Chapter 18
Which clients would the nurse determine to be at risk for development of metabolic alkalosis? Select all that apply
- Clients admitted with aspirin overdose - Client receiving oral furosemide 40 mg daily
The pt needs to have accurate intake and output recorded for every shift. Which sensible fluid losses must be included in the output? Select all that apply
- Diarrhea stools -Hemovac drainage - Contents from an ileostomy bag - Secretions from nasogastric suction - Drainage for indwelling urinary catheter bag
A nurse is performing an assessment a client who has hypovolemia due to vomiting and diarrhea. The nurse should expect which of the following findings? Select all that apply
- Hyperthermia - Orthostatic hypotension - Decreased skin turgot
The nurse is reviewing the data on the client who has hypovolemia. The nurse should identify which of the following findings is a manifestation of hypovolemia?
- Increase hematocrit (hct) - Decreased urine output - Increased sodium level
Thirst Mechanism
- Main regulator of fluid intake - Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus stimulate the sensation of thirst - Anyone unable to respond or perceive thirst mechanism is at increased risk for dehydration
What purposes do the electrolytes serve in the body? Select all that apply
- Maintenance of normal body metabolism - Regulation od Walter balance in the body - Regulation of water and electrolytes contents within cells - Formation of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice
The nurse is caring for a pt with severe hyperkalemia. What actions should be included in the plan of care for the shift? Select all that apply
- Monitor serum potassium levels - Administer Kayexalate as prescribed by the health care - Report a urinary output of less than 30 ml/h
The pt's potassium level is 5.2. When the nurse discusses dietary selections, the pt should be instructed to limit intake of what food items? Select all that apply
- Oranges - Bananas -Apples -Tomatoes
Passive transport includes what physiologic processes? Select all that apply
- Osmosis - Diffusion -Filtration
Fluid (Water)
- Percentage of body weight that is water depends on several factors Age - Premature infant: 90% - Newborn: 70-80% - Twelve years to adult: 50-60% - Older adults: 45-55%
Fluid balance is manifested in the body by which of the following systems? Select all that apply
- Respiratory - Renal
Potential causes of hypocalcemia may include which conditions? Select all that apply
- Vitamin D deficiency - Diuretic use - Severe burns - Renal failure
A central line is preferred over a peripheral IV line under which conditions? Select all that apply
- When irritating IV fluids are given - When the pt has poor peripheral veins - When the pt is to receive chemotherapy
The pt has been placed on a low-sodium diet to assist in the treatment of hypertension. Which pt statement indicates an understanding of the diet teaching?
"I use a lot of fresh vegetables, although I should give up table salt."
Intake and Output
- The normal daily loss of fluids must be equaled by the normal daily intake - Recommended daily water intake and output is approximately 2500 mL - Fluid leaves the body through the kidneys, lungs, skin, and GI tract - Water loss is replenished by ingestion of liquids and foods and by metabolism of food and body tissues - The kidneys play an extremely important role in fluid balance. Kidneys must make at least 30 mL/h of urine to eliminate waste products - Dehydration becomes lethal when a patient loses 20% of their body fluid - A way to determine water balance is to weigh the patient the same time each day with the same scale and same clothing type.
Movement of Fluid and Electrolytes
- To carry out their function, substances must enter the cell in the intracellular compartment - Several methods are used by the body to move fluids, electrolytes and other solutes, or dissolved substances into and out of cells -Passive transport processes- This is the method by which inhaled oxygen is moved into the intravascular compartment. A patient inhales oxygen into the lungs, with the oxygen passing by diffusion into the intravascular compartment Diffusion Osmosis- movement of water from an area lo lower concentration to an area of higher concentration. Lasix reduces edema by drawing water from the interstitial space into the intravascular space. Filtration - Active transport processes- this is how electrolytes are moved or transported by hydrostatic pressure. This is a type of active transport where electrolytes are moved from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
When the body senses hypoxemia or hypercapnia, the chemoreceptors in the medulla of the brainstem will have that response?
Increasing the depth and rate of respirations
The nurse demonstrates knowledge by choosing which needle gauge when starting a rapid rapid transfusion of whole blood?
14- to 16- gauge
The pt has experienced a prolonged episode of diarrhea. Which clinical observation is consistent with the development of metabolic acidosis?
Increased RR
Normal daily water intake and output is approximately how many mL?
2500
How many mL of urine per hour must the kidneys secrete to eliminate waste products from the body?
30
In acute respiratory acidosis, the renal compensatory mechanisms begin to operate within how many hours?
48 hrs
Which pt has the greatest risk for dehydrations?
72-year old obese male with a fever and anorexia
A nurse is teaching a class about electrolyte imbalances. Match the electrolyte imbalance to the clinical manifestation.
A Hypocalcemia- Tingling around mouth B. Hypomagnesmia- Hypertension C. Hypernatremia -Dry swollen tongue D. Hyperkalemia- Muscle weakness
The nurse is caring for a client with respiratory insufficiency. The ABG results indicate a pH of 7.50 and a Pco2 of 30 mm Hg and the nurse is told that the client is experiencing respiratory alkalosis. Which additional laboratory value would the nurse expect to note?
A potassium level of 3.0
The nurse is assessing the IV site. If redness, swelling, and warmth are noted , what is the likely cause?
Inflammation and possible phlebitis
A nurse is reviewing the electronic medical record of a client who has an electrolyte imbalance to the associated risk factor.
A. Hypernatremia- Diabetes Insipidus B.Hypnonatremia- Excessive water intake C. Hypocalcemia- Hypoparathyroidism D. Hypercalcemia- Hyperparathyroidism
The movement of water from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration occurs through which of the following?
Active transport
The pt is experiencing hyperkalemia. What treatment does the nurse anticipate?
Administration of loop diuretics
The nurse who is caring for a client with renal failure notes. that the client is dyspneic and crackles are heard when listening to breath sounds in the lungs. Which additional S/S would the nurse expect to note in this client?
An increase in blood pressure
The nurse meets resistance while attempting to flush an intermittent saline lock with 10 ml of saline. Which action would the nurse take first?
Assess for kinks or clamped tubing.
The nurse is assessing an older adult and observes dry mucous membranes, increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, poor skin turgor. The pt seems mildly confused and continuously asks for water. What would the nurse do first?
Assess the pt for additional signs of dehydration.
The nurse receives notification from the laboratory that a pt's potassium level is 6 mEq/L . The nurse has paged the HCP and is awaiting a call back. What would the nurse do first?
Attach the pt to a cardiac monitor
The nurse is monitoring an older pt who is receiving a fluid bolus for dehydration. The nurse notices that the pt suddenly has a slight cough and seems a little short of breath. The pt reports, "I'm okay." What would the nurse do first?
Auscultate the lungs and assess for fluid overload.
The nurse is caring for a pt who requires additional potassium in their diet. What foods would the nurse recommend for the pt?
Baked chicken, green salad, fresh fruit plate
Which regulartory system is the body's second line of defense in keeping the pH within normal limits?
Blood Pressure
The nurse is checking IV sites carefully for signs of infiltration which symptoms indicate infiltration at the IV site?
Burning sensation, pain, and puffiness at the site
The nurse is instructing a client on how to decrease the intake of calcium in the diet. The nurse would tell the client that which item is likely to contain calcium?
Butter
The nurse us caring for a client with hyperparathyroidism and notes that the client's serum calcium is 13 mg/ dL. Which prescribed medication would the nurse plan to assist in administering to the client?
Calcitonin
The nurse is caring for a pt who had surgery on the parathyroid glands. Which electrolyte level in the low-normal range is the greatest concern?
Calcium
The nurse is checking the laboratory data of a woman who is at risk for osteoporosis. Which electrolyte value is most relevant to this condition?
Calcium level
The pt is on mechanical ventilation. The ABG results indicate that the pt has respiratory alkalosis. What would the nurse do first?
Check the ventilator settings and compare to the orders.
A pt's IV has infiltrated. When selecting a site for a new IV line, the nurse should perform which action?
Choose an area proximal to the current site
An older adult is evaluated by the nurse for signs of fluid volume excess in association with IV therapy. Which symptom would indicate fluid volume excess in an elderly pt?
Complaints of S.O.B and bounding pulse
The nurse notes that a resident who lives in a Long- term care center has poor fluid intake and spends most of the day dozing in a chair. Based on this observation, which subjective report is the resident most likely to report?
Constipation
The pt has an IV infusion of normal saline. The pt reports mild discomfort at the insertion site and the nurse observes the skin is pale and edematous, feels cool to the touch, and the flow rate is sluggish. What would the nurse do first?
Discontinue the IV
A client has a the following laboratory values: a pH of 7.55, and HCO3 level of 22 mEq/L, and a Pco2 of 30 mm Hg. Which action would the nurse plan to take?
Encourage the client to slow down breathing
What is the largest fluid compartment in the body?
Extracellular
The nurse is caring for a client with a suspected diagnosis of hypercalcemia. Which s/s would be an indication of this electrolyte Imbalance?
Generalized muscle weakness
Which nursing intervention is the most important in preventing the introduction of microorganisms to the pt when an IV infusion is initiated?
Hand hygiene
While in the delivery room with his wife, the father-to-be begins to develop an anxiety reaction and lightheadedness. Which intervention does the nurse use to prevent respiratory alkalosis?
Have him breath into a paper bag
A nurse is teaching a class about fluid imbalances. Sort the following manifestations into either hypovolemia or hypervolemia.
Hypervolemia - Breath sounds with crackles - Weight gain - Decreased urine specific gravitty Hypovolemia - Flat neck veins - Sunken eyeballs
A nurse on a med-surge unit is caring for a group of clients. Sort the following clients to those at risk for hypovolemia or those at risk for hypervolemia.
Hypovolemia - A client who has nasogastric suctioning - A client who is taking diuretics Hypervolemia - A client who has syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone - A client who has cirrhosis
The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism. Laboratory studies are performed and the serum calcium level is 12.0 mg/dl. Based on this laboratory value, the nurse would take which action?
Inform the registered nurse of laboratory value.
Fluid Compartments
Intracellular fluid - Fluid inside the billions of cells within the body Extracellular fluid - Interstitial fluid - Intravascular fluid - The fluids in the interstitial and intravascular compartments are combined to form the extracellular compartment.
The nurse is caring for a postoperative pt. Which solution is the HCP most likely to prescribe to replace the fluid deficiency r/t the pt's NPO status is the pre- and postoperative period?
Isotonic solution
The nurse observes that a client with diabetic ketoacidosis is experiencing abnormally deep, regular, rapid respirations. How would the nurse correctly document this observation in the medical record?
Kussmaul's respirations
A pt with diabetes reports nausea and headache and he appears lethargic. The nurse observes that he is breathing very deeply and rapidly. Based on the assessment findings and the laboratory results, what does the nurse suspect? pH: 7.30 Paco2 : 30 mm Hg ( 4 kPa) Pao2: 70 mm Hg (9.33 kPa) O2 saturation: 98 % HCO3: 18 mEq (18 mmol/L) K+: 6.5 mEq/L (6.5 mmol/ L)
Metabolic acidosis
The nurse is caring for a client with a severe diarrhea. The nurse monitors the client for developing which acid-base disorder?
Metabolic acidosis
A child has gotten into the medicine cabinet in the home and ingested the remaining contents of an aspirin bottle. Which acid-base imbalances does the nurse expect to observe as a result of excessive aspirin ingestion?
Metabolic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis
The nurse reviews a client's electrolyte results and notes that the potassium level is 5.4 mEq/L. What would the nurse look moron the cardiac monitor as a result of this laboratory value?
Narrow, peaked T waves
The nurse is supervising a new nurse who will administer IV potassium to a pt. When would the supervising nurse intervene?
New nurse dose with a sterile needle and syringe and scrubs the IV insertion port
The nurse hears in report that the pt has been receiving Aluminum hydroxide to correct an electrolyte imbalance. Which electrolyte level would the nurse check to evaluate the efficacy of the medication?
Phosphorous level
Which statement best describes the risk of fluid and electrolyte imbalances in the older adults?
Physiologic changes in the skin and mucous membranes decrease their reliability as indicators of dehydration
The pt is encouraged by his doctor to eat foods that rich in potassium. Which lunch tray would be the best?
Pork cutlet with milk gravy and mushrooms and melon salad
The nurse is caring for a client with leukemia and notes that the client has poor skin turgor and flat neck and hand veins. The nurse suspects hyponatremia. Which s/s cpu;d the nurse expect to note in this client hyponatremia is present?
Postural blood pressure changes
The nurse reviews the client's serum calcium level and notes that the level is 8.0 mg/ dl. The nurse understands that which conditions would cause this serum calcium level?
Prolonged bed rest
Following thyroid surgery, the pt reports nausea and a tingling sensation around nose, mouth, ears, fingers, and toes. The nurse observe muscle spasms in the pt's feet and hands. What is the most important S/S for the nurse to observe for and report?
Respiratory distress
An elderly pt has recently been experiencing excessive edema in their feet. The nurse discusses with the pt the dietary changes that may be causing the water retention in association with the pt's edema. Which electrolyte has the greatest influence on water balance in the body?
Sodium (Na+)
A pt complains of a headache nausea, and vomiting during a blood transfusion. Which action is necessary for the nurse to take immediately
Stop the blood transfusion
The RN initiates a blood transfusion and then the LPN is assigned to monitor pt. An hour after the transfusion is started, the pt reports nausea. " not feeling right" and demonstrates wheezing. What would the LPN do first?
Stop the transfusion and keep the vein open with normal saline
Which pt has the greatest risk for developing hypokalemia?
Takes prescribed loop diuretic
The nurse is reviewing the health records of assigned clients. The nurse would plan care knowing that which client is at risk for a potassium deficit?
The client receiving nasogastric suction
The nurse is reading the primary health care providers progress notes in the client's record and sees the that the PHCP has documented "insensible fluid loss of approx. 800 ml daily?
The client with a fast respiratory rate
The nurse is reviewing the health records of assigned clients. The nurse would plan care knowing that which client is at the least likely risk for the development of third-spacing?
The client with diabetes mellitus
The nurse is reviewing the health records of assigned clients. The nurse would plan care knowing that which client is at risk for fluid volume deficit?
The client with ileostomy
The nurse reviews electrolyte values and notes a sodium level of 130 mEq/L. The nurse expects that this sodium level would be noted in a client with which conditions
The client with syndrome of innapropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone.
The pt used excessive antacids, which resulted in a serum sodium level of 150 mEq/L ( 150 mmil/L) Why would the HCP instruct the nurse to give an IV hypotonic solution?
To correct intracellular dehydration
Earlier in the shift a pt with severe diarrhea seemed irritable, anxious, and twitchy. The RN calls from the pt's room and asks that a vial of calcium gluconate be brought to the room immediately. In addition, to the calcium gluconate, which emergency equipment would LPN try to quickly obtain for pt with a very low calcium?
Tracheotomy tray and a resuscitation bag
The nurse reviews a client's electrolyte results and notes a potassium level of 5.5 mEq/ L. The nurse understands that a potassium value at this level would be noted with which condition?
Traumatic brain
A client is scheduled for blood to be drawn from the radial artery for an ABG determination. The nurse assists with performing an Allen's test before drawing the blood to determine the adequacy of which?
Ulnar circulation
The nurse sees that the pt is scheduled to a potassium supplement. Inaddition to the last potassium level, what would the nurse assess before administering the potassium?
Urinary output
What is the primary route of secretion of sodium by the body?
Via the kidneys
What is the best way for the nurse to determine the pt's fluid balance?
Weigh the pt daily
Which abbreviation is used to indicate hydrogen ion concentration in the body?
pH
The RN reviews the results of the ABG values with the LPN and tells the LPN that the client is experiencing respiratory acidosis. The LPN would expect to note which on the laboratory report?
pH 7.25, Pco2 50 mm Hg
The pt has COPD for a number of years. Which set of ABG values indicates that the pt is in respiratory acidosis?
pH 7.30, Paco2 50, O2, saturation 93%
The pt has had continuous gastric suction. The nurse recognizes that acid-base imbalances can occur with this treatment. Which laboratory data confirms metabolic alkalosis?
pH elevated, Paco2 normal, and HCO3 - elevated
The nurse is reviewing the medical record of the client. The nurse should identify which of the following findings is a risk factor for the development of hypocalcemia? Select all that apply
- Bariatric surgery -Diarrhea - Thyroid cancer
the nurse offers to take an older neighbor to the grocery store. As they are shopping, the neighbor tell the nurse that, "My doctor told me to watch my salt intake." Which items in the shopping cart would the nurse suggest they put back on the shelf? Select all that apply
- Cheddar cheese - Ketchup - Pretzels - Frozen Tv dinner
Electrolytes
- Electrolytes are measured by weight and their chemical activity is expressed in milliequivalents. - 1 mEq of any electrolyte is equal to 1 mEq of hydrogen
The nurse is caring for a client who has been taking diuretics on a long-term basis. Which finding wild the nurse expect to note as a result of this Long-term use?
Increased specific gravity of urine
What is the best food source for calcium?
Milk
The nurse is assigned a pt with a potassium imbalance. What assessment is critical for this pt?
Monitor heart rate and rhythm
The nurse is told that ABG results indicate a pH of 7.50 and a Pco2 of 32 mm Hg. The nurse determines that these results are indicative of which acid-base balance?
Respiratory alkalosis
The nurse is supervising a nursing student who is inserting an IV catheter. Which actions prompts the supervising nurse to intervene?
Students looks for vein in forearm distal to a dialysis shunt
The pt has medical diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis. Which clinical manifestation indicates that the blood buffer system is exhausted?
RR is increased
The nurse is caring for a client with a nasogastric tube that is attached to low suction. The nurse monitors the client closely for which acid-base disorder that is most likely to occur in this situation?
Metabolic alkalosis
The nurse is assisting to prepare a nursing care plan for a pt with continuous IV infusions. What is the goal of IV therapy?
Promote and maintain fluid and electrolyte balance
The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of COPD. The nurse would monitor the client for which acid-base imbalance ?
Respiratory acidosis