PATH HESI 2 Question and Answer
[2026] | UPDATED ACTUAL Exam |
Detailed Solutions
• Hyperkalemia -✓✓ Serum potassium >5.0 mEq/L; causes muscle weakness,
paralysis, and cardiac dysrhythmias.
• Hypokalemia -✓✓ Serum potassium <3.5 mEq/L; causes muscle weakness, fatigue,
and dysrhythmias.
• Hypocalcemia -✓✓ Serum calcium <8.5 mg/dL; leads to paresthesias, tetany, and
seizures.
• Hypercalcemia -✓✓ Serum calcium >10.5 mg/dL; characterized by a reciprocal
decrease in serum phosphate.
• Hyponatremia -✓✓ Serum sodium <135 mEq/L; causes cellular swelling, cerebral
edema, and seizures.
• Hypernatremia -✓✓ Serum sodium >145 mEq/L; creates hypertonicity, linked to
dehydration and advanced age.
• Hypomagnesemia -✓✓ Serum magnesium <1.5 mEq/L; associated with positive
Chvostek/Trousseau signs and tetany.
• Hypermagnesemia -✓✓ Serum magnesium >3.0 mEq/L; rare, depresses skeletal
muscle contraction and nerve function.
• Potassium Chloride (KCl) -✓✓ Neuromuscular/cardiac support; side effect is
hyperkalemia. Safety: Never push IV bolus.
• Calcium Gluconate -✓✓ Stabilizes nerves/membranes; side effects include
hypercalcemia. Safety: Do not mix with Sodium Bicarbonate.
• Magnesium Sulfate -✓✓ Enzymatic/neurochemical stabilization; side effects include
respiratory depression. Safety: Contraindicated in renal failure.
• 3% NaCl -✓✓ Hypertonic fluid-shifting solution; side effects include fluid overload and
osmotic demyelination.
• Sodium Bicarbonate -✓✓ Raises blood pH; side effects include metabolic alkalosis.
Safety: Do not infuse with calcium.
, • Kayexalate -✓✓ Treats hyperkalemia by exchanging sodium for potassium; side
effects include intestinal necrosis.
• Cutaneous Vasculitis -✓✓ Inflammation of skin vessels presenting as non-blanching
palpable purpura. Treatment: Corticosteroids/immunosuppressants. Elevate legs.
• Urticaria -✓✓ Hives; itchy, raised, blanchable wheals. Treatment: Antihistamines.
Assess airway.
• Angioedema -✓✓ Deep subcutaneous swelling (lips, tongue, larynx). Treatment:
Epinephrine, steroids. Nursing: Airway management is priority.
• Scleroderma -✓✓ Hard, tight, shiny skin; dysphagia; Raynaud's. Treatment: CCBs (for
Raynaud's), PPIs. Monitor for renal crisis.
• Seborrheic Dermatitis -✓✓ Greasy, scaly, yellow patches. Treatment: Topical
antifungals/medicated shampoos.
• Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) -✓✓ Autoimmune disease with butterfly rash, fatigue, joint
pain. Treatment: Hydroxychloroquine, NSAIDs, steroids. HESI Tip: Monitor renal
function (lupus nephritis).
• Raynaud Phenomenon -✓✓ Fingers/toes turn white-blue-red with cold/stress.
Treatment: Calcium channel blockers.
• Types of Pain (Acute, Chronic, Neuropathic, Nociceptive) -✓✓ Acute: <3 months.
Chronic: >3 months. Neuropathic: Burning/shooting. Nociceptive: Aching/throbbing.
• Types of Headaches (Migraine, Tension, Cluster) -✓✓ Migraine:
Unilateral/throbbing/aura. Tension: Band-like/muscle stiffness. Cluster:
Unilateral/stabbing behind eye/tearing. Treatment: Triptans (Migraine), NSAIDs
(Tension), 100% O2 (Cluster).
• Eye Disorders (Conjunctivitis, Blepharitis, Keratitis, Uveitis) -✓✓ Conjunctivitis:
Redness/drainage. Blepharitis: Eyelid crusting. Keratitis: Pain/photophobia/foreign body.
Uveitis: Redness/pain/irregular pupil. Treatment: Targeted drops.
• Glaucoma (Open vs. Closed) -✓✓ Open: Gradual loss of peripheral vision. Closed:
Sudden severe pain, halos, emergency. Avoid anticholinergics in Closed-Angle.
• Cataracts and Macular Degeneration -✓✓ Cataracts: Painless blurring/cloudy lens.
Macular Degeneration: Painless loss of central vision.
[2026] | UPDATED ACTUAL Exam |
Detailed Solutions
• Hyperkalemia -✓✓ Serum potassium >5.0 mEq/L; causes muscle weakness,
paralysis, and cardiac dysrhythmias.
• Hypokalemia -✓✓ Serum potassium <3.5 mEq/L; causes muscle weakness, fatigue,
and dysrhythmias.
• Hypocalcemia -✓✓ Serum calcium <8.5 mg/dL; leads to paresthesias, tetany, and
seizures.
• Hypercalcemia -✓✓ Serum calcium >10.5 mg/dL; characterized by a reciprocal
decrease in serum phosphate.
• Hyponatremia -✓✓ Serum sodium <135 mEq/L; causes cellular swelling, cerebral
edema, and seizures.
• Hypernatremia -✓✓ Serum sodium >145 mEq/L; creates hypertonicity, linked to
dehydration and advanced age.
• Hypomagnesemia -✓✓ Serum magnesium <1.5 mEq/L; associated with positive
Chvostek/Trousseau signs and tetany.
• Hypermagnesemia -✓✓ Serum magnesium >3.0 mEq/L; rare, depresses skeletal
muscle contraction and nerve function.
• Potassium Chloride (KCl) -✓✓ Neuromuscular/cardiac support; side effect is
hyperkalemia. Safety: Never push IV bolus.
• Calcium Gluconate -✓✓ Stabilizes nerves/membranes; side effects include
hypercalcemia. Safety: Do not mix with Sodium Bicarbonate.
• Magnesium Sulfate -✓✓ Enzymatic/neurochemical stabilization; side effects include
respiratory depression. Safety: Contraindicated in renal failure.
• 3% NaCl -✓✓ Hypertonic fluid-shifting solution; side effects include fluid overload and
osmotic demyelination.
• Sodium Bicarbonate -✓✓ Raises blood pH; side effects include metabolic alkalosis.
Safety: Do not infuse with calcium.
, • Kayexalate -✓✓ Treats hyperkalemia by exchanging sodium for potassium; side
effects include intestinal necrosis.
• Cutaneous Vasculitis -✓✓ Inflammation of skin vessels presenting as non-blanching
palpable purpura. Treatment: Corticosteroids/immunosuppressants. Elevate legs.
• Urticaria -✓✓ Hives; itchy, raised, blanchable wheals. Treatment: Antihistamines.
Assess airway.
• Angioedema -✓✓ Deep subcutaneous swelling (lips, tongue, larynx). Treatment:
Epinephrine, steroids. Nursing: Airway management is priority.
• Scleroderma -✓✓ Hard, tight, shiny skin; dysphagia; Raynaud's. Treatment: CCBs (for
Raynaud's), PPIs. Monitor for renal crisis.
• Seborrheic Dermatitis -✓✓ Greasy, scaly, yellow patches. Treatment: Topical
antifungals/medicated shampoos.
• Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) -✓✓ Autoimmune disease with butterfly rash, fatigue, joint
pain. Treatment: Hydroxychloroquine, NSAIDs, steroids. HESI Tip: Monitor renal
function (lupus nephritis).
• Raynaud Phenomenon -✓✓ Fingers/toes turn white-blue-red with cold/stress.
Treatment: Calcium channel blockers.
• Types of Pain (Acute, Chronic, Neuropathic, Nociceptive) -✓✓ Acute: <3 months.
Chronic: >3 months. Neuropathic: Burning/shooting. Nociceptive: Aching/throbbing.
• Types of Headaches (Migraine, Tension, Cluster) -✓✓ Migraine:
Unilateral/throbbing/aura. Tension: Band-like/muscle stiffness. Cluster:
Unilateral/stabbing behind eye/tearing. Treatment: Triptans (Migraine), NSAIDs
(Tension), 100% O2 (Cluster).
• Eye Disorders (Conjunctivitis, Blepharitis, Keratitis, Uveitis) -✓✓ Conjunctivitis:
Redness/drainage. Blepharitis: Eyelid crusting. Keratitis: Pain/photophobia/foreign body.
Uveitis: Redness/pain/irregular pupil. Treatment: Targeted drops.
• Glaucoma (Open vs. Closed) -✓✓ Open: Gradual loss of peripheral vision. Closed:
Sudden severe pain, halos, emergency. Avoid anticholinergics in Closed-Angle.
• Cataracts and Macular Degeneration -✓✓ Cataracts: Painless blurring/cloudy lens.
Macular Degeneration: Painless loss of central vision.
