sodium;drops;below;135;mEq/
L.;It;can;occur;due;to;burns,;vomiting,;diarrhea,;or;gastrointestinal;suctioning.;It;can;also;oc
cur;with;an;increase;in;TBW.;Inadequate;sodium;intake;can;cause;hyponatremia,;but;it;is;u
ncommon.
Which;of;the;following;is;a;TRUE;statement;regarding;hyperkalemia;
(elevated;serum;potassium)?;-;ans-✔✔It;often;occurs;in;acidosis.
Rationale:;Hyperkalemia;
(high;potassium);often;occurs;with;acidosis.;During;acidosis,;hydrogen;is;taken;up;in;the;c
ell.;When;this;occurs,;it;is;exchanged;for;potassium;and;serum;potassium;rises.;Dietary;ex
cesses;are;uncommon.;An;increase;in;aldosterone;would;cause;hypokalemia,;rather;than;
EXAM REVIEW
While;viewing;the;electrocardiogram,;the;nurse;recalls;the;_____;conducts;action
potentials;down;the;atrioventricular;septum.;-;ans-✔✔Bundle;of;His
Which;of;the;following;patient;would;be;most;prone;to;metabolic;acidosis?;A;patient;with:;-;
ans-✔✔Diabetes;whose;glucoses;are;uncontrolled
A;76-year-
old;patient;had;the;following;arterial;blood;gas;sample;after;his;stomach;surgery;in
which;his;gastric;content;and;fluid;were;removed:;pH;7.55,;PCO2;50,;HCO3;35.;What;acid
base
imbalance;is;most;likely;in;this;patient?;-;ans-✔✔Metabolic;alkalosis,;compensating
A;50-year-old;male;visits;the;cardiologist;for;an;EKG.;Results;indicate;that;he;has;no
PR;interval;and;a;variable;QRS;rate;with;rhythm;irregularity.;Which;of;the;following;is
the;most;likely;diagnosis;to;be;recorded;on;the;chart?;-;ans-✔✔Atrial;fibrillation
A;65-year-old;male;is;transported;to;the;ER;for;chest;pain.;An;electrocardiogram
reveals;a;prolonged;QRS;interval.;What;is;the;nurse;monitoring;when;the;nurse
observes;the;QRS;complex;on;the;electrocardiogram?;The;QRS;complex;reflects:;-;ans-
✔✔Ventricular;activity
Which;is;one;of;the;acid/
base;conditions;that;would;cause;the;nurse;to;monitor;for;hyperkalemia?;-;ans-
✔✔metabolic;acidosis
A;20-year-old;male;is;in;acute;pain;with;restlessness;and;anxiety.;An;arterial;blood;gas
reveals;decreased;carbon;dioxide;(CO2);levels.;Which;of;the;following;does;the;nurse
suspect;is;the;most;likely;cause?;-;ans-✔✔hyperventilation
A;24-year-old;female;presents;with;excessive;menstrual;bleeding.;The;physician;identified
endometrial;changes;that;are;due;to;hormonal;imbalances.;These;cellular;changes;would;
be
referred;to;as:;-;ans-✔✔Pathologic;hyperplasia
,A;34-year-old;was;diagnosed;with;malignant;tumor;
(cancer).;The;nurse;teaches;the;patient
about;malignant;cells.;Which;of;the;following;is;most;appropriate;explanation;when;describ
ing
malignant;cells?;-;ans-✔✔Malignant;cells;are;dysplastic;cells;and;are;irreversible
A;characteristic;of;a;malignant;tumor;includes;that;it:;-;ans-
✔✔can;spread;far;from;the;tissue;of;origin
A;25-year-
old;male;develops;cancer;of;the;breast;glandular;tissue.;What;type;of;cancer;does;he
have?;-;ans-✔✔adenocarcinoma
When;planning;care;for;a;cardiac;patient,;the;nurse;knows;that;in;response;to;an;increased
workload,;cardiac;myocardial;cells;will:;-;ans-✔✔Increase;in;size
The;term;apoptosis;is;appropriately;defined;as:;-;ans-✔✔programmed;cell;death
A;report;comes;back;indicating;that;muscular;atrophy;has;occurred.;A;nurse;recalls;that
muscular;atrophy;involves;a;decrease;in;muscle;cell;-;ans-✔✔size
A;nursing;student;is;studying;about;cancer;and;the;associated;risks;for;cancer.;The;instruc
tor
knows;the;student;understands;cancer;when;which;of;the;following;are;associated;risks;for
cancer?;-;ans-✔✔-Epstein-Barr;virus;(EBV)
-hepatitis;C;virus;(HCV)
-hepatitis;B;virus;(HBV)
-human;papillomavirus;(HPV)
A;primary;care;provider;is;attempting;to;diagnose;cancer;and;is;looking;for;a;tumor;marker.
Which;of;the;following;could;be;a;possible;marker?;-;ans-✔✔Enzymes
A;30-year-
old;homeless;was;seen;in;the;emergency;room;with;productive;cough;of;bloodtinged
sputum.;His;chest;x-ray;showed;granulomatous;disease.;Upon;further;questioning,;he
was;found;to;have;had;tuberculosis;(TB);in;distant;past.;TB;infections;are;likely;to;result;in
which;of;the;following;forms;of;necrosis?;-;ans-✔✔caseous
When;discussing;body;fluid,;it;is;correct;to;state;that:;-;ans-✔✔Two-
thirds;of;the;body's;water;is;intracellular.;
Rationale:;One-
third;is;extracellular.;There;are;two;components;of;the;extracellular;compartment:;interstiti
al;and;intravascular.;Total;body;water;is;about;60%;of;body;weight.
, Which;of;the;following;statements;is;TRUE?;When;discussing;body;fluid;movement,;it;is;co
rrect;to;state;that:
A);Potassium;is;the;most;abundant;extracellular;fluid;(ECF);ion.
B);Sodium;maintains;the;osmotic;balance;of;the;intracellular;fluid;(ICF);space.;
C);Water;moves;freely;across;membranes.;
D);Aquaporins;block;water;movement;across;the;membrane.;-;ans-
✔✔C);Water;moves;freely;across;the;capillary;or;cell;membrane.;
Rationale:;Aquaporins;are;a;family;of;water;channel;proteins;that;provide;permeability;to;w
ater;at;the;capillary;membrane.;Sodium;is;the;major;ECF;cation,;and;potassium;is;the;majo
r;ICF;cation;;this;is;due;to;the;sodium-potassium;pump.
When;discussing;aldosterone,;it;is;correct;to;state;that:;-;ans-
✔✔It;is;a;hormone;that;is;secreted;when;sodium;levels;are;depressed.
Rationale:;Aldosterone;is;a;minerocorticoid;secreted;from;the;adrenal;gland;that;is;located;
on;the;kidney.;Aldosterone;is;secreted;when;potassium;is;increased;or;sodium;is;decrease
d.;Therefore,;it;makes;sense;that;aldosterone;increases;sodium;reabsorption;to;increase;a
;depleted;supply.;It;also;increases;potassium;secretion.
When;discussing;hyperchloremia;
(elevated;serum;chlorine),;it;is;correct;to;state;that;it:;-;ans-
✔✔Is;a;result;of;an;underlying;disorder.
Rationale:;Hyperchloremia;is;usually;related;to;an;underlying;disorder,;and;therefore,;treat
ment;is;centered;on;the;underlying;disorder.;It;usually;occurs;with;an;increase;in;sodium;a
nd;a;deficit;of;bicarbonate.;There;are;normally;no;specific;symptoms;associated;with;this;s
yndrome.
When;discussing;hyponatremia;
(low;serum;sodium),;it;is;correct;to;state;that;it;is;generally:;-;ans-
✔✔An;outcome;of;serious;burns,;vomiting,;or;diarrhea.;
Rationale:;Hyponatremia;occurs;when;the;serum;sodium;drops;below;135;mEq/
L.;It;can;occur;due;to;burns,;vomiting,;diarrhea,;or;gastrointestinal;suctioning.;It;can;also;oc
cur;with;an;increase;in;TBW.;Inadequate;sodium;intake;can;cause;hyponatremia,;but;it;is;u
ncommon.
Which;of;the;following;is;a;TRUE;statement;regarding;hyperkalemia;
(elevated;serum;potassium)?;-;ans-✔✔It;often;occurs;in;acidosis.
Rationale:;Hyperkalemia;
(high;potassium);often;occurs;with;acidosis.;During;acidosis,;hydrogen;is;taken;up;in;the;c
ell.;When;this;occurs,;it;is;exchanged;for;potassium;and;serum;potassium;rises.;Dietary;ex
cesses;are;uncommon.;An;increase;in;aldosterone;would;cause;hypokalemia,;rather;than;
