PATHO HESI EXIT EXAM
PATHO HESI EXIT ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2025 GRADED A+
Which type of immune preparation, made from donated blood, contains antibodies that
provide passive immunity?
Toxoid
Killed vaccine
Live attenuated vaccine
Specific Immune Globulin - Correct Ans-Specific immune globulins contain a high
concentration of antibodies directed at specific antigens. Toxoid vaccines contain a
bacterial toxin that has been changed to a nontoxic form. Killed vaccines contain killed
microbes or isolated microbes. Live attenuated vaccines are composed of live microbes
that have been weakened or rendered completely avirulent.
Which preparations use toxoids but not live viruses? Select all that apply.
Rotarix
Varivax
M-M-R II
PEDIARIX
DAPTACEL - Correct Ans-PEDIARIX consists of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids plus
inactivated bacterial components of pertussis, inactive viral antigen of hepatitis B, and
inactivated poliovirus vaccine. DAPTACEL is a preparation consisting of toxoids plus
inactive bacterial and viral components of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular
pertussis vaccine. Rotarix, Varivax, and M-M-R II are preparations containing live viruses.
A 5-year-old child is being given dactinomycin and doxorubicin therapy after
nephrectomy for Wilms tumor. What will the nursing care include?
Administering aspirin for pain
Offering citrus juices with meals
1|Page
,PATHO HESI EXIT EXAM
Ensuring meticulous oral hygiene
Eliminating spicy foods from the diet - Correct Ans-Oral hygiene is essential, especially
during the administration of medications that have a negative effect on the oral mucosa.
Although pain may be present, aspirin is avoided because doxorubicin is also being used,
and a side effect of this medication is thrombocytopenia. Aspirin is contraindicated for
children because it is associated with Reye syndrome. Citrus juice will aggravate
stomatitis, which is a common side effect of dactinomycin. Spicy foods may aggravate
the stomatitis that occurs with chemotherapy. However, usually any food that the child
requests is permitted.
A child with acute lymphoid leukemia is started on a chemotherapy protocol that
includes prednisone. What side effect of this medication does the nurse anticipate?
Alopecia
Anorexia
Weight loss
Mood changes - Correct Ans-Mood swings may result from steroid therapy. Alopecia
does not result from steroid therapy. An increased appetite, not anorexia, results from
steroid therapy. Weight gain, not weight loss, results from steroid therapy.
Which statement is true regarding antipsychotic drugs?
A. All first- and second-generation antipsychotics are equally effective.
B. Second-generation antipsychotics pose a risk of extrapyramidal symptoms.
C. First-generation antipsychotics pose a significant risk of metabolic side effects.
D. Clozapine is more effective than other second-generation antipsychotics. - Correct
Ans-D. Clozapine is more effective than other second-generation antipsychotics.
Which statement about psychotherapeutic drugs in elderly clients requires correction?
2|Page
,PATHO HESI EXIT EXAM
Tricyclic antidepressants may increase anxiety in elderly clients.
Normal dosage of lithium may result in lithium toxicity in elderly clients.
Elderly clients on antipsychotic drugs are susceptible to orthostatic hypotension.
Low serum levels of the drug are reported in elderly clients on psychotherapeutic drugs.
- Correct Ans-Low serum levels of the drug are reported in elderly clients on
psychotherapeutic drugs.
What is the best drug of choice for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Imipramine
Lithium salts
Amitriptyline
Clomipramine - Correct Ans-Clomipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant drug prescribed
for treating of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Childhood enuresis necessitates the
administration of imipramine. Lithium salt is prescribed to treat bipolar disorders.
Dysthymias can be treated by the administration of antidepressant drugs such as
amitriptyline.
A client with a history of methamphetamine use is admitted to the medical unit. What
clinical manifestation does the nurse expect when assessing the client?
a. Constricted pupils
b. Intractable diarrhea
c. Increased heart rate
d. Decreased respirations - Correct Ans-Methamphetamine is a stimulant that causes the
release of adrenaline, which activates the sympathetic nervous system. The pupils will
dilate, not constrict, because the sympathetic nervous system is activated. Clients
withdrawing from opioids, not methamphetamine, experience diarrhea. The respirations
will be increased, not decreased, because of the activation of the sympathetic nervous
system.
3|Page
, PATHO HESI EXIT EXAM
Which monoamine oxidase inhibitor is used to treat Parkinson disease?
Correct1
Selegiline
2
Phenelzine
3
Isocarboxazid
4
Tranylcypromine - Correct Ans-Selegiline is a monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor used to
treat Parkinson disease. Phenelzine, isocarboxazid, and tranylcypromine are
nonselective inhibitors of both type A and B used in the treatment of depression.
A client with depression is to be given fluoxetine. What precaution will the nurse
consider when initiating treatment with this drug?
1
It must be given with milk and crackers to prevent hyperacidity and discomfort.
2
Eating cheese or pickled herring or drinking wine may cause a hypertensive crisis.
3
The blood level may not be sufficient to cause noticeable improvement for 2 to 4 weeks.
4
The blood level should be checked weekly for 3 months to monitor for an appropriate
level. - Correct Ans-Fluoxetine does not produce an immediate effect; nursing measures
must be continued to reduce the risk for suicide. Consuming milk and crackers to help
prevent hyperacidity and discomfort is not necessary. Avoiding cheese, pickled herring,
and wine is a precaution taken with the monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Weekly blood
level checks are not necessary with fluoxetine.
4|Page
PATHO HESI EXIT ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2025 GRADED A+
Which type of immune preparation, made from donated blood, contains antibodies that
provide passive immunity?
Toxoid
Killed vaccine
Live attenuated vaccine
Specific Immune Globulin - Correct Ans-Specific immune globulins contain a high
concentration of antibodies directed at specific antigens. Toxoid vaccines contain a
bacterial toxin that has been changed to a nontoxic form. Killed vaccines contain killed
microbes or isolated microbes. Live attenuated vaccines are composed of live microbes
that have been weakened or rendered completely avirulent.
Which preparations use toxoids but not live viruses? Select all that apply.
Rotarix
Varivax
M-M-R II
PEDIARIX
DAPTACEL - Correct Ans-PEDIARIX consists of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids plus
inactivated bacterial components of pertussis, inactive viral antigen of hepatitis B, and
inactivated poliovirus vaccine. DAPTACEL is a preparation consisting of toxoids plus
inactive bacterial and viral components of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular
pertussis vaccine. Rotarix, Varivax, and M-M-R II are preparations containing live viruses.
A 5-year-old child is being given dactinomycin and doxorubicin therapy after
nephrectomy for Wilms tumor. What will the nursing care include?
Administering aspirin for pain
Offering citrus juices with meals
1|Page
,PATHO HESI EXIT EXAM
Ensuring meticulous oral hygiene
Eliminating spicy foods from the diet - Correct Ans-Oral hygiene is essential, especially
during the administration of medications that have a negative effect on the oral mucosa.
Although pain may be present, aspirin is avoided because doxorubicin is also being used,
and a side effect of this medication is thrombocytopenia. Aspirin is contraindicated for
children because it is associated with Reye syndrome. Citrus juice will aggravate
stomatitis, which is a common side effect of dactinomycin. Spicy foods may aggravate
the stomatitis that occurs with chemotherapy. However, usually any food that the child
requests is permitted.
A child with acute lymphoid leukemia is started on a chemotherapy protocol that
includes prednisone. What side effect of this medication does the nurse anticipate?
Alopecia
Anorexia
Weight loss
Mood changes - Correct Ans-Mood swings may result from steroid therapy. Alopecia
does not result from steroid therapy. An increased appetite, not anorexia, results from
steroid therapy. Weight gain, not weight loss, results from steroid therapy.
Which statement is true regarding antipsychotic drugs?
A. All first- and second-generation antipsychotics are equally effective.
B. Second-generation antipsychotics pose a risk of extrapyramidal symptoms.
C. First-generation antipsychotics pose a significant risk of metabolic side effects.
D. Clozapine is more effective than other second-generation antipsychotics. - Correct
Ans-D. Clozapine is more effective than other second-generation antipsychotics.
Which statement about psychotherapeutic drugs in elderly clients requires correction?
2|Page
,PATHO HESI EXIT EXAM
Tricyclic antidepressants may increase anxiety in elderly clients.
Normal dosage of lithium may result in lithium toxicity in elderly clients.
Elderly clients on antipsychotic drugs are susceptible to orthostatic hypotension.
Low serum levels of the drug are reported in elderly clients on psychotherapeutic drugs.
- Correct Ans-Low serum levels of the drug are reported in elderly clients on
psychotherapeutic drugs.
What is the best drug of choice for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Imipramine
Lithium salts
Amitriptyline
Clomipramine - Correct Ans-Clomipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant drug prescribed
for treating of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Childhood enuresis necessitates the
administration of imipramine. Lithium salt is prescribed to treat bipolar disorders.
Dysthymias can be treated by the administration of antidepressant drugs such as
amitriptyline.
A client with a history of methamphetamine use is admitted to the medical unit. What
clinical manifestation does the nurse expect when assessing the client?
a. Constricted pupils
b. Intractable diarrhea
c. Increased heart rate
d. Decreased respirations - Correct Ans-Methamphetamine is a stimulant that causes the
release of adrenaline, which activates the sympathetic nervous system. The pupils will
dilate, not constrict, because the sympathetic nervous system is activated. Clients
withdrawing from opioids, not methamphetamine, experience diarrhea. The respirations
will be increased, not decreased, because of the activation of the sympathetic nervous
system.
3|Page
, PATHO HESI EXIT EXAM
Which monoamine oxidase inhibitor is used to treat Parkinson disease?
Correct1
Selegiline
2
Phenelzine
3
Isocarboxazid
4
Tranylcypromine - Correct Ans-Selegiline is a monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor used to
treat Parkinson disease. Phenelzine, isocarboxazid, and tranylcypromine are
nonselective inhibitors of both type A and B used in the treatment of depression.
A client with depression is to be given fluoxetine. What precaution will the nurse
consider when initiating treatment with this drug?
1
It must be given with milk and crackers to prevent hyperacidity and discomfort.
2
Eating cheese or pickled herring or drinking wine may cause a hypertensive crisis.
3
The blood level may not be sufficient to cause noticeable improvement for 2 to 4 weeks.
4
The blood level should be checked weekly for 3 months to monitor for an appropriate
level. - Correct Ans-Fluoxetine does not produce an immediate effect; nursing measures
must be continued to reduce the risk for suicide. Consuming milk and crackers to help
prevent hyperacidity and discomfort is not necessary. Avoiding cheese, pickled herring,
and wine is a precaution taken with the monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Weekly blood
level checks are not necessary with fluoxetine.
4|Page
