NURS 5315 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM Practice

pg. 1 NURS 5315 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM/ Practice Questions with Correct Verified Answers – Latest Update 2024/ (NEW!!)Rated A+

A patient with a potassium of 2.0 complains of muscle weakness. Which explanation below best describes the reason for the complaint?

• A hyperpolarization of the intracellular environment has made it more difficult for the cell to

depolarize.

• A more positive threshold potential has delayed the action potential.
• A progressive cellular depolarization has made the cells more excitable.
• The cells are hyperpolarized and are more excitable.

ANS: A

A hyperpolarization of the intracellular environment has made it more difficult for the cell to depolarize is the only correct answer. This is what happens in hypokalemia. A more positive threshold potential delays the action potential and is seen on hypercalcemia. A progressive cellular depolarization occurs in hypocalcemia & cells are hypo polarized in hyperkalemia.

A female patient with a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer should be evaluated for metastasis to which organ?

• Liver
• Breast
• Lungs
• Prostate

ANS: A

Ovarian cancer metastasis to peritoneal surfaces the diaphragm, omentum, and liver.

Which cellular change occurs secondary to reperfusion injury?

• Mitochondrial calcium overload 1 / 3

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• Increased ATP production
• Enlargement of intracellular organelles
• A decreased in the production of reactive oxygen species.

ANS: A

A patient has a sodium level of 115 mEq/L and is disoriented and lethargic. Which pathological process best explains this patient's symptoms?

• The action potential has become hyperpolarized.
• Water has shifted into the neurons and caused them to swell.
• Water has shifted into the vascular space and dehydrated the neurons.
• The action potential has become hypopolarized.
• The cause of neurologic symptoms associated with a sodium imbalance is directly related to fluid

shifting into or out of the neurons of the brain. With a serum sodium of 115 mEq/L, water shifts into the neurons and causes them to swell. Hypernatremia causes water to shift out of the cell into the intravascular space and causes the neurons to become dehydrated. An alteration in the action potential is not seen with sodium imbalances.

A patient experiencing dehydration should be monitored for which electrolyte imbalance?

• Hyperkalemia
• Hypocalcemia
• Hypercalcemia
• Hyponatermia
• Serum osmolality is increased during times of dehydration. An elevated serum osmolality will pull

potassium into the intravascular space from the intracellular space and cause a rise in serum potassium.

• The nurse practitioner is following up with a patient who is actively abusing alcohol. Which action

should be completed by the nurse practitioner to foster health promotion?

• Prescribe daily thiamine supplementation
• Educate the patient to eat less leafy green vegetables.
• Prescribe daily vitamin E supplementation.
• Send the patient to the hospital for admission. 2 / 3

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ANS: A

Patients who abuse ETOH have many nutritional deficiencies, some of which include B vitamins, folic acid, and phosphate. Therefore they should receive thiamine supplementation.

• A patient with chronically uncontrolled hypertension should be screened for which cellular adaptative

pattern?

• Ventricular hypertrophy
• Renal dysplasia
• Ventricular hyperplasia
• Cardiac Atrophy

ANS: A

Left ventricular hypertrophy occurs secondary to hypertension cardiac cells do not undergo hyperplasia or atrophy. Renal dysplasia does not occur.

Which disorder results from an anamnestic immune response?Hemolytic Anemia of the New Born Measles Mumps Rheumatoid Arthritis Hemolytic anemia of the newborn results from an secondary immune response mounted by the mother.An infection with measles or mumps triggers a primary immune response and RA is an autoimmune condition.

The nurse practitioner is seeing a new patient with a history of HIV for three years. The patient reports a history of pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) three years ago. His labs show a CD4 count of 500 and a viral load of 25,000. Which of the following diagnoses should the NP assign the patient?

AIDS HIV infection PCP

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