A client diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) has a potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which of the following priority actions should the nurse implement?
Instruct the client to avoid high-potassium foods.
Redraw the potassium to verify results.
Check the client's blood pressure.
Obtain a serum sodium level.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Instruct the client to avoid high-potassium foods: While important for long-term management, it is not the priority when the client is experiencing hyperkalemia, as immediate interventions are necessary to prevent complications.
B. Redraw the potassium to verify results: Redrawing the potassium may be necessary if there is concern about sample contamination or if the result is significantly different from what is expected. However, it is not the priority when the client is at risk of complications from hyperkalemia.
C. Check the client's blood pressure: This is the priority action because hyperkalemia can lead to cardiac dysrhythmias, including potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. Checking the blood pressure helps assess the client's cardiovascular status and any potential effects of hyperkalemia on cardiac function.
D. Obtain a serum sodium level: While monitoring electrolyte levels is important in ESRD, sodium levels are not the priority when the client is experiencing hyperkalemia. Monitoring potassium and managing its effects take precedence.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","D","E"]
Explanation
A. Encouraging mouth care before and after meals helps maintain oral hygiene, which is essential for appetite stimulation and preventing oral infections.
B. Monitoring the client for changes in mental status is important as malnutrition can lead to cognitive impairment and changes in mental status.
C. Assessing the client's laboratory work for increased calcium levels may not be directly related to malnutrition due to cancer. Elevated calcium levels are more commonly associated with conditions like hyperparathyroidism or certain cancers, but it's not typically a direct consequence of malnutrition.
D. Advising the client to keep a food diary helps track food intake, identify any patterns related to malnutrition, and guide dietary interventions.
E. Instructing the client to drink extra fluids between meals helps prevent dehydration, especially if the client's intake is compromised due to malnutrition or cancer-related treatments.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. "I get chest pain from time to time, but it usually resolves with rest.": While chest pain (angina) can occur with aortic stenosis, it is not as specific as the symptom described in option D. Angina could be related to various other cardiac conditions, including coronary artery disease.
B. "Sometimes when I'm resting, I can feel my heart skip a beat.": Palpitations or feeling like the heart skips a beat are common in many cardiac arrhythmias but are not specifically indicative of aortic stenosis.
C. "My feet and ankles have gotten very puffy the last few weeks.": Edema (puffy feet and ankles) is more commonly associated with right-sided heart failure or other conditions like chronic venous insufficiency, not specifically aortic stenosis.
D. "Whenever I do any form of exercise, I get very short of breath.": Dyspnea on exertion is a classic symptom of aortic stenosis. It occurs because the narrowed aortic valve obstructs blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta, reducing cardiac output and causing exertional symptoms.
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