01 PrepU Ch 13 Fluid and Electrolytes: Balance and Disturbance

The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with bulimia. The client is being treated for a serum potassium level of 2.9 mEq/L. Which of the following statements made by the patient indicates the need for further teaching?

"I can use laxatives and enemas but only once a week."

A 54-year-old male patient is admitted to the hospital with a case of severe dehydration. The nurse reviews the patient's laboratory results. Which of the following results are consistent with the diagnosis? Select all that apply.

-Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) of 23 mg/dL -Serum osmolality of 310 mOsm/kg -Serum sodium of 148 mEq/L -Urine specific gravity of 1.03

A patient is ordered to receive hypotonic IV solution to provide free water replacement. Which of the following solutions will the nurse anticipate administering?

0.45% NaCl

Which of the following solutions is hypotonic?

0.45% NaCl

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 Half-strength saline (0.45%) is hypotonic. Hypotonic solutions are used to replace cellular fluid because it is hypotonic compared with plasma. Another is to provide free water to excrete body wastes. At times, hypotonic sodium solutions are used to treat hypernatremia and other hyperosmolar conditions. Lactated Ringer solution and normal saline (0.9% NaCl) are isotonic. A solution that is 5% NaCl is hypertonic.

The physician has prescribed a hypotonic IV solution for a patient. Which IV solution should the nurse administer?

0.45% sodium chloride Half-strength saline (0.45% sodium chloride) solution is frequently used as an IV hypotonic solution.

A 42-year-old client has chronic hypo natremia, which requires weekly blood labs to keep him from lapsing into convulsions or a coma. What is the level of serum sodium below which convulsions or coma can occur?

135 mEq/L

Below which serum sodium level may convulsions or coma can occur?

135 mEq/L

The nurse is caring for a patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) following a saltwater near-drowning event. The client is restless, lethargic, and demonstrating tremors. Additional assessment findings include swollen dry tongue, flushed skin, and peripheral edema. The nurse anticipated that the patient's serum sodium value would be which of the following?

155 mEq/L

A 160-pound patient, diagnosed with hypovolemia, is weighed every day. The health care provider asked to be notified if the patient loses 1,000 mL of fluid in 24 hours. Choose the weight that would be consistent with this amount of fluid loss.

158 lbs

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

Acidic

A group of nursing students are studying for a test over acid-base imbalance. One student asks another what the major chemical regulator of plasma pH is. What should the second student respond?

Bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer system

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

Fruits such as bananas and apricots

Which intervention is most appropriate for a client with an arterial blood gas (ABG) of pH 7.5, a partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of 26 mm Hg, oxygen (O2) saturation of 96%, bicarbonate (HCO3-) of 24 mEq/L, and a PaO2 of 94 mm Hg?

Instruct the client to breathe into a paper bag. The ABG results reveal respiratory alkalosis. The best intervention to raise the PaCO2 level would be to have the client breathe into a paper bag. Administering a decongestant, offering fluids frequently, and administering supplemental oxygen wouldn't raise the lowered PaCO2 level.

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?

Metabolic acidosis

A client in the emergency department reports that he has been vomiting excessively for the past 2 days. His arterial blood gas analysis shows a pH of 7.50, partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of 43 mm Hg, partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) of 75 mm Hg, and bicarbonate (HCO3-) of 42 mEq/L. Based on these findings, the nurse documents that the client is experiencing which type of acid-base imbalance?

Metabolic alkalosis

A patient has been involved in a traumatic accident and is hemorrhaging from multiple sites. The nurse expects that the compensatory mechanisms associated with hypovolemia would cause what clinical manifestations? (Select all that apply.)

Oliguria Tachycardia Tachypnea Hypovolemia, or fluid volume deficit, is indicated by decreased, not increased, blood pressure (hypotension), oliguria, tachycardia (not bradycardia), and tachypnea.

Which of the following is a correct route of administration for potassium?

Oral

A client comes to the emergency department with status asthmaticus. His respiratory rate is 48 breaths/minute, and he is wheezing. An arterial blood gas analysis reveals a pH of 7.52, a partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of 30 mm Hg, PaO2 of 70 mm Hg, and bicarbonate (HCO3??') of 26 mEq/L. What disorder is indicated by these findings?

Respiratory alkalosis

Which of the following arterial blood gas results would be consistent with metabolic alkalosis?

Serum bicarbonate of 28 mEq/L

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 150 mEq/L Hypernatremia (normal serum sodium is 135 to 145 mEq/L) is consistent with increased fluid loss and dehydration in diabetes insipidus.

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

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 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. Anasarca 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.

Which solution is hypotonic?

0.45% NaCl Half-strength saline is hypotonic. Lactated Ringer solution and normal saline (0.9% NaCl) are isotonic. A 5% NaCl solution is hypertonic.

The nurse is caring for a client with multiple organ failure and in metabolic acidosis. Which pair of organs is responsible for regulatory processes and compensation?

Lungs and kidney

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

No, sodium intake should be restricted The symptoms and the high level of serum sodium suggest hypernatremia, (excess of sodium). It is necessary to restrict sodium intake. Salt tablets and sodium chloride IV can only worsen this condition but may be required in hyponatremia (sodium deficit). Hypotonic solution IV may be a part of the treatment but not along with the salt tablets.

Which of the following electrolytes is a major cation in body fluid?

Potassium

A 57-year-old homeless female with a history of alcohol abuse has been admitted to your hospital unitwith signs and symptoms of hypovolemia—minus the weight loss. She exhibits a localized enlargement of her abdomen. What condition could she be presenting?

Third-spacing

Which of the following are the insensible mechanisms of fluid loss?

Breathing

Which is an insensible mechanism of fluid loss?

Breathing Loss of fluid from sweat or diaphoresis is referred to as insensible loss because it is unnoticeable and immeasurable. Losses from urination and bowel elimination are measurable. Nausea does not result in fluid loss, however if the client would develop emesis ( vomiting) this would be considered loss of body fluids and would need measured.

The nurse is caring for a client with laboratory values indicating dehydration. Which clinical symptom is consistent with the dehydration?

Dark, concentrated urine

The nurse is assessing residents at a summer picnic at the nursing facility. The nurse expresses concern due to the high heat and humidity of the day. Although the facility is offering the residents plenty of fluids for fluid maintenance, the nurse is most concerned about which?

Insensible fluid loss

A client hospitalized for treatment of a pulmonary embolism develops respiratory alkalosis. Which clinical findings commonly accompany respiratory alkalosis?

Light-headedness or paresthesia

A 75-year-old 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 of the following acid-base imbalances?

Metabolic alkalosis

The calcium concentration in the blood is regulated by which mechanism?

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) The serum calcium concentration is controlled by PTH and calcitonin. The thyroid hormone, adrenal gland, or androgens do not regulate the calcium concentration in the blood.

A client admitted with acute anxiety has the following arterial blood gas (ABG) values: pH, 7.55; partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2), 90 mm Hg; partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2), 27 mm Hg; and bicarbonate (HCO3-), 24 mEq/L. Based on these values, the nurse suspects:

Respiratory alkalosis

A nurse is conducting an initial assessment on a client with possible tuberculosis. Which assessment finding indicates a risk factor for tuberculosis?

The client had a liver transplant 2 years ago

The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and experiencing respiratory acidosis. The client asks what is making the acidotic state. The nurse is most correct to identify which result of the disease process that causes the rise in pH?

The lungs are not able to blow off carbon dioxide

A patient with cancer is being treated on the oncology unit for bilateral breast cancer. The patient is undergoing chemotherapy. The nurse notes the patient's serum calcium level is 12.3 mg/ dL. Given this laboratory finding, the nurse should suspect which of the following statements?

The patient's malignancy is causing the electrolyte imbalance

A client's potassium level is elevated. The nurse is reviewing the ECG tracing. Identify the area on the tracing where the nurse would expect to see peaks.

The second hump

Early signs of hypervolemia include:

increased breathing effort and weight gain

Following a unilateral adrenalectomy, a nurse should assess for hyperkalemia as indicated by:

muscle weakness

The nurse is analyzing the arterial blood gas (AGB) results of a patient diagnosed with severe pneumonia. Which of the following ABG results indicates respiratory acidosis?

pH: 7.20, PaCO2: 65 mm Hg, HCO3-: 26 mEq/L

A client has a respiratory rate of 38 breaths/min. What effect does breathing faster have on arterial pH level?

Increases arterial pH

A 77-year-old retired male client visits your general practice office twice monthly to maintain control of his congestive heart failure. He measures his weight daily and phones it to your office for his medical record. In a 24-hour period, how much fluid is this client retaining if his weight increases by 2 lb?

1 L

A nurse can estimate serum osmolality at the bedside by using a formula. A patient who has a serum sodium level of 140 mEq/L would have a serum osmolality of:

280 mOsm/kg

A patient presents to the Emergency Department experiencing a severe anxiety attack and is hyperventilating. The nurse would expect the patient's pH value to be which of the following?

7.50

It is important for a nurse to know how to calculate the corrected serum calcium level for a patient when hypocalcemia is seen along with low serum albumin levels. Calculate the corrected serum calcium when the serum calcium is 9 mg/dL and the serum albumin is 3 g/dL.

9.8 mg/dL

The nurse is caring for four clients on a medical unit. The nurse is most correct to review which client's laboratory reports first for an electrolyte imbalance?

A 52-year-old with diarrhea

Which is the most common cause of symptomatic hypomagnesemia?

Alcoholism 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

Which of the following is the most common cause of symptomatic hypomagnesemia in the United States?

Alcoholism Alcoholism is currently the most common cause of symptomatic hypomagnesemia in the United States. Any disruption in small bowel function, as in intestinal resection or inflammatory bowel disease, can lead to hypomagnesemia.

To evaluate a client for hypoxia, the physician is most likely to order which laboratory test?

Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis Red blood cell count, sputum culture, total hemoglobin, and ABG analysis all help evaluate a client with respiratory problems. However, ABG analysis is the only test that evaluates gas exchange in the lungs, providing information about the client's oxygenation status.

A patient complains of tingling in the fingers as well as feeling depressed. The nurse assesses positive Trousseau's and Chvostek's signs. Which decreased laboratory results does the nurse observe when the patient's laboratory work has returned?

Calcium

Which findings indicate that a client has developed water intoxication secondary to treatment for diabetes insipidus?

Confusion and seizures

You are caring for a 72-year-old client who has been admitted to your unit for a fluid volume imbalance. You know which of the following is the most common fluid imbalance in older adults?

Dehydration

The nurse is caring for a client with a serum potassium concentration of 6.0 mEq/L (6.0 mmol/L) and a fluid volume excess. The client is ordered to receive oral sodium polystyrene sulfonate and furosemide. What other order should the nurse anticipate giving?

Discontinue the intravenous lactated Ringer solution. The lactated Ringer intravenous (IV) fluid is contributing to both the fluid volume excess and the hyperkalemia. In addition to the volume of IV fluids contributing to the fluid volume excess, lactated Ringer solution contains more sodium than daily requirements, and excess sodium worsens fluid volume excess. Lactated Ringer solution also contains potassium, which would worsen the hyperkalemia.

Which nerve is implicated in the Chvostek's sign?

Facial Chvostek's sign consists of twitching of muscles supplied by the facial nerve when the nerve is tapped about 2 cm anterior to the earlobe, just below the zygomatic arch.

A nurse is caring for a client with metastatic breast cancer who is extremely lethargic and very slow to respond to stimuli. The laboratory report indicates a serum calcium level of 12.0 mg/dl, a serum potassium level of 3.9 mEq/L, a serum chloride level of 101 mEq/L, and a serum sodium level of 140 mEq/L. Based on this information, the nurse determines that the client's symptoms are most likely associated with which electrolyte imbalance?

Hypercalcemia The normal reference range for serum calcium is 8.6 to 10.2 mg/dl. A serum calcium level of 12 mg/dl clearly indicates hypercalcemia. The client's other laboratory findings are within their normal ranges, so the client doesn't have hypernatremia, hypochloremia, or hypokalemia.

An elderly client takes 40 mg of Lasix twice a day. Which electrolyte imbalance is the most serious adverse effect of diuretic use?

Hypokalemia

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

Limit sodium and water intake Implement prescribed interventions such as limiting sodium and water intake and administering ordered medications that promote fluid elimination. Assessing for dehydration and teaching to decrease urination would not be appropriate interventions.

The nurse is caring for a patient undergoing alcohol withdrawal. Which of the following serum laboratory values should the nurse monitor most closely?

Magnesium

The nurse is caring for a patient with diabetes type I who is having severe vomiting and diarrhea. What condition that exhibits blood values with a low pH and a low plasma bicarbonate concentration should the nurse assess for?

Metabolic acidosis

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

Monitoring respiratory status for signs and symptoms of pulmonary complications

Which is a correct route of administration for potassium?

Oral Potassium may be administered through the oral route. Potassium is never administered by IV push or intramuscularly to avoid replacing potassium too quickly. Potassium is not administered subcutaneously.

A patient is being treated in the ICU 24 hours after having a radical neck dissection completed. The patient's serum calcium level is 7.6 mg/dL. Which of the following physical examination findings is consistent with this electrolyte imbalance?

Presence of Trousseau's sign

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 A client with pneumonia may hyperventilate in an effort to increase oxygen intake. Hyperventilation leads to excess carbon dioxide (CO2) loss, which causes alkalosis — indicated by this client's elevated pH value. With respiratory alkalosis, the kidneys' bicarbonate (HCO3-) response is delayed, so the client's HCO3- level remains normal. The below-normal value for the partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) indicates CO2 loss and signals a respiratory component. Because the HCO3- level is normal, this imbalance has no metabolic component. Therefore, the client is experiencing respiratory alkalosis.

To compensate for decreased fluid volume (hypovolemia), the nurse can anticipate which response by the body?

Tachycardia

A nurse is reviewing a report of a client's routine urinalysis. Which value requires further investigation?

Urine pH of 3.0

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?

electrocardiogram (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.