1. Which of the following is a typical sign of hypoglycemia?
A. Increased thirst
B. Shaking and sweating
C. Increased urination
D. Elevated blood pressure
Answer: B) Shaking and sweating
Rationale: Hypoglycemia causes symptoms such as shaking,
sweating, and confusion due to the body's response to low blood
sugar levels.
2. A patient presents with a chronic cough, wheezing, and
shortness of breath. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Bronchitis
B. Emphysema
C. Asthma
D. Pulmonary embolism
Answer: C) Asthma
Rationale: Asthma is characterized by inflammation and
constriction of the airways, leading to symptoms like chronic
cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
3. A patient with acute bacterial meningitis is likely to experience
which of the following?
A. Increased thirst and urination
B. Severe headache and neck stiffness
C. Joint pain and swelling
D. Abdominal pain and bloating
Answer: B) Severe headache and neck stiffness
Rationale: Acute bacterial meningitis causes inflammation of the
meninges, leading to symptoms like severe headache, neck
stiffness, photophobia, and fever.
,4. What is the primary cause of hypercapnia in patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Increased carbon dioxide production
B. Airway obstruction
C. Pulmonary fibrosis
D. Decreased tidal volume
Answer: B) Airway obstruction
Rationale: In COPD, airway obstruction leads to difficulty in
exhaling CO2, resulting in the accumulation of carbon dioxide in
the bloodstream (hypercapnia).
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is most at risk for
which of the following electrolyte imbalances?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: A) Hyperkalemia
Rationale: In CKD, the kidneys are unable to excrete potassium
effectively, leading to the accumulation of potassium in the blood,
resulting in hyperkalemia.
8. What is the most common cause of secondary osteoporosis?
A. Calcium deficiency
B. Hyperparathyroidism
C. Long-term use of corticosteroids
D. Vitamin D deficiency
Answer: C) Long-term use of corticosteroids
Rationale: Long-term corticosteroid use is a major cause of
secondary osteoporosis due to its effect on bone metabolism,
leading to decreased bone density and increased fracture risk.
9. A patient with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE) is at increased risk for which of the following?
A. Infection
B. Weight loss
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Stroke
Answer: A) Infection
Rationale: SLE is an autoimmune disorder that affects the immune
system, leaving the patient at higher risk for infections due to
immunosuppressive therapy and the disease itself.
A. Increased thirst
B. Shaking and sweating
C. Increased urination
D. Elevated blood pressure
Answer: B) Shaking and sweating
Rationale: Hypoglycemia causes symptoms such as shaking,
sweating, and confusion due to the body's response to low blood
sugar levels.
2. A patient presents with a chronic cough, wheezing, and
shortness of breath. Which condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Bronchitis
B. Emphysema
C. Asthma
D. Pulmonary embolism
Answer: C) Asthma
Rationale: Asthma is characterized by inflammation and
constriction of the airways, leading to symptoms like chronic
cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
3. A patient with acute bacterial meningitis is likely to experience
which of the following?
A. Increased thirst and urination
B. Severe headache and neck stiffness
C. Joint pain and swelling
D. Abdominal pain and bloating
Answer: B) Severe headache and neck stiffness
Rationale: Acute bacterial meningitis causes inflammation of the
meninges, leading to symptoms like severe headache, neck
stiffness, photophobia, and fever.
,4. What is the primary cause of hypercapnia in patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A. Increased carbon dioxide production
B. Airway obstruction
C. Pulmonary fibrosis
D. Decreased tidal volume
Answer: B) Airway obstruction
Rationale: In COPD, airway obstruction leads to difficulty in
exhaling CO2, resulting in the accumulation of carbon dioxide in
the bloodstream (hypercapnia).
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is most at risk for
which of the following electrolyte imbalances?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: A) Hyperkalemia
Rationale: In CKD, the kidneys are unable to excrete potassium
effectively, leading to the accumulation of potassium in the blood,
resulting in hyperkalemia.
8. What is the most common cause of secondary osteoporosis?
A. Calcium deficiency
B. Hyperparathyroidism
C. Long-term use of corticosteroids
D. Vitamin D deficiency
Answer: C) Long-term use of corticosteroids
Rationale: Long-term corticosteroid use is a major cause of
secondary osteoporosis due to its effect on bone metabolism,
leading to decreased bone density and increased fracture risk.
9. A patient with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE) is at increased risk for which of the following?
A. Infection
B. Weight loss
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Stroke
Answer: A) Infection
Rationale: SLE is an autoimmune disorder that affects the immune
system, leaving the patient at higher risk for infections due to
immunosuppressive therapy and the disease itself.
