Chap 16 - PQ P3
A (This patient with chronic malnutrition is likely to have a low serum albumin level, which will affect the total serum calcium. A more accurate reflection of calcium balance is the ionized calcium level. Most of the calcium in the blood is bound to protein (primarily albumin). Alterations in serum albumin levels affect the interpretation of total calcium levels. Low albumin levels result in a drop in the total calcium level, although the level of ionized calcium is not affected. The other actions may be needed if the ionized calcium is also decreased.)
The nurse notes a serum calcium level of 7.9 mg/dL for a patient who has chronic malnutrition. Which action should the nurse expect to take first? a. Monitor ionized calcium level. b. Give oral calcium citrate tablets. c. Check parathyroid hormone level. d. Administer vitamin D supplements.
A (Hypocalcemia can cause laryngeal stridor, which may lead to respiratory arrest. Rapid action is required to correct the patient's calcium level. The other data are also consistent with hypocalcemia, but do not indicate a need for as immediate action as laryngospasm.)
A patient has a serum calcium level of 7.0 mEq/L. Which assessment finding is most important for the nurse to report to the health care provider? a. The patient is experiencing stridor. b. The patient reports generalized fatigue. c. The patient's bowels have not moved for 4 days d. The patient has numbness and tingling of the lips.
B (The serum calcium is well above the normal level and puts the patient at risk for cardiac dysrhythmias. The nurse should start cardiac monitoring and notify the health care provider. The potassium, oxygen saturation, and pH are also abnormal, and the nurse should notify the health care provider about these values as well, but they are not immediately life threatening.)
A patient is admitted to the emergency department with severe fatigue and confusion. Laboratory studies are done. Which laboratory value will require the most immediate action by the nurse? a. Arterial blood pH is 7.32. b. Serum calcium is 18 mg/dL. c. Serum potassium is 5.1 mEq/L. d. Arterial oxygen saturation is 91%.
B (Crackles throughout both lungs suggest that the patient may be experiencing pulmonary edema, a life-threatening adverse effect of hypertonic solutions. The increased pulse rate and blood pressure and the appearance of the urine should also be reported, but they are not as dangerous as the presence of fluid in the alveoli.)
A patient is receiving a 3% saline continuous IV infusion for hyponatremia. Which assessment data will require the most rapid response by the nurse? a. The patient's radial pulse is 105 beats/min. b. There are crackles throughout both lung fields. c. There is sediment and blood in the patient's urine. d. The patient's blood pressure increases to 142/94 mm Hg.
B (Because the patient's history suggests that fluid volume deficit may be a problem, assessment for adequate circulation is the highest priority. The other actions are also appropriate but are not as essential as determining the patient's perfusion status.)
A patient who comes to the clinic reports frequent, watery stools for 2 days. Which action should the nurse take first? a. Obtain the baseline weight. b. Check the patient's blood pressure. c. Draw blood for serum electrolyteI levels. d. Ask about extremity numbness or tingling.
B (The patient's respiratory alkalosis is caused by the increased respiratory rate associated with pain and anxiety. The nurse's first action should be to medicate the patient for pain. The health care provider may be notified about the ABGs but is likely to instruct the nurse to medicate for pain. The patient will not be able to take slow, deep breaths when experiencing pain. Checking the nasogastric tube can wait until the patient has been medicated for pain.)
A patient who had a transverse colectomy for diverticulosis 18 hours ago has nasogastric suction. The patient reports anxiety and incisional pain. The patient's respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min, and the arterial blood gases (ABGs) indicate respiratory alkalosis. Which action should the nurse take first? a. Check to make sure the nasogastric tube is patent. b. Give the patient the PRN IV morphine sulfate 4 mg. c. Notify the health care provider about the ABG results. d. Teach the patient to take slow, deep breaths when anxious.
A (The health care provider should be notified immediately. The patient has a history and manifestations consistent with hypermagnesemia. The nurse should check the chart for a recent serum magnesium level and make sure that blood is sent to the laboratory for immediate electrolyte and chemistry determine ions. Dialysis should correct the highcmagnesium levels. The patient needs teaching about the risks of taking magnesium-containing antacids. Monitoring of potassium levels also is important for patients with renal failure, but the patient's current symptoms are not consistent with hyperkalemia.)
A patient with renal failure who arrives for outpatient hemodialysis is unresponsive to questions and has decreased deep tendon reflexes. Family members report that the patient has been taking aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide suspension (Maalox) at home for indigestion. Which action should the nurse take first? a. Notify the patient's health care provider. b. Obtain an order to draw a potassium level. c. Review the last magnesium level on the patient's chart. d. Teach the patient about magnesium-containing antacids.
B (The loss of the deep tendon reflexes indicates that the patient's magnesium level may be reaching toxic levels. Nausea and lethargy are also side effects associated with magnesium elevation and should be reported, but they are not as significant as the loss of deep tendon reflexes. The decreased breath sounds suggest that the patient needs to cough and deep breathe to prevent atelectasis.)
A pregnant patient with eclampsia is receiving IV magnesium sulfate. Which finding should the nurse report to the health care provider immediately? a. The bibasilar breath sounds are decreased. b. The patellar and triceps reflexes are absent. c. The patient has been sleeping most of the day. d. The patient reports feeling "sick to my stomach."
C (The initial action should be to assess the patient further because the history and symptoms are consistent with several possible complications of central line insertion, including embolism and pneumothorax. The other actions may be appropriate, but further assessment of the patient is needed before notifying the health care provider, offering reassurance, or administration of morphine.)
After placement of a centrally inserted IV catheter, a patient reports acute chest pain and dyspnea. Which action should the nurse take first? a. Notify the health care provider. b. Offer reassurance to the patient. c. Auscultate the patient's breath sounds. d. Give prescribed PRN morphine sulfate IV.
C (The low magnesium level and neuromuscular irritability suggest that the patient may be at risk for seizures. The other patients have mild electrolyte disturbances or symptoms that require action, but they are not at risk for life-threatening complications.)
After receiving change-of-shift report, which patient should the nurse assess first? a. Patient with serum sodium level of 145 mEq/L who is asking for water b. Patient with serum potassium level of 5.0 mEq/L who reports abdominal cramping c. Patient with serum magnesium level of 1.1 mEq/L who has tremors and hyperactive reflexes d. Patient with serum phosphorus level of 4.5 mg/dL who has soft tissue calcium-phosphate precipitates
B (The patient's symptoms indicate possible hypocalcemia, which can occur secondary to parathyroid injury or removal during thyroidectomy. There is no indication of an urgent need to check the potassium level, the thyroid replacement, or for bleeding.)
Following a thyroidectomy, a patient reports "a tingling feeling around my mouth." Which assessment should the nurse complete first? a. Verify the serum potassium level. b. Test for presence of Chvostek's sign. c. Observe for blood on the neck dressing. d. Confirm a prescription for thyroid replacement.
B (A LPN/VN has the education, experience, and scope of practice to flush a saline lock with normal saline. Administration of blood products, adjustment of vasoactive infusion rates, and removal of central catheters in critically ill patients require RN level education and scope of practice.)
Which action can the registered nurse (RN) who is caring for a critically ill patient with multiple IV lines and medications delegate to a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN)? a. Titrate vasoactive IV medications. b. Flush a saline lock with normal saline. c. Remove the patient's central venous catheter. d. Verify blood products prior to administration.
