Immune Response and Inflammation
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
A client has entered an environment where there are numerous infectious microorganisms. The
body's first line of defense against these organisms is considered to be what?
A) Mast cells
B) Mucous membranes
C) Skin
D) T cells - CORRECT ANSWERS C) Skin
The nurse is caring for a number of clients. Which client has lost a barrier defense, increasing the
client's risk for infection?
A) A 68-year-old man diagnosed with prostate cancer
B) A 24-year-old client diagnosed with partial-thickness burns
C) A 13-year-old client diagnosed with chickenpox
D) A 72-year-old client diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia - CORRECT ANSWERS B)
A 24-year-old client diagnosed with partial-thickness burns
The nurse is reviewing the results of the complete blood count of a client who is diagnosed with
bacterial meningitis. What value should the nurse expect to see elevated?
A) Basophil count
B) Eosinophil count
C) Hematocrit
D) Neutrophil count - CORRECT ANSWERS D) Neutrophil count
,A parent calls the clinic and tells the nurse that the parent's toddler has a temperature of 102°F
(38.9°C). What should the nurse teach the parent about the child's fever?
A) "A fever is the body's way of fighting an infection and supporting the body's immune
system."
B) "Neutrophils release pyrogen, a fever-causing substance, which helps act as a catalyst for the
body's inflammatory and immune responses."
C) "Leukotrienes activated by arachidonic acid attract neutrophils to start the process of fighting
inflammation."
D) "Inflammation causes the activation of a chemical called Hageman factor that initiates a
process to bring more blood to the injured area and allows white blood cells to escape into the
tissues." - CORRECT ANSWERS A) "A fever is the body's way of fighting an infection
and supporting the body's immune system."
A client has a sports injury and the affected region is inflamed. The nurse should understand that
the inflammatory response caused by the injury will occur in what sequence?
A) Heat, pain, redness, swelling
B) Swelling, pain, redness, heat
C) Redness, swelling, heat, pain
D) Pain, redness, swelling, heat - CORRECT ANSWERS C) Redness, swelling, heat, pain
The nurse is caring for a client who is immunocompromised and is explaining the function of
cytotoxic T cells. What should the nurse explain to this client?
A) "Cytotoxic T cells are programmed to identify specific proteins or antigens that are foreign to
your body."
B) "These T cells can either destroy a foreign cell or mark it for aggressive destruction by
another cell."
C) "These cells respond to chemical indicators of immune activity and stimulate other
lymphocytes to be more aggressive and responsive."
,D) "These are cells that respond to rising levels of chemicals associated with an immune
response in order to suppress or slow the reaction." - CORRECT ANSWERS B) "These T
cells can either destroy a foreign cell or mark it for aggressive destruction by another cell."
A client has a significant laceration on the left arm. Since the injury, the client has had muscle
and joint aches, a low-grade fever, and sleepiness. The nurse should attribute this to what
component of the inflammatory response?
A) Bacterial toxins
B) Interferon activity
C) Leukotriene activity
D) Phagocytosis - CORRECT ANSWERS C) Leukotriene activity
The nurse is caring for an immunocompromised client and is reviewing the role of factor XII
(Hageman factor). What normally occurs when Hageman factor activates kallikrein?
A) Arachidonic acid is produced.
B) Prostaglandins are rapidly synthesized and released.
C) Leukotrienes are released into general circulation.
D) Kininogen is converted to bradykinin - CORRECT ANSWERS D) Kininogen is
converted to bradykinin
A client who has received a heart transplant has been given a prescription for medications that
block T-cell activity. What is the rationale behind this order?
A) To manufacture antibodies to the foreign proteins in the new heart
B) To stimulate wound healing
C) To temporarily suppress bone marrow function
D) To prevent an inflammatory reaction against the transplanted heart - CORRECT
ANSWERS D) To prevent an inflammatory reaction against the transplanted heart
, The nurse anticipates what nonspecific response to a client's abrasion injury?
A) Decreased serum pH
B) Increased protein catabolism
C) Inhibition of cell growth and conservation of energy
D) Heat and swelling - CORRECT ANSWERS D) Heat and swelling
The nurse is planning care for a client with extensive burns suffered in a workplace accident. The
nurse has identified a priority nursing diagnosis of risk for infection related to loss of body
defenses. What barrier defenses may be compromised in this client? Select all that apply.
A) Skin
B) Mucous membranes
C) Gastric acid
D) Leukocytes
E) T cells - CORRECT ANSWERS A) Skin
B) Mucous membranes
C) Gastric acid
A client is fighting an active infection, and antigen-antibody complexes are being created. How
will these new complexes enhance the immune response?
A) They create new receptor sites that can activate complement proteins.
B) They directly block viral passage through body cell membranes.
C) They activate cytotoxic T cells, which can directly attack pathogens.
D) They stimulate the thymus to release B cells in larger quantities. - CORRECT
ANSWERS A) They create new receptor sites that can activate complement proteins.
The immune system of a client with an infection has created complement proteins. What
immunologic response is most likely to result from complement proteins?
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
A client has entered an environment where there are numerous infectious microorganisms. The
body's first line of defense against these organisms is considered to be what?
A) Mast cells
B) Mucous membranes
C) Skin
D) T cells - CORRECT ANSWERS C) Skin
The nurse is caring for a number of clients. Which client has lost a barrier defense, increasing the
client's risk for infection?
A) A 68-year-old man diagnosed with prostate cancer
B) A 24-year-old client diagnosed with partial-thickness burns
C) A 13-year-old client diagnosed with chickenpox
D) A 72-year-old client diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia - CORRECT ANSWERS B)
A 24-year-old client diagnosed with partial-thickness burns
The nurse is reviewing the results of the complete blood count of a client who is diagnosed with
bacterial meningitis. What value should the nurse expect to see elevated?
A) Basophil count
B) Eosinophil count
C) Hematocrit
D) Neutrophil count - CORRECT ANSWERS D) Neutrophil count
,A parent calls the clinic and tells the nurse that the parent's toddler has a temperature of 102°F
(38.9°C). What should the nurse teach the parent about the child's fever?
A) "A fever is the body's way of fighting an infection and supporting the body's immune
system."
B) "Neutrophils release pyrogen, a fever-causing substance, which helps act as a catalyst for the
body's inflammatory and immune responses."
C) "Leukotrienes activated by arachidonic acid attract neutrophils to start the process of fighting
inflammation."
D) "Inflammation causes the activation of a chemical called Hageman factor that initiates a
process to bring more blood to the injured area and allows white blood cells to escape into the
tissues." - CORRECT ANSWERS A) "A fever is the body's way of fighting an infection
and supporting the body's immune system."
A client has a sports injury and the affected region is inflamed. The nurse should understand that
the inflammatory response caused by the injury will occur in what sequence?
A) Heat, pain, redness, swelling
B) Swelling, pain, redness, heat
C) Redness, swelling, heat, pain
D) Pain, redness, swelling, heat - CORRECT ANSWERS C) Redness, swelling, heat, pain
The nurse is caring for a client who is immunocompromised and is explaining the function of
cytotoxic T cells. What should the nurse explain to this client?
A) "Cytotoxic T cells are programmed to identify specific proteins or antigens that are foreign to
your body."
B) "These T cells can either destroy a foreign cell or mark it for aggressive destruction by
another cell."
C) "These cells respond to chemical indicators of immune activity and stimulate other
lymphocytes to be more aggressive and responsive."
,D) "These are cells that respond to rising levels of chemicals associated with an immune
response in order to suppress or slow the reaction." - CORRECT ANSWERS B) "These T
cells can either destroy a foreign cell or mark it for aggressive destruction by another cell."
A client has a significant laceration on the left arm. Since the injury, the client has had muscle
and joint aches, a low-grade fever, and sleepiness. The nurse should attribute this to what
component of the inflammatory response?
A) Bacterial toxins
B) Interferon activity
C) Leukotriene activity
D) Phagocytosis - CORRECT ANSWERS C) Leukotriene activity
The nurse is caring for an immunocompromised client and is reviewing the role of factor XII
(Hageman factor). What normally occurs when Hageman factor activates kallikrein?
A) Arachidonic acid is produced.
B) Prostaglandins are rapidly synthesized and released.
C) Leukotrienes are released into general circulation.
D) Kininogen is converted to bradykinin - CORRECT ANSWERS D) Kininogen is
converted to bradykinin
A client who has received a heart transplant has been given a prescription for medications that
block T-cell activity. What is the rationale behind this order?
A) To manufacture antibodies to the foreign proteins in the new heart
B) To stimulate wound healing
C) To temporarily suppress bone marrow function
D) To prevent an inflammatory reaction against the transplanted heart - CORRECT
ANSWERS D) To prevent an inflammatory reaction against the transplanted heart
, The nurse anticipates what nonspecific response to a client's abrasion injury?
A) Decreased serum pH
B) Increased protein catabolism
C) Inhibition of cell growth and conservation of energy
D) Heat and swelling - CORRECT ANSWERS D) Heat and swelling
The nurse is planning care for a client with extensive burns suffered in a workplace accident. The
nurse has identified a priority nursing diagnosis of risk for infection related to loss of body
defenses. What barrier defenses may be compromised in this client? Select all that apply.
A) Skin
B) Mucous membranes
C) Gastric acid
D) Leukocytes
E) T cells - CORRECT ANSWERS A) Skin
B) Mucous membranes
C) Gastric acid
A client is fighting an active infection, and antigen-antibody complexes are being created. How
will these new complexes enhance the immune response?
A) They create new receptor sites that can activate complement proteins.
B) They directly block viral passage through body cell membranes.
C) They activate cytotoxic T cells, which can directly attack pathogens.
D) They stimulate the thymus to release B cells in larger quantities. - CORRECT
ANSWERS A) They create new receptor sites that can activate complement proteins.
The immune system of a client with an infection has created complement proteins. What
immunologic response is most likely to result from complement proteins?
