1. Which of the following would you expect in a patient with
Addison’s disease?
A. Increased blood pressure
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Weight gain
D. Increased appetite
Answer: B) Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Addison’s disease, a disorder of the adrenal glands,
leads to decreased cortisol and aldosterone production. This
results in fluid and sodium loss and potassium retention, causing
hyperkalemia.
2. A patient with COPD has developed a barrel chest. What does
this physical finding indicate?
A. Emphysema
B. Pneumonia
C. Asthma
D. Acute bronchitis
Answer: A) Emphysema
Rationale: A barrel chest is a physical characteristic seen in
emphysema, a type of COPD. It occurs due to the hyperinflation
of the lungs, which causes the chest to assume a rounded,
expanded shape.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia. Which of the
following is a common sign of pneumonia?
A. Cough with sputum production
B. Sudden weight gain
C. Seizures
D. Hemoptysis without cough
Answer: A) Cough with sputum production
,Rationale: Pneumonia typically presents with symptoms such as a
productive cough with purulent sputum, fever, and difficulty
breathing due to inflammation in the lungs.
4. Which of the following is the most common cause of stroke?
A. Aneurysm rupture
B. Ischemia due to a clot
C. Brain tumor
D. Hypertension
Answer: B) Ischemia due to a clot
Rationale: Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke
and occur when a clot blocks blood flow to the brain.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with hyperkalemia. What is the
most concerning sign of this condition?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Shortness of breath
C. Diarrhea
D. Nausea
Answer: A) Muscle weakness
Rationale: Hyperkalemia can cause muscle weakness and
potentially life-threatening arrhythmias due to its effect on the
electrical conductivity of the heart.
6. A patient presents with fever, jaundice, and dark urine. Which
condition might this indicate?
A. Hepatitis
B. Gallstones
C. Pancreatitis
D. Cirrhosis
Answer: A) Hepatitis
Rationale: Hepatitis can lead to liver inflammation, resulting in
jaundice (yellowing of the skin), dark urine, and fever.
, 7. What is a classic symptom of Parkinson’s disease?
A. Muscle rigidity
B. Hypotension
C. Polyuria
D. Weight gain
Answer: A) Muscle rigidity
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is characterized by symptoms such
as muscle rigidity, tremors, and bradykinesia due to a loss of
dopaminergic neurons in the brain.
8. Which of the following factors is most likely to increase the
risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A. Frequent physical activity
B. Use of oral contraceptives
C. Low body weight
D. Dehydration
Answer: B) Use of oral contraceptives
Rationale: Oral contraceptives can increase clotting factor
production, which elevates the risk of DVT.
9. A nurse is assessing a client with a suspected myocardial
infarction (MI). Which finding would be most indicative of an MI?
A. Severe sharp chest pain that radiates to the left shoulder
B. Shortness of breath with a productive cough
C. Gradual onset of bilateral lower leg edema
D. Sudden dizziness with no associated chest pain
Answer: A) Severe sharp chest pain that radiates to the left
shoulder
Rationale: A common symptom of myocardial infarction is chest
pain that radiates to the left shoulder or arm. This is due to
ischemia affecting the heart muscle.
Addison’s disease?
A. Increased blood pressure
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Weight gain
D. Increased appetite
Answer: B) Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Addison’s disease, a disorder of the adrenal glands,
leads to decreased cortisol and aldosterone production. This
results in fluid and sodium loss and potassium retention, causing
hyperkalemia.
2. A patient with COPD has developed a barrel chest. What does
this physical finding indicate?
A. Emphysema
B. Pneumonia
C. Asthma
D. Acute bronchitis
Answer: A) Emphysema
Rationale: A barrel chest is a physical characteristic seen in
emphysema, a type of COPD. It occurs due to the hyperinflation
of the lungs, which causes the chest to assume a rounded,
expanded shape.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient with pneumonia. Which of the
following is a common sign of pneumonia?
A. Cough with sputum production
B. Sudden weight gain
C. Seizures
D. Hemoptysis without cough
Answer: A) Cough with sputum production
,Rationale: Pneumonia typically presents with symptoms such as a
productive cough with purulent sputum, fever, and difficulty
breathing due to inflammation in the lungs.
4. Which of the following is the most common cause of stroke?
A. Aneurysm rupture
B. Ischemia due to a clot
C. Brain tumor
D. Hypertension
Answer: B) Ischemia due to a clot
Rationale: Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke
and occur when a clot blocks blood flow to the brain.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient with hyperkalemia. What is the
most concerning sign of this condition?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Shortness of breath
C. Diarrhea
D. Nausea
Answer: A) Muscle weakness
Rationale: Hyperkalemia can cause muscle weakness and
potentially life-threatening arrhythmias due to its effect on the
electrical conductivity of the heart.
6. A patient presents with fever, jaundice, and dark urine. Which
condition might this indicate?
A. Hepatitis
B. Gallstones
C. Pancreatitis
D. Cirrhosis
Answer: A) Hepatitis
Rationale: Hepatitis can lead to liver inflammation, resulting in
jaundice (yellowing of the skin), dark urine, and fever.
, 7. What is a classic symptom of Parkinson’s disease?
A. Muscle rigidity
B. Hypotension
C. Polyuria
D. Weight gain
Answer: A) Muscle rigidity
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is characterized by symptoms such
as muscle rigidity, tremors, and bradykinesia due to a loss of
dopaminergic neurons in the brain.
8. Which of the following factors is most likely to increase the
risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
A. Frequent physical activity
B. Use of oral contraceptives
C. Low body weight
D. Dehydration
Answer: B) Use of oral contraceptives
Rationale: Oral contraceptives can increase clotting factor
production, which elevates the risk of DVT.
9. A nurse is assessing a client with a suspected myocardial
infarction (MI). Which finding would be most indicative of an MI?
A. Severe sharp chest pain that radiates to the left shoulder
B. Shortness of breath with a productive cough
C. Gradual onset of bilateral lower leg edema
D. Sudden dizziness with no associated chest pain
Answer: A) Severe sharp chest pain that radiates to the left
shoulder
Rationale: A common symptom of myocardial infarction is chest
pain that radiates to the left shoulder or arm. This is due to
ischemia affecting the heart muscle.
