NSG 530 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ 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
Treatment: Hemodialysis for kidney failure, fluid replacement for
water loss, diuretics to help rid body of excess fluid and sodium
◉ Hyponatremia causes and treatment. Answer: causes: Diuretic
use, excessive sweating, NPO for too long, excessive consumption of
water/beer/other hypertonic fluids
Treatment: if caused by diuretics, doses of those drugs will need to
be changes or discontinued
◉ Hypercalcemia causes and treatment. Answer: Causes:
hyperparathyroidism, malignant tumors, kidney failure, excessive
calcium or vitamin d supplements, prolonged immobility
Treatment: Cardiac monitoring, interventions depend on cause but
drug therapy can be used to reduce levels. If caused by diuretics,
dosage changed/discontinued
◉ Hypocalcemia causes and treatment. Answer: Causes:
Hypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, malabsorption (from
Crohn's or Celiac) immobility, diarrhea, inadequate oral calcium
intake
Treatment: focus on replacing calcium and/or vitamin D, until
corrected keep patients on seizure precautions, in a low stimulus
environment
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ 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
Treatment: Hemodialysis for kidney failure, fluid replacement for
water loss, diuretics to help rid body of excess fluid and sodium
◉ Hyponatremia causes and treatment. Answer: causes: Diuretic
use, excessive sweating, NPO for too long, excessive consumption of
water/beer/other hypertonic fluids
Treatment: if caused by diuretics, doses of those drugs will need to
be changes or discontinued
◉ Hypercalcemia causes and treatment. Answer: Causes:
hyperparathyroidism, malignant tumors, kidney failure, excessive
calcium or vitamin d supplements, prolonged immobility
Treatment: Cardiac monitoring, interventions depend on cause but
drug therapy can be used to reduce levels. If caused by diuretics,
dosage changed/discontinued
◉ Hypocalcemia causes and treatment. Answer: Causes:
Hypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, malabsorption (from
Crohn's or Celiac) immobility, diarrhea, inadequate oral calcium
intake
Treatment: focus on replacing calcium and/or vitamin D, until
corrected keep patients on seizure precautions, in a low stimulus
environment
