PrepU Fluid and Electrolytes For Study Session

What foods can the nurse recommend for the patient with hypokalemia?

Fruits such as bananas and apricots

A priority nursing intervention for a client with hypervolemia involves which of the following?

Monitoring respiratory status for signs and symptoms of pulmonary complications.

A patient with diabetes insipidus presents to the emergency room for treatment of dehydration. The nurse knows to review serum laboratory results for which of the diagnostic indicators? Sodium level of 137 mEq/L Potassium level of 3.8 mEq/L Sodium level of 150 mEq/L Potassium level of 6 mEq/L

150 Serum sodium.... (only one hypernatremic)

A client is to receive hypotonic IV solution in order to provide free water replacement. Which solution does the nurse anticipate administering?

0.45% NaCl

Which solution is hypotonic?

0.45% NaCl

A client who is semiconscious presents with restlessness and weakness. The nurse assesses a dry, swollen tongue; body temperature of 99.3 °F; and a urine specific gravity of 1.020. What is the most likely serum sodium value for this client? 110 mEq/L 130 mEq/L 145 mEq/L 165 mEq/L

165.... High Na levels associate with these symptoms.

A nurse correctly identifies a urine specimen with a pH of 4.3 as being which type of solution? Neutral Alkaline Acidic Basic

Acidic.... Normal urine pH is 4.5 to 8.0; a value of 4.3 reveals acidic urine pH. A pH above 7.0 is considered an alkaline or basic solution. A pH of 7.0 is considered neutral.

Which is an insensible mechanism of fluid loss?

Breathing

A client is taking spironolactone to control hypertension. The client's serum potassium level is 6 mEq/L. What is the nurse's priority during assessment? neuromuscular function bowel sounds respiratory rate electrocardiogram (ECG) results

ECG results... Although changes in all these findings are seen in hyperkalemia, ECG results should take priority because changes can indicate potentially lethal arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation. It wouldn't be appropriate to assess the client's neuromuscular function, bowel sounds, or respiratory rate for effects of hyperkalemia.

A 64-year-old client is brought in to the clinic feeling thirsty with dry, sticky mucous membranes; decreased urine output; fever; a rough tongue; and is lethargic. Serum sodium level is above 145 mEq/l (145 mmol/L). Should the nurse start salt tablets when caring for this client?

No, sodium intake should be restricted.

A patient is diagnosed with hypocalcemia. The nurse advises the patient and his family to immediately report the most characteristic manifestation. What is the most characteristic manifestation?

Tingling or twitching sensation in the fingers

Early signs of hypervolemia include a decrease in blood pressure. thirst. moist breath sounds. increased breathing effort and weight gain.

Increased breathing effort.... Early signs of hypervolemia are weight gain, elevated blood pressure, and increased breathing effort. Eventually, fluid congestion in the lungs leads to moist breath sounds. One of the earliest symptoms of hypovolemia is thirst.

When caring for a client who has risk factors for fluid and electrolyte imbalances, which assessment finding is the highest priority for the nurse to follow up? Irregular heart rate Weight loss of 4 lb Mild confusion Blood pressure 96/53 mm Hg

Irregular heart beat....

A client who complains of an "acid stomach" has been taking baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) regularly as a self-treatment. This may place the client at risk for which acid-base imbalance? metabolic alkalosis metabolic acidosis respiratory acidosis respiratory alkalosis

Metabolic alkalosis.... results in increased plasma pH because of accumulated base bicarbonate or decreased hydrogen ion concentrations. The client's regular use of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) may create a risk for this condition. Metabolic acidosis refers to decreased plasma pH because of increased organic acids (acids other than carbonic acid) or decreased bicarbonate. Respiratory acidosis, which may be either acute or chronic, is caused by excess carbonic acid. Respiratory alkalosis results from a carbonic acid deficit that occurs when rapid breathing releases more CO2 than necessary with expired air.

A client has been admitted to the hospital unit with signs and symptoms of hypovolemia; however, the client has not lost weight. The client exhibits a localized enlargement of her abdomen. What condition could the client be presenting? third-spacing pitting edema anasarca hypovolemia

Third Spacing... Third-spacing describes the translocation of fluid from the intravascular or intercellular space to tissue compartments, where it becomes trapped and useless. The client manifests signs and symptoms of hypovolemia with the exception of weight loss. There may be signs of localized enlargement of organ cavities (such as the abdomen) if they fill with fluid, a condition referred to as ascites. Pitting edema occurs when indentations remain in the skin after compression. Anascara is another term for generalized edema, or brawny edema, in which the interstitial spaces fill with fluid. Hypovolemia (fluid volume deficit) refers to a low volume of extracellular fluid.

x Before seeing a newly assigned client with respiratory alkalosis, a nurse quickly reviews the client's medical history. Which condition is a predisposing factor for respiratory alkalosis? Myasthenia gravis Type 1 diabetes mellitus Extreme anxiety Opioid overdose

extreme anxiety... Extreme anxiety may lead to respiratory alkalosis by causing hyperventilation, which results in excessive carbon dioxide (CO2) loss. Other conditions that may set the stage for respiratory alkalosis include fever, heart failure, injury to the brain's respiratory center, overventilation with a mechanical ventilator, pulmonary embolism, and early salicylate intoxication. Type 1 diabetes may lead to diabetic ketoacidosis; the deep, rapid respirations occurring in this disorder (Kussmaul's respirations) don't cause excessive CO2 loss. Myasthenia gravis and opioid overdose suppress the respiratory drive, causing CO2 retention, not CO2 loss; this may lead to respiratory acidosis, not alkalosis.

Clients diagnosed with hypervolemia should avoid sweet or dry food because it

increases the client's desire to consume fluid.

A physician orders an isotonic I.V. solution for a client. Which solution should the nurse plan to administer? 5% dextrose and normal saline solution Lactated Ringer's solution Half-normal saline solution 10% dextrose in water

lactated ringer solution.... Lactated Ringer's solution, with an osmolality of approximately 273 mOsm/L, is isotonic. The nurse shouldn't give half-normal saline solution because it's hypotonic, with an osmolality of 154 mOsm/L. Giving 5% dextrose and normal saline solution (with an osmolality of 559 mOsm/L) or 10% dextrose in water (with an osmolality of 505 mOsm/L) also would be incorrect because these solutions are hypertonic.

Which is the most common cause of symptomatic hypomagnesemia? Intravenous drug use Alcoholism Sedentary lifestyle Burns

Alcholism- Alcoholism is currently the most common cause of symptomatic hypomagnesemia. Intravenous drug use, sedentary lifestyle, and burns are not the most common causes of hypomagnesemia.

A nurse reviews the results of an electrocardiogram (ECG) for a patient who is being assessed for hypokalemia. Which of the following would the nurse notice as the most significant diagnostic indicator? A. Depressed U wave B. Elevated U Wave C. Hypotension D. Bradycardia

Elevated U wave

A nurse is caring for an adult client with numerous draining wounds from gunshots. The client's pulse rate has increased from 100 to 130 beats per minute over the last hour. The nurse should further assess the client for which of the following? Extracellular fluid volume deficit Altered blood urea nitrogen (BUN) value Metabolic alkalosis Respiratory acidosis

Extracellular fluid volume.... Fluid volume deficit (FVD) occurs when the loss extracellular fluid (ECF) volume exceeds the intake of fluid. FVD results from loss of body fluids and occurs more rapidly when coupled with decreased fluid intake. A cause of this loss is hemorrhage.

The nurse is caring for a client who is exhibiting symptoms of tachypnea and circumoral paresthesias. What should be the nurse's first course of action? Stop mechanical ventilation. Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Give a dose of aspirin. Find and correct the cause of tachypnea.

Find and correct the cause- Tachypnea or rapid breathing may result from various reasons including acute anxiety, high fever, thyrotoxicosis, early salicylate poisoning, hypoxemia, or mechanical ventilation. The rapid breathing expels more CO2 than necessary. This causes a deficit in carbonic acid, leading to respiratory alkalosis. Circumoral paresthesia is one of the symptoms. The first course of action is to detect and treat the cause of tachypnea. The nurse has to maintain mechanical ventilation if the client is dependent on it. CPR administration is required only if the client's condition needs it. Aspirin is not advised as early aspirin poisoning may be a cause of the tachypnea.

The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with bulimia. The client is being treated for a serum potassium concentration of 2.9 mEq/L (2.9 mmol/L). Which statement made by the client indicates the need for further teaching? "I can use laxatives and enemas but only once a week." "A good breakfast for me will include milk and a couple of bananas." "I will be sure to buy frozen vegetables when I grocery shop." "I will take a potassium supplement daily as prescribed."

I can use laxatives but once a week.... The client is experiencing hypokalemia, most likely due to the diagnosis of bulimia. Hypokalemia is defined as a serum potassium concentration <3.5 mEq/L (3.5 mmol/L), and usually indicates a deficit in total potassium stores. Clients diagnosed with bulimia frequently suffer increased potassium loss through self-induced vomiting and misuse of laxatives, diuretics, and enemas; thus, the client should avoid laxatives and enemas. Prevention measures may involve encouraging the client at risk to eat foods rich in potassium (when the diet allows), including fruit juices and bananas, melon, citrus fruits, fresh and frozen vegetables, lean meats, milk, and whole grains. If the hypokalemia is caused by abuse of laxatives or diuretics, client education may help alleviate the problem.

Clients diagnosed with hypervolemia should avoid sweet or dry food because it obstructs water elimination. increases the client's desire to consume fluid. can cause dehydration. can lead to weight gain.

Increase the clients desire to consume fluid.... The management goal in hypervolemia is to reduce fluid volume. For this reason, fluid is rationed and the client is advised to take a limited amount of fluid when thirsty. Sweet or dry food can increase the client's desire to consume fluid. Sweet or dry food does not obstruct water elimination or cause dehydration. Weight regulation is not part of hypervolemia management except to the extent it is achieved on account of fluid reduction.

A client hospitalized for treatment of a pulmonary embolism develops respiratory alkalosis. Which clinical findings commonly accompany respiratory alkalosis? Nausea or vomiting Abdominal pain or diarrhea Hallucinations or tinnitus Light-headedness or paresthesia

Light headness or paresthesia.... The client with respiratory alkalosis may complain of light-headedness or paresthesia (numbness and tingling in the arms and legs). Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea may accompany respiratory acidosis. Hallucinations and tinnitus rarely are associated with respiratory alkalosis or any other acid-base imbalance.

Your client has a diagnosis of hypervolemia. What would be an important intervention that you would initiate?

Limit sodium and water intake.

A client has the following arterial blood gas (ABG) values: pH, 7.12; partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2), 40 mm Hg; and bicarbonate (HCO3-), 15 mEq/L. These ABG values suggest which disorder? Respiratory alkalosis Respiratory acidosis Metabolic alkalosis Metabolic acidosis

Metabolic acidosis.... This client's pH value is below normal, indicating acidosis. The HCO3- value also is below normal, reflecting an overwhelming accumulation of acids or excessive loss of base, which suggests metabolic acidosis. The PaCO2 value is normal, indicating absence of respiratory compensation. These ABG values eliminate respiratory alkalosis, respiratory acidosis, and metabolic alkalosis.

A client with pancreatic cancer has the following blood chemistry profile: Glucose, fasting: 204 mg/dl; blood urea nitrogen (BUN): 12 mg/dl; Creatinine: 0.9 mg/dl; Sodium: 136 mEq/L; Potassium: 2.2 mEq/L; Chloride: 99 mEq/L; CO2: 33 mEq/L. Which result should the nurse identify as critical and report immediately?

Potassium

A patient in the ICU starts complaining of being "short of breath." An arterial blood gas (ABG) is drawn. The ABG has the following values: pH = 7.21, PaCO2 = 64 mm Hg, HCO3 = 24 mm Hg. What does the ABG reflect? Respiratory acidosis Metabolic alkalosis Respiratory alkalosis Metabolic acidosis

Resp Acidosis.... The pH <7.40, PaCO2 >40, and the HCO3 is normal, therefore it is a respiratory acidosis, and compensation by the kidneys has not begun, which indicates this was probably an acute event. Option B is incorrect, the HCO3 = 24, which is within the normal range so it is not metabolic alkalosis. Option C is incorrect, the pH = 7.21, so it is an acidosis not alkalosis. Option D is incorrect, the pH = 7.21 so it is an acidosis, but the HCO3 = 24, which is within the normal range so it is not a metabolic acidosis.

A nurse reviews the arterial blood gas (ABG) values of a client admitted with pneumonia: pH, 7.51; PaCO2, 28 mm Hg; PaO2, 70 mm Hg; and HCO3--, 24 mEq/L. What do these values indicate?

Respiratory alkalosis

You notify the physician that your client is third-spacing fluid. What orders would you expect the physician to give you? Restrict fluids Administer diuretics Start IV fluids and blood products Increase sodium in diet

start IV fluids This is done by administering IV solutions—sometimes at rapid rates—and blood products, such as albumin, to restore colloidal osmotic pressure. The restriction of fluids; the administration of diuretics and the increase of sodium in the diet are not orders the physician would be expected to give for a client is third-spacing fluids

Fluid and electrolyte balance is maintained through the process of translocation. What specific process allows water to pass through a membrane from a dilute to a more concentrated area?

osmosis