NSG 3280 Exam 3 Pathophysiology Tested
Questions (2026/2027) PDF | Nursing | Galen
College
1. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a GFR
of 28 mL/min. Which stage of CKD is this?
A. Stage 2
B. Stage 3
C. Stage 4
D. Stage 5
Answer: B (Stage 3)
*Rationale: Stage 3 CKD = GFR 30–59 mL/min. Stage 4
= 15–29, Stage 5 <15.*
2. Which lab finding is most consistent with prerenal acute
kidney injury (AKI)?
A. Urine sodium >40 mEq/L
B. Fractional excretion of sodium (FeNa) <1%
C. Granular casts
1
,D. Urine osmolality <300 mOsm/kg
Answer: B (FeNa <1%)
Rationale: Prerenal AKI causes sodium retention → low
FeNa. Intrarenal causes FeNa >2%.
3. Which finding distinguishes acute tubular necrosis (ATN)
from prerenal AKI?
A. BUN/Cr ratio >20:1
B. Urine specific gravity >1.020
C. Muddy brown granular casts
D. FeNa <1%
Answer: C (Muddy brown granular casts)
Rationale: ATN → necrotic tubular cells → muddy brown
casts. Prerenal → hyaline casts.
4. In nephrotic syndrome, which lab abnormality is
expected?
A. Hypoalbuminemia
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Low serum cholesterol
2
,D. High serum sodium
Answer: A (Hypoalbuminemia)
Rationale: Massive proteinuria depletes albumin →
hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, edema.
5. A patient with pyelonephritis typically presents with:
A. Costovertebral angle tenderness and fever
B. Painless hematuria
C. Suprapubic pain without fever
D. Oliguria and anasarca
Answer: A (Costovertebral angle tenderness and fever)
Rationale: Pyelonephritis = renal infection → CVA
tenderness, fever, chills, WBC casts.
6. Which medication is a common cause of acute
interstitial nephritis (AIN)?
A. Furosemide
B. NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen)
C. Metformin
D. Lisinopril
3
, Answer: B (NSAIDs)
Rationale: NSAIDs, penicillins, and sulfa drugs commonly
cause AIN → fever, rash, eosinophiluria.
7. In rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), the
hallmark finding on biopsy is:
A. Crescent formation
B. Diffuse thickening of basement membrane
C. Mesangial proliferation
D. Nodular sclerosis
Answer: A (Crescent formation)
Rationale: RPGN → crescents from proliferating parietal
epithelial cells and inflammatory cells.
8. Which condition is associated with post-streptococcal
glomerulonephritis?
A. Anti-GBM antibodies
B. IgA deposits
C. Immune complexes containing streptococcal antigens
D. ANCA positivity
4
Questions (2026/2027) PDF | Nursing | Galen
College
1. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a GFR
of 28 mL/min. Which stage of CKD is this?
A. Stage 2
B. Stage 3
C. Stage 4
D. Stage 5
Answer: B (Stage 3)
*Rationale: Stage 3 CKD = GFR 30–59 mL/min. Stage 4
= 15–29, Stage 5 <15.*
2. Which lab finding is most consistent with prerenal acute
kidney injury (AKI)?
A. Urine sodium >40 mEq/L
B. Fractional excretion of sodium (FeNa) <1%
C. Granular casts
1
,D. Urine osmolality <300 mOsm/kg
Answer: B (FeNa <1%)
Rationale: Prerenal AKI causes sodium retention → low
FeNa. Intrarenal causes FeNa >2%.
3. Which finding distinguishes acute tubular necrosis (ATN)
from prerenal AKI?
A. BUN/Cr ratio >20:1
B. Urine specific gravity >1.020
C. Muddy brown granular casts
D. FeNa <1%
Answer: C (Muddy brown granular casts)
Rationale: ATN → necrotic tubular cells → muddy brown
casts. Prerenal → hyaline casts.
4. In nephrotic syndrome, which lab abnormality is
expected?
A. Hypoalbuminemia
B. Hypercalcemia
C. Low serum cholesterol
2
,D. High serum sodium
Answer: A (Hypoalbuminemia)
Rationale: Massive proteinuria depletes albumin →
hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, edema.
5. A patient with pyelonephritis typically presents with:
A. Costovertebral angle tenderness and fever
B. Painless hematuria
C. Suprapubic pain without fever
D. Oliguria and anasarca
Answer: A (Costovertebral angle tenderness and fever)
Rationale: Pyelonephritis = renal infection → CVA
tenderness, fever, chills, WBC casts.
6. Which medication is a common cause of acute
interstitial nephritis (AIN)?
A. Furosemide
B. NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen)
C. Metformin
D. Lisinopril
3
, Answer: B (NSAIDs)
Rationale: NSAIDs, penicillins, and sulfa drugs commonly
cause AIN → fever, rash, eosinophiluria.
7. In rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), the
hallmark finding on biopsy is:
A. Crescent formation
B. Diffuse thickening of basement membrane
C. Mesangial proliferation
D. Nodular sclerosis
Answer: A (Crescent formation)
Rationale: RPGN → crescents from proliferating parietal
epithelial cells and inflammatory cells.
8. Which condition is associated with post-streptococcal
glomerulonephritis?
A. Anti-GBM antibodies
B. IgA deposits
C. Immune complexes containing streptococcal antigens
D. ANCA positivity
4
