a patient presents with a sudden onset of severe chest pain radiating to his back his blood pressure is significantly higher in the right arm than in
Logo

Nursing Elites

ATI RN

Pathophysiology Practice Questions

1. A patient presents with a sudden onset of severe chest pain radiating to his back. His blood pressure is significantly higher in the right arm than in the left arm. Which of the following conditions is most likely?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, aortic dissection. Aortic dissection is characterized by sudden, severe chest pain that can radiate to the back. The discrepancy in blood pressure between the arms (higher in the right arm) is known as a 'pulse deficit' and is a classic finding in aortic dissection. This condition involves a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, leading to the abnormal flow of blood within the aortic wall. Acute myocardial infarction (choice A) presents with chest pain but typically does not cause discrepancies in blood pressure between arms. Pulmonary embolism (choice B) usually presents with chest pain and difficulty breathing but does not cause unequal blood pressures in the arms. Pericarditis (choice D) can cause chest pain exacerbated by breathing or lying down, but it does not typically lead to differences in blood pressure between arms.

2. Which of the following might result from severe diarrhea?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Metabolic acidosis. Severe diarrhea can lead to metabolic acidosis because the loss of bicarbonate ions in the stool results in an overall decrease in the body's bicarbonate levels. Respiratory acidosis (choice A) is caused by retention of carbon dioxide, usually due to inadequate alveolar ventilation. Metabolic alkalosis (choice B) is characterized by elevated pH and bicarbonate levels, usually caused by conditions like vomiting. Respiratory alkalosis (choice C) is a condition of low blood carbon dioxide levels and high pH, often due to hyperventilation.

3. Which of the following would the nurse expect to see in a client experiencing hypoventilation?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In hypoventilation, there is inadequate ventilation leading to decreased removal of carbon dioxide. This results in increased carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. The other choices are incorrect because hypoventilation does not improve oxygenation in the alveoli (Choice A), decrease hemoglobin in the bloodstream (Choice C), or decrease carbon dioxide in the alveoli (Choice D).

4. When caring for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the disease the nurse is dealing with is an example of:

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When a nurse cares for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the nurse is dealing with an autoimmune disease. In autoimmune diseases like SLE, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. Choice A, 'Autoimmunity,' is the correct answer because SLE is an example of the immune system attacking self-antigens, leading to tissue damage and inflammation. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Alloimmunity refers to the immune response against foreign antigens from members of the same species, homoimmunity is not a recognized term in immunology, and alleimmunity is not a valid term in this context.

5. Which term should the nurse use to document a situation in which cells increase in size and function?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Hypertrophy is the correct term used to describe the situation in which cells increase in size and function. Atrophy (Choice A) is the opposite, indicating a decrease in cell size. Metaplasia (Choice C) refers to the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another. Hyperplasia (Choice D) involves an increase in the number of cells, not just an increase in size and function as in hypertrophy.

Similar Questions

In the ICU setting, a client transported from surgery following open heart bypass grafting will likely have his or her core temperature measured by:
What is the treatment for patients with hemophilia A?
A patient has been diagnosed with chronic renal failure. Which of the following agents will assist in raising the patient's hemoglobin levels?
A nurse caring for a patient with a diagnosis of lung cancer is aware that the primary risk factor for developing lung cancer is:
What should the nurse discuss with a patient with a history of cardiovascular disease regarding the risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?

Access More Features

ATI RN Basic
$69.99/ 30 days

  • 5,000 Questions with answers
  • All ATI courses Coverage
  • 30 days access

ATI RN Premium
$149.99/ 90 days

  • 5,000 Questions with answers
  • All ATI courses Coverage
  • 30 days access

Other Courses