Absolutely. If you do not understand the foundations of the medical concept, then you will not have an easy time understanding the problem being asked!
The body is like learning a language. First you learn letters, then words, then sentences, then paragraphs and then you are fluent. In medicine... first we learn anatomy, the organs, how they function on a good day... and then how they are all related. When you can understand the core foundations of pathology... you are set up for true success!
Remember a strong nurse is a prepared nurse!