ATI RN
Pathophysiology Practice Exam
1. A patient is taking medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera) for the treatment of endometriosis. What should the nurse include in the patient teaching?
- A. Take the medication with food to prevent gastrointestinal upset.
- B. Avoid prolonged sun exposure while taking this medication.
- C. Take the medication at the same time each day to maintain consistent hormone levels.
- D. Discontinue the medication if side effects occur.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is to take the medication at the same time each day to maintain consistent hormone levels. This is important for the effectiveness of medroxyprogesterone acetate. Choice A is incorrect because medroxyprogesterone acetate does not need to be taken with food. Choice B is irrelevant as sun exposure is not a concern with this medication. Choice D is incorrect as discontinuing the medication without consulting a healthcare provider can lead to adverse effects.
2. What is a cause of the crystallization within the synovial fluid of the joint affected by gouty arthritis?
- A. Destruction of proteoglycans
- B. Underexcretion of uric acid
- C. Overexcretion of uric acid
- D. Increased absorption of uric acid
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Underexcretion of uric acid. Gouty arthritis is primarily caused by the underexcretion of uric acid, leading to its accumulation in joints and subsequent crystallization. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not directly relate to the pathophysiology of gout. Destruction of proteoglycans, overexcretion of uric acid, and increased absorption of uric acid are not primary causes of gouty arthritis.
3. A client with a diagnosis of depression has been prescribed a medication that ultimately increases the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin between neurons. Which process will accompany the actions of the neurotransmitter in a chemical synapse?
- A. Two-way communication between neurons is permitted, in contrast to the one-way communication in electrical synapses.
- B. Communication between a neuron and the single neuron it is connected with will be facilitated.
- C. The neurotransmitter will cross gap junctions more readily.
- D. More neurotransmitters will cross the synaptic cleft and bond with postsynaptic receptors.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: When serotonin levels increase, more neurotransmitters will cross the synaptic cleft and bind with postsynaptic receptors, facilitating enhanced communication. Option A is incorrect because chemical synapses, unlike electrical synapses, are unidirectional. Option B is incorrect because neurotransmitters impact communication with multiple neurons, not just a single connected neuron. Option C is incorrect because neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft, not gap junctions.
4. A 5-month-old child is admitted to the hospital with recurring respiratory infections. A possible cause of this condition is:
- A. Hypergammaglobulinemia
- B. Increased maternal IgG
- C. Immune insufficiency
- D. Decreased maternal antibody breakdown, resulting in hyposensitivity
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Immune insufficiency is a possible cause of recurring respiratory infections in a 5-month-old child. In this scenario, the child's immune system may not be functioning optimally, leading to a susceptibility to infections. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Hypergammaglobulinemia refers to high levels of gamma globulins in the blood and is not typically associated with recurring respiratory infections in this context. Increased maternal IgG would provide passive immunity to the child, offering some protection against infections. Decreased maternal antibody breakdown leading to hyposensitivity is not a common cause of recurring respiratory infections in a 5-month-old child.
5. Which of the following women is at highest risk for the development of endometrial cancer?
- A. A 50-year-old postmenopausal woman with a history of high-risk human papillomavirus
- B. A 45-year-old woman who is obese and has a menstrual pattern consisting of periods of amenorrhea and infrequent periods
- C. A 40-year-old woman who is overweight and has hypertension
- D. A 55-year-old woman who smokes
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is a 45-year-old woman who is obese and has a menstrual pattern consisting of periods of amenorrhea and infrequent periods. Obesity and prolonged exposure to estrogen unopposed by progesterone due to infrequent ovulation are significant risk factors for endometrial cancer. Choices A, C, and D do not directly correlate with the increased risk of endometrial cancer. Postmenopausal status alone (Choice A), overweight with hypertension (Choice C), and smoking (Choice D) are not the primary risk factors for endometrial cancer.
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