PATHOPHYSIOLOGY NURSING EXAM SCRIPT
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ADH . Answer: helps kidneys control water in body
◉Aldosterone . Answer: regulates Na+ and K+ in kidney nephron
◉Normal Sodium Levels . Answer: 135-145mEq/L
◉Hyponatremia . Answer: <135mEq/L of sodium; excess water in
relation to sodium in extracellular space
◉Hyponatremia S/S . Answer: stupor
lethargy
weak muscles
orthostatic hypotension
headache
seizures
stomach cramping
,decreased consciousness
◉Hypernatremia . Answer: >145mEq/L of sodium; decrease in water
relative to electrolyte content
◉Hypernatremia S/S . Answer: fever
restlessness
decreased urine
flushed skin
increased blood pressure
edema
◉Normal Potassium Levels . Answer: 3.5-5.0mEq/L
◉Hypokalemia . Answer: low level of K+ in blood serum
◉Hypokalemia Results . Answer: vomiting
diarrhea
metabolic alkalosis
ventricular tachycardia
muscle weakness
decreased gut motility
,decrease insulin release
◉Hyperkalemia . Answer: >5.5mEq/L of potassium in adults caused by
renal failure
◉Hyperkalemia Results . Answer: fatigue
bradycardia
paralysis
cardiac arrest
abnormal heart and skeletal muscle function
◉Normal Magnesiums Levels . Answer: 1.5-2.5mEq/L
◉Hypomagnesemia . Answer: low levels of magnesium; often
associated with hypokalemia or even hypocalcemia if severe
◉Hypomagnesemia S/S . Answer: impaired Na+/K+ pump
increased movement of K+ out of cell
cardiac arrhythmias
◉Torsade de Pointes . Answer: repetitive ventricular tachycardia with
prolonged QT interval
, ◉Hypermagnesemia . Answer: increased magnesium levels; very rare
because kidney is good at magnesium regulation
◉Hypermagnesemia S/S . Answer: electrical conduction abnormalities
in heart
weak
nausea
arrhythmias
bradycardia
vomiting
◉Normal Calcium Levels . Answer: 8.6-10.2mEq/L
◉Hypocalcemia . Answer: decrease in ionized "true" calcium
◉Hypocalcemia Cause . Answer: Hypoalbuminemia*
◉Hypocalcemia S/S . Answer: Trousseau's sign
Chvosteck's sign
seizures
tetany
numbness
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ADH . Answer: helps kidneys control water in body
◉Aldosterone . Answer: regulates Na+ and K+ in kidney nephron
◉Normal Sodium Levels . Answer: 135-145mEq/L
◉Hyponatremia . Answer: <135mEq/L of sodium; excess water in
relation to sodium in extracellular space
◉Hyponatremia S/S . Answer: stupor
lethargy
weak muscles
orthostatic hypotension
headache
seizures
stomach cramping
,decreased consciousness
◉Hypernatremia . Answer: >145mEq/L of sodium; decrease in water
relative to electrolyte content
◉Hypernatremia S/S . Answer: fever
restlessness
decreased urine
flushed skin
increased blood pressure
edema
◉Normal Potassium Levels . Answer: 3.5-5.0mEq/L
◉Hypokalemia . Answer: low level of K+ in blood serum
◉Hypokalemia Results . Answer: vomiting
diarrhea
metabolic alkalosis
ventricular tachycardia
muscle weakness
decreased gut motility
,decrease insulin release
◉Hyperkalemia . Answer: >5.5mEq/L of potassium in adults caused by
renal failure
◉Hyperkalemia Results . Answer: fatigue
bradycardia
paralysis
cardiac arrest
abnormal heart and skeletal muscle function
◉Normal Magnesiums Levels . Answer: 1.5-2.5mEq/L
◉Hypomagnesemia . Answer: low levels of magnesium; often
associated with hypokalemia or even hypocalcemia if severe
◉Hypomagnesemia S/S . Answer: impaired Na+/K+ pump
increased movement of K+ out of cell
cardiac arrhythmias
◉Torsade de Pointes . Answer: repetitive ventricular tachycardia with
prolonged QT interval
, ◉Hypermagnesemia . Answer: increased magnesium levels; very rare
because kidney is good at magnesium regulation
◉Hypermagnesemia S/S . Answer: electrical conduction abnormalities
in heart
weak
nausea
arrhythmias
bradycardia
vomiting
◉Normal Calcium Levels . Answer: 8.6-10.2mEq/L
◉Hypocalcemia . Answer: decrease in ionized "true" calcium
◉Hypocalcemia Cause . Answer: Hypoalbuminemia*
◉Hypocalcemia S/S . Answer: Trousseau's sign
Chvosteck's sign
seizures
tetany
numbness
