A client admitted for injuries from a motor vehicle crash has a history of bipolar disorder for which he takes lithium. What is a major concern of the nurse?
Lithium toxicity is likely in the client’s treatment
Lithium is completely metabolized by the liver so liver function tests are indicated
Lithium requirements increase with stress so additional lithium may be required
Lithium has a very narrow therapeutic range so lithium levels should be obtained
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Lithium toxicity is a concern but not inevitable. It occurs with levels above 1.5 mEq/L, often due to dehydration or drug interactions, common in trauma settings. However, routine monitoring of levels is a more immediate nursing priority than assuming toxicity, as early detection prevents severe outcomes like seizures or renal damage.
Choice B reason: Lithium is primarily excreted by the kidneys, not metabolized by the liver. Liver function tests are not indicated for lithium monitoring, as it does not undergo hepatic metabolism. This statement is inaccurate, as renal function tests are critical to assess lithium clearance and prevent toxicity in trauma patients.
Choice C reason: Stress does not directly increase lithium requirements. Trauma-related dehydration or renal impairment can elevate lithium levels, risking toxicity, but this is due to reduced clearance, not increased need. This statement is inaccurate, as dosing adjustments should be based on serum levels, not stress alone.
Choice D reason: Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range (0.6-1.2 mEq/L), and trauma-related factors like dehydration or medications can alter levels, risking toxicity or subtherapeutic effects. Regular serum level monitoring is critical, especially in acute settings, to ensure safety and efficacy, making this statement accurate and a priority nursing concern.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Calcium levels in plasma are primarily regulated by parathyroid hormone and vitamin D, not insulin. Insulin has minimal direct effect on calcium transport into cells. Calcium is critical for bone health and muscle function, but its movement is not significantly influenced by insulin’s action on cellular membranes.
Choice B reason: Insulin promotes potassium uptake into cells by activating the sodium-potassium ATPase pump, particularly in muscle and liver cells. This shifts potassium from plasma to intracellular spaces, lowering serum levels. This mechanism is critical in managing hyperkalemia, as insulin facilitates potassium movement alongside glucose, stabilizing membrane potentials.
Choice C reason: Magnesium is regulated by renal and gastrointestinal mechanisms, not directly by insulin. While insulin may indirectly influence magnesium via metabolic effects, it does not actively drive magnesium into cells like potassium. Magnesium is essential for enzymatic reactions, but its plasma levels are not significantly altered by insulin.
Choice D reason: Sodium is primarily regulated by aldosterone and the renin-angiotensin system, not insulin. Insulin does not directly force sodium into cells but may influence sodium-potassium ATPase indirectly. Sodium’s extracellular role in fluid balance is distinct from insulin’s intracellular potassium transport, making it an incorrect choice.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Bladder cancer primarily affects the bladder, causing hematuria or obstruction, leading to post-renal injury, not intra-renal. Intra-renal damage involves nephron injury, which is less likely with bladder cancer unless advanced metastasis affects kidneys, making this patient less at risk than one on nephrotoxic chemotherapy.
Choice B reason: Benign prostatic hyperplasia causes urinary obstruction, leading to post-renal kidney injury from backpressure, not intra-renal damage. The kidneys’ nephrons are not directly harmed by BPH, making this 65-year-old male less at risk for intra-renal injury compared to a patient receiving nephrotoxic drugs.
Choice C reason: Chemotherapy, especially agents like cisplatin, is nephrotoxic, causing intra-renal acute kidney injury by damaging renal tubules. This 25-year-old female faces high risk due to direct tubular toxicity, leading to acute tubular necrosis, making her the most likely to develop intra-renal injury among the options.
Choice D reason: Renal artery stenosis causes pre-renal kidney injury by reducing renal perfusion, not intra-renal damage. The nephrons remain intact unless chronic ischemia leads to secondary damage. This 36-year-old female has a lower risk of intra-renal injury compared to the chemotherapy patient’s direct nephrotoxic exposure.
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