UNDERSTANDING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
FINAL PAPER 2026 EXAM Q&A STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE SOLUTION
◉A shift to the left of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve is
caused by:
A: acidosis (low pH) (wrong)
B: increased 2, 3 - DPG levels
C: hyperthermia such as a fever
D: hypothermia. Answer: B: increased 2, 3 - DPG levels
◉A 10-year-old female develops pneumonia. Physical exam reveals
subcostal and intercostal retractions. She reports that breathing is
difficult and she feels she cannot get enough air. What term should
the nurse use to document this condition?
A: Cyanosis
B: Orthopnea
C: Dyspnea
D: Hyperpnea. Answer: C: Dyspnea
,◉Which of the following patients is at highest risk for developing
pulmonary embolism (PE)?
A: 36-year-old woman who is allergic to heparin who is recovering
from a knee replacement
B: 68-year-old woman recovering from a double mastectomy
C: 8-year-old male with pneumonia
D: 87-year-old male who is recovering from shoulder surgery in the
hospital. Answer: A: 36-year-old woman who is allergic to heparin
who is recovering from a knee replacement
◉A 30-year-old male prison inmate contracted tuberculosis during
an outbreak. The patient is being admitted to the unit. The nurse
places the patient on what type of Isolation Precaution?
A: Droplet
B: Standard
C: Airborne
D: Contact. Answer: C: Airborne
◉The nurse is caring for a patient with severe left heart failure.
Along with an assessment of the heart, the nurse is also sure to
,complete a pulmonary assessment because the nurse knows the
patient is at risk for developing:
A: lung cancer
B: asthma
C: pulmonary edema
D: pneumothorax. Answer: C: pulmonary edema
◉A 50-year-old diabetic male did not take his medication and is now
in metabolic acidosis. The nurse assesses that the patient has
slightly increased ventilatory rate, large tidal volumes, and no
expiratory pause. The nurse charts this as:
A: Kussmaul respirations
B: Cheyne-Stokes respirations
C: Hemoptysis
D: Orthopnea. Answer: A: Kussmaul respirations
◉While reviewing lab results, the nurse sees that sodium chloride is
present in the child's sweat. What diagnosis does the nurse expect to
see?
A: Cystic Fibrosis
, B: Asthma
C: Respiratory tract infection
D: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Answer: A: Cystic
Fibrosis
◉A 1-year-old female is diagnosed with croup. When the parent
asks what caused this, what is the nurse's best response? The most
likely cause of this disease is:
A: Bacteria
B: Viral infection
C: Allergy
D: Acute hyperventilation. Answer: B: Viral infection
◉A baby is born prematurely at 29 weeks gestation. In the first few
minutes, it is important to assess the baby for:
A: bronchiolitis.
B: cystic fibrosis.
C: pneumonia.
D: respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).. Answer: D: respiratory
distress syndrome (RDS).
FINAL PAPER 2026 EXAM Q&A STUDY
GUIDE COMPLETE SOLUTION
◉A shift to the left of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve is
caused by:
A: acidosis (low pH) (wrong)
B: increased 2, 3 - DPG levels
C: hyperthermia such as a fever
D: hypothermia. Answer: B: increased 2, 3 - DPG levels
◉A 10-year-old female develops pneumonia. Physical exam reveals
subcostal and intercostal retractions. She reports that breathing is
difficult and she feels she cannot get enough air. What term should
the nurse use to document this condition?
A: Cyanosis
B: Orthopnea
C: Dyspnea
D: Hyperpnea. Answer: C: Dyspnea
,◉Which of the following patients is at highest risk for developing
pulmonary embolism (PE)?
A: 36-year-old woman who is allergic to heparin who is recovering
from a knee replacement
B: 68-year-old woman recovering from a double mastectomy
C: 8-year-old male with pneumonia
D: 87-year-old male who is recovering from shoulder surgery in the
hospital. Answer: A: 36-year-old woman who is allergic to heparin
who is recovering from a knee replacement
◉A 30-year-old male prison inmate contracted tuberculosis during
an outbreak. The patient is being admitted to the unit. The nurse
places the patient on what type of Isolation Precaution?
A: Droplet
B: Standard
C: Airborne
D: Contact. Answer: C: Airborne
◉The nurse is caring for a patient with severe left heart failure.
Along with an assessment of the heart, the nurse is also sure to
,complete a pulmonary assessment because the nurse knows the
patient is at risk for developing:
A: lung cancer
B: asthma
C: pulmonary edema
D: pneumothorax. Answer: C: pulmonary edema
◉A 50-year-old diabetic male did not take his medication and is now
in metabolic acidosis. The nurse assesses that the patient has
slightly increased ventilatory rate, large tidal volumes, and no
expiratory pause. The nurse charts this as:
A: Kussmaul respirations
B: Cheyne-Stokes respirations
C: Hemoptysis
D: Orthopnea. Answer: A: Kussmaul respirations
◉While reviewing lab results, the nurse sees that sodium chloride is
present in the child's sweat. What diagnosis does the nurse expect to
see?
A: Cystic Fibrosis
, B: Asthma
C: Respiratory tract infection
D: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Answer: A: Cystic
Fibrosis
◉A 1-year-old female is diagnosed with croup. When the parent
asks what caused this, what is the nurse's best response? The most
likely cause of this disease is:
A: Bacteria
B: Viral infection
C: Allergy
D: Acute hyperventilation. Answer: B: Viral infection
◉A baby is born prematurely at 29 weeks gestation. In the first few
minutes, it is important to assess the baby for:
A: bronchiolitis.
B: cystic fibrosis.
C: pneumonia.
D: respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).. Answer: D: respiratory
distress syndrome (RDS).
