RASMUSSEN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 1
FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
◉ Hyperkalemia S/S
Answer: Mild cramping, hyperactive bowel sounds, diarrhea, muscle
weakness starting in lower extremities and ascends, Bradycardia,
Dysrhythmias, Tall T waves on ECG, Cardiac arrest
◉ Hypocalcemia S/S
Answer: Diarrhea, Numbness, Tingling of extremities and around
mouth, Convulsions, Positive Chvostek sign, Positive Trousseau sign,
painful cramps ('charlie horses')
Brady, brittle bones,
◉ Hypercalcemia S/S
Answer: Muscle weakness, Constipation, Anorexia, N/V, Polyuria,
confusion, increased HR and BP, Dysrhythmias, blood clots form
easily, risk for DVT
◉ Hyponatremia S/S
Answer: hyperactive bowel sounds, Weakness, Lethargy, Confusion,
Muscle cramps, Twitching, Seizures, Coma, Death
,◉ Hypernatremia S/S
Answer: S = Skin flushed
A = Agitation
L = Low-grade fever
T = Thirst
eye twitching
◉ Hypophosphatemia S/S
Answer: ↓Cardiac Output and Contractility
Slowed Respirations
Weakness
↓DTR
↓Bone Density
Irritability/Confusion/Seizures
↓Platelet aggregation
↑Bleeding
Immunosupression
◉ Hyperphosphatemia S/S
Answer: Causes hypocalcemia:
+Trousseau's and Chvosteks
, ◉ Hypomagnesemia S/S
Answer: Torsades de Pointes (tornado in the heart) Afib, Vfib,
Prolonged QT, flattened T wave, N/T, painful muscle contractions,
decreased GI, constipations, nausea, paralytic ileus
◉ Hypermagnesemia S/S
Answer: Brady, hypotension, cardiac arrest, lethargy, coma, resp
failure, death
◉ Hyperkalemia causes and treatment
Answer: Causes: ACE inhibitors, kidney failure, multiple blood
transfusions, excessive or too rapid IV potassium
Treatment: Excrete excess potassium (with drugs), force potassium
from ECF back into cells
◉ Hypokalemia causes and treatment
Answer: Causes: Diuretic use, N/V, NPO too long, unbalanced diet,
corticosteroids, prolonged ng suctioning, water intoxication
Treatment: Replace potassium either IV or PO
◉ Hypernatremia causes and treatment
Answer: Causes: Kidney failure, long term corticosteroid use,
excessive sodium intake (diet or IV), watery diarrhea, dehydration
FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
◉ Hyperkalemia S/S
Answer: Mild cramping, hyperactive bowel sounds, diarrhea, muscle
weakness starting in lower extremities and ascends, Bradycardia,
Dysrhythmias, Tall T waves on ECG, Cardiac arrest
◉ Hypocalcemia S/S
Answer: Diarrhea, Numbness, Tingling of extremities and around
mouth, Convulsions, Positive Chvostek sign, Positive Trousseau sign,
painful cramps ('charlie horses')
Brady, brittle bones,
◉ Hypercalcemia S/S
Answer: Muscle weakness, Constipation, Anorexia, N/V, Polyuria,
confusion, increased HR and BP, Dysrhythmias, blood clots form
easily, risk for DVT
◉ Hyponatremia S/S
Answer: hyperactive bowel sounds, Weakness, Lethargy, Confusion,
Muscle cramps, Twitching, Seizures, Coma, Death
,◉ Hypernatremia S/S
Answer: S = Skin flushed
A = Agitation
L = Low-grade fever
T = Thirst
eye twitching
◉ Hypophosphatemia S/S
Answer: ↓Cardiac Output and Contractility
Slowed Respirations
Weakness
↓DTR
↓Bone Density
Irritability/Confusion/Seizures
↓Platelet aggregation
↑Bleeding
Immunosupression
◉ Hyperphosphatemia S/S
Answer: Causes hypocalcemia:
+Trousseau's and Chvosteks
, ◉ Hypomagnesemia S/S
Answer: Torsades de Pointes (tornado in the heart) Afib, Vfib,
Prolonged QT, flattened T wave, N/T, painful muscle contractions,
decreased GI, constipations, nausea, paralytic ileus
◉ Hypermagnesemia S/S
Answer: Brady, hypotension, cardiac arrest, lethargy, coma, resp
failure, death
◉ Hyperkalemia causes and treatment
Answer: Causes: ACE inhibitors, kidney failure, multiple blood
transfusions, excessive or too rapid IV potassium
Treatment: Excrete excess potassium (with drugs), force potassium
from ECF back into cells
◉ Hypokalemia causes and treatment
Answer: Causes: Diuretic use, N/V, NPO too long, unbalanced diet,
corticosteroids, prolonged ng suctioning, water intoxication
Treatment: Replace potassium either IV or PO
◉ Hypernatremia causes and treatment
Answer: Causes: Kidney failure, long term corticosteroid use,
excessive sodium intake (diet or IV), watery diarrhea, dehydration
