NSG 120 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY HESI EXAM 1 (HERZING)
NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM| NSG120 NURSING
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 REVIEW WITH COMPLETE
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
1. A client is diagnosed with an infectious process. Place the
stages of infection in the correct chronological order.
A) Illness, Incubation, Prodromal, Convalescence
B) Incubation, Prodromal, Illness, Convalescence
C) Prodromal, Incubation, Illness, Convalescence
D) Incubation, Illness, Prodromal, Convalescence
Answer: B) Incubation, Prodromal, Illness, Convalescence
Rationale: The incubation period is when the pathogen first
enters the host with no symptoms. The prodromal period follows
with nonspecific symptoms (e.g., fatigue, low-grade fever). The
illness stage is when specific symptoms peak, followed by
convalescence (recovery) .
2. A nurse is teaching a client about prevention strategies. Which
activity is an example of primary prevention?
A) Annual mammogram for early breast cancer detection
B) Physical therapy after a stroke
1
,C) Administering the influenza vaccine to healthy adults
D) Blood glucose monitoring for a diabetic client
Answer: C) Administering the influenza vaccine to healthy adults
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it
occurs (e.g., vaccines, health education). Mammograms are
secondary prevention (screening). Physical therapy and glucose
monitoring are tertiary prevention (managing existing disease) .
3. A client has swelling, redness, and heat around a surgical
wound. The nurse documents these as cardinal signs of
inflammation. What is the physiological cause of the redness and
heat?
A) Increased capillary permeability
B) Vasodilation and increased blood flow to the area
C) Accumulation of purulent exudate
D) Release of histamine causing bronchoconstriction
Answer: B) Vasodilation and increased blood flow to the area
Rationale: During the inflammatory response, chemical mediators
(histamine, prostaglandins) cause vasodilation. This increases
blood flow to the injured site, resulting in the cardinal signs of
redness (rubor) and heat (calor) .
2
,4. A patient with a known autoimmune disorder asks, "Why is my
body attacking itself?" Which response by the nurse is most
accurate?
A) "Your body has a deficiency in red blood cell production."
B) "Your immune system cannot distinguish between self and non-
self cells."
C) "You have an inherent lack of white blood cells."
D) "The infection has caused permanent damage to your spleen."
Answer: B) "Your immune system cannot distinguish between self
and non-self cells."
Rationale: Autoimmune disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis,
lupus) occur when the immune system loses self-tolerance and
produces autoantibodies against its own tissues .
5. The nurse is reviewing lab results. The white blood cell count is
22,000/mm³. Which term correctly describes this finding?
A) Leukopenia
B) Leukocytosis
C) Thrombocytopenia
D) Anemia
Answer: B) Leukocytosis
Rationale: Leukocytosis refers to an elevated white blood cell
3
, count, typically indicating infection or inflammation. The normal
WBC range is approximately 4,500–11,000/mm³ .
6. A client with a history of heart failure is admitted with severe
edema and shortness of breath. The nurse notes that the client
has crackles in the lung bases. This fluid accumulation is classified
as:
A) Transudative effusion
B) Exudative effusion
C) Purulent drainage
D) Serosanguinous fluid
Answer: A) Transudative effusion
Rationale: Transudative fluid is a protein-poor filtrate caused by
increased hydrostatic pressure or decreased oncotic pressure,
often seen in heart failure or cirrhosis. Exudative effusion is
protein-rich and associated with inflammation or malignancy.
7. A community health nurse is implementing a screening clinic for
hypertension. This is an example of which level of prevention?
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Health promotion
4
NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM| NSG120 NURSING
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1 REVIEW WITH COMPLETE
REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
1. A client is diagnosed with an infectious process. Place the
stages of infection in the correct chronological order.
A) Illness, Incubation, Prodromal, Convalescence
B) Incubation, Prodromal, Illness, Convalescence
C) Prodromal, Incubation, Illness, Convalescence
D) Incubation, Illness, Prodromal, Convalescence
Answer: B) Incubation, Prodromal, Illness, Convalescence
Rationale: The incubation period is when the pathogen first
enters the host with no symptoms. The prodromal period follows
with nonspecific symptoms (e.g., fatigue, low-grade fever). The
illness stage is when specific symptoms peak, followed by
convalescence (recovery) .
2. A nurse is teaching a client about prevention strategies. Which
activity is an example of primary prevention?
A) Annual mammogram for early breast cancer detection
B) Physical therapy after a stroke
1
,C) Administering the influenza vaccine to healthy adults
D) Blood glucose monitoring for a diabetic client
Answer: C) Administering the influenza vaccine to healthy adults
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it
occurs (e.g., vaccines, health education). Mammograms are
secondary prevention (screening). Physical therapy and glucose
monitoring are tertiary prevention (managing existing disease) .
3. A client has swelling, redness, and heat around a surgical
wound. The nurse documents these as cardinal signs of
inflammation. What is the physiological cause of the redness and
heat?
A) Increased capillary permeability
B) Vasodilation and increased blood flow to the area
C) Accumulation of purulent exudate
D) Release of histamine causing bronchoconstriction
Answer: B) Vasodilation and increased blood flow to the area
Rationale: During the inflammatory response, chemical mediators
(histamine, prostaglandins) cause vasodilation. This increases
blood flow to the injured site, resulting in the cardinal signs of
redness (rubor) and heat (calor) .
2
,4. A patient with a known autoimmune disorder asks, "Why is my
body attacking itself?" Which response by the nurse is most
accurate?
A) "Your body has a deficiency in red blood cell production."
B) "Your immune system cannot distinguish between self and non-
self cells."
C) "You have an inherent lack of white blood cells."
D) "The infection has caused permanent damage to your spleen."
Answer: B) "Your immune system cannot distinguish between self
and non-self cells."
Rationale: Autoimmune disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis,
lupus) occur when the immune system loses self-tolerance and
produces autoantibodies against its own tissues .
5. The nurse is reviewing lab results. The white blood cell count is
22,000/mm³. Which term correctly describes this finding?
A) Leukopenia
B) Leukocytosis
C) Thrombocytopenia
D) Anemia
Answer: B) Leukocytosis
Rationale: Leukocytosis refers to an elevated white blood cell
3
, count, typically indicating infection or inflammation. The normal
WBC range is approximately 4,500–11,000/mm³ .
6. A client with a history of heart failure is admitted with severe
edema and shortness of breath. The nurse notes that the client
has crackles in the lung bases. This fluid accumulation is classified
as:
A) Transudative effusion
B) Exudative effusion
C) Purulent drainage
D) Serosanguinous fluid
Answer: A) Transudative effusion
Rationale: Transudative fluid is a protein-poor filtrate caused by
increased hydrostatic pressure or decreased oncotic pressure,
often seen in heart failure or cirrhosis. Exudative effusion is
protein-rich and associated with inflammation or malignancy.
7. A community health nurse is implementing a screening clinic for
hypertension. This is an example of which level of prevention?
A) Primary prevention
B) Secondary prevention
C) Tertiary prevention
D) Health promotion
4
