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 cirrhosis has developed ascites. Which of the
following is a likely cause of ascites in this patient?
A. Decreased albumin production
B. Increased clotting factors
C. Increased renin production
D. Decreased red blood cell production
Answer: A) Decreased albumin production
Rationale: In cirrhosis, the liver's ability to produce albumin is
impaired, leading to a decrease in plasma oncotic pressure, which
contributes to fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites).
3. 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.
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 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.
6. A patient with acute blood loss from a traumatic injury may
experience which of the following?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Increased heart rate
Answer: D) Increased heart rate
Rationale: Acute blood loss leads to a decrease in circulating
blood volume, which triggers compensatory tachycardia
(increased heart rate) to maintain cardiac output.
, 7. 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.
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. What is the primary cause of atherosclerosis?
A. Decreased calcium intake
B. Chronic inflammation of the blood vessels
C. Increased HDL cholesterol
D. Vitamin D deficiency
Answer: B) Chronic inflammation of the blood vessels
Rationale: Atherosclerosis is primarily caused by the build-up of
plaque in the arteries, often triggered by chronic inflammation
and high levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream.
10. What is the most common cause of peptic ulcers?
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 cirrhosis has developed ascites. Which of the
following is a likely cause of ascites in this patient?
A. Decreased albumin production
B. Increased clotting factors
C. Increased renin production
D. Decreased red blood cell production
Answer: A) Decreased albumin production
Rationale: In cirrhosis, the liver's ability to produce albumin is
impaired, leading to a decrease in plasma oncotic pressure, which
contributes to fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites).
3. 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.
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 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.
6. A patient with acute blood loss from a traumatic injury may
experience which of the following?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Decreased respiratory rate
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Increased heart rate
Answer: D) Increased heart rate
Rationale: Acute blood loss leads to a decrease in circulating
blood volume, which triggers compensatory tachycardia
(increased heart rate) to maintain cardiac output.
, 7. 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.
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. What is the primary cause of atherosclerosis?
A. Decreased calcium intake
B. Chronic inflammation of the blood vessels
C. Increased HDL cholesterol
D. Vitamin D deficiency
Answer: B) Chronic inflammation of the blood vessels
Rationale: Atherosclerosis is primarily caused by the build-up of
plaque in the arteries, often triggered by chronic inflammation
and high levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream.
10. What is the most common cause of peptic ulcers?
