1|Page
HESI PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2 HU NSG120 –
HERZING UNIVERSITY FALL C 2026/2027 ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with edema.
Which of the following is the most likely cause of this condition?
......ANSWER......Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room (ER) because he
is incoherent and semiconscious. CT scan reveals that he is suffering
from cerebral edema. This type of edema is referred to as:
......ANSWER......localized edema
A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which
information should the nurse include? Secretion of ADH is stimulated
by: ......ANSWER......increased plasma osmolality
Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful
concerning aldosterone? Secretion of aldosterone results in:
......ANSWER......increased blood volume
A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumor of the
adrenal cortex. Which finding would the nurse expect to see in the lab
results? ......ANSWER......Decreased blood K+ levels
pg. 1
,2|Page
A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic
hormones. When the patient asks the nurse what do these hormones
do, how should the nurse respond? Natriuretic hormones affect the
balance of: ......ANSWER......Sodium
A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken eyes.
After diagnosing him with severe dehydration, the primary care
provider orders fluid replacement. The nurse administers a hypertonic
intravenous solution. Which of the following would be expected?
......ANSWER......Intracellular dehydration
Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing
hypernatremia? A patient with: ......ANSWER......dehydration
The most common cause of pure water deficit is: ......ANSWER......A.
renal water loss
Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with:
......ANSWER......Hypertonic hyponatremia
A 52-year-old diabetic male presents to the ER with lethargy, confusion,
and depressed reflexes. His wife indicates that he does not follow the
prescribed diet and takes his medication sporadically. Lab results
indicate hyperglycemia. Which assessment finding is most likely to
occur? ......ANSWER......decreased sodium
pg. 2
,3|Page
When taking care of a patient with hyperkalemia, which principle is
priority? Hyperkalemia causes a(n) _____ in resting membrane
potential with _____ excitability of cardiac muscle.
......ANSWER......increase, increased
Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia? A
patient with: ......ANSWER......Increased bicarbonate intake
Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for
hyperkalemia? ......ANSWER......Acute acidosis
Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has
long-term potassium deficits? ......ANSWER......kidneys
A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider reporting
muscle weakness and cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate
that she is hypokalemic. Which of the following could be the cause of
her condition? ......ANSWER......Primary hyperaldosteronism
A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider reporting
restlessness, muscle cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is
hyperkalemic. Which of the following could have caused his condition?
......ANSWER......acidosis
pg. 3
, 4|Page
A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which
assessment finding should the nurse expect to observe?
......ANSWER......oliguria
Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma
buffering system? ......ANSWER......carbonic acid and bicarbonate
A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal or
retention of volatile acids is accomplished by the: ......ANSWER......lungs
Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid and
bicarbonate exist in a ratio of: ......ANSWER......20:1
Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient with:
......ANSWER......Excessive loss of chloride (Cl)
Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and
metabolic acidosis? A patient diagnosed with: ......ANSWER......renal
failure
For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate
by: ......ANSWER......hyperventilating
Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis?
......ANSWER......pneumonia
pg. 4
HESI PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2 HU NSG120 –
HERZING UNIVERSITY FALL C 2026/2027 ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with edema.
Which of the following is the most likely cause of this condition?
......ANSWER......Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room (ER) because he
is incoherent and semiconscious. CT scan reveals that he is suffering
from cerebral edema. This type of edema is referred to as:
......ANSWER......localized edema
A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which
information should the nurse include? Secretion of ADH is stimulated
by: ......ANSWER......increased plasma osmolality
Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful
concerning aldosterone? Secretion of aldosterone results in:
......ANSWER......increased blood volume
A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumor of the
adrenal cortex. Which finding would the nurse expect to see in the lab
results? ......ANSWER......Decreased blood K+ levels
pg. 1
,2|Page
A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic
hormones. When the patient asks the nurse what do these hormones
do, how should the nurse respond? Natriuretic hormones affect the
balance of: ......ANSWER......Sodium
A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken eyes.
After diagnosing him with severe dehydration, the primary care
provider orders fluid replacement. The nurse administers a hypertonic
intravenous solution. Which of the following would be expected?
......ANSWER......Intracellular dehydration
Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing
hypernatremia? A patient with: ......ANSWER......dehydration
The most common cause of pure water deficit is: ......ANSWER......A.
renal water loss
Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are associated with:
......ANSWER......Hypertonic hyponatremia
A 52-year-old diabetic male presents to the ER with lethargy, confusion,
and depressed reflexes. His wife indicates that he does not follow the
prescribed diet and takes his medication sporadically. Lab results
indicate hyperglycemia. Which assessment finding is most likely to
occur? ......ANSWER......decreased sodium
pg. 2
,3|Page
When taking care of a patient with hyperkalemia, which principle is
priority? Hyperkalemia causes a(n) _____ in resting membrane
potential with _____ excitability of cardiac muscle.
......ANSWER......increase, increased
Which of the following patients is most prone to hypochloremia? A
patient with: ......ANSWER......Increased bicarbonate intake
Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for
hyperkalemia? ......ANSWER......Acute acidosis
Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has
long-term potassium deficits? ......ANSWER......kidneys
A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider reporting
muscle weakness and cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate
that she is hypokalemic. Which of the following could be the cause of
her condition? ......ANSWER......Primary hyperaldosteronism
A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider reporting
restlessness, muscle cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is
hyperkalemic. Which of the following could have caused his condition?
......ANSWER......acidosis
pg. 3
, 4|Page
A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which
assessment finding should the nurse expect to observe?
......ANSWER......oliguria
Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma
buffering system? ......ANSWER......carbonic acid and bicarbonate
A nurse recalls regulation of acid-base balance through removal or
retention of volatile acids is accomplished by the: ......ANSWER......lungs
Physiologic pH is maintained around 7.4 because carbonic acid and
bicarbonate exist in a ratio of: ......ANSWER......20:1
Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient with:
......ANSWER......Excessive loss of chloride (Cl)
Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and
metabolic acidosis? A patient diagnosed with: ......ANSWER......renal
failure
For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate
by: ......ANSWER......hyperventilating
Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis?
......ANSWER......pneumonia
pg. 4
