Chapter 39: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance

A home care nurse is teaching a client and family about the importance of a balanced diet. The nurse determines that the education was successful when the client identifies which of the following as a rich source of potassium?

Apricots

What is the lab test commonly used in the assessment and treatment of acid-base balance?

Arterial blood gas

A 50-year-old client with hypertension is being treated with a diuretic. The client reports muscle weakness and falls easily. The nurse should assess which electrolyte?

Potassium

Which of the following is not true regarding magnesium?

The liver regulates magnesium levels by breaking down the ion when serum levels are low.

Potassium is needed for neural, muscle, and:

cardiac function.

A client with a diagnosis of colon cancer has opted for a treatment plan that will include several rounds of chemotherapy. What vascular access device is most likely to meet this client's needs?

An implanted central venous access device (CVAD)

The nurse is caring for elderly patients in a long-term care facility. What age-related alteration should the nurse consider when planning care for these patients?

Cardiac volume intolerance

A nurse is reviewing the client's serum electrolyte levels which are as follows: Sodium: 138 mEq/L Potassium: 3.2 mEq/L Calcium: 4.4 mEq/L Magnesium: 1.6 mEq/L Chloride: 100 mEq/L Phosphate: 1.8 mEq/L

Hypokalemia

Which statement most accurately describes the process of osmosis?

Water moves from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

An infant is brought to the emergency room with dehydration due to vomiting. After several failed attempts to start an IV, the nurse observes a scalp vein. When accessing the scalp vein, the nurse should use a(an)

Winged infusion needle

The oncoming nurse is assigned to the following clients. Which client should the nurse assess first?

a newly admitted 88-year-old with a 2-day history of vomiting and loose stools

A client age 80 years, who takes diuretics for management of hypertension, informs the nurse that she takes laxatives daily to promote bowel movements. The nurse assesses the client for possible symptoms of:

hypokalemia

Endurance athletes who exercise for long periods of time and consume only water may experience a sodium deficit in their extracellular fluid. This electrolyte imbalance is known as:

hyponatremia