A client with acute kidney injury (AKI) has a serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L. The nurse recognizes that administering IV calcium gluconate to this client will result in which of the following effects?
Potassium will be removed from the body and excreted in the stool.
The heart will be protected from dysrhythmias while the serum potassium is elevated.
Potassium will temporarily shift from the blood into the cells.
Serum potassium levels will increase further due to this medication being administered.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Calcium gluconate does not directly affect the elimination of potassium from the body or its excretion in the stool. It does not act on the kidneys or gastrointestinal tract to remove potassium. Its primary role is to stabilize the cardiac membrane.
B. Calcium gluconate stabilizes the cardiac membrane and reduces the risk of dysrhythmias associated with elevated serum potassium levels. Hyperkalemia can increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias, and calcium gluconate helps to counteract these effects by protecting the heart muscle.
C. Calcium gluconate does not cause potassium to shift from the blood into the cells. The shift of potassium into cells is typically induced by other treatments such as insulin and glucose or beta- agonists. Calcium gluconate does not have this effect.
D. Calcium gluconate does not increase serum potassium levels. It primarily serves to protect the heart from the effects of high potassium levels. It does not have a direct effect on the potassium level itself but helps manage the consequences of hyperkalemia.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. These values are within normal ranges.
B. BUN is low, but potassium and creatinine are within normal ranges.
C. Elevated potassium (hyperkalemia), low hemoglobin (anemia), and elevated creatinine are all classic signs of chronic kidney disease.
D. BUN and creatinine are slightly elevated, but not to a level indicative of chronic kidney disease. Potassium is within normal range.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. This method is the most reliable for measuring fluid retention. Weight changes are a direct indicator of fluid balance because fluid retention or loss affects body weight. By comparing the client's current weight to their post-dialysis weight, you can determine the amount of fluid they have retained.
B. Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels are indicators of kidney function rather than fluid volume status. Elevated levels can indicate worsening kidney function but do not directly measure fluid retention or overload.
C. While assessing skin turgor and peripheral edema can provide some clues about fluid overload, these signs are less precise and subjective compared to weight measurements. Skin turgor changes and edema can be influenced by various factors, including skin elasticity and other conditions, making them less reliable for accurately measuring fluid volume changes since the last dialysis.
D. Crackles in lung sounds can indicate pulmonary congestion due to fluid overload, but this method is not as precise for quantifying the amount of fluid retained. Crackles suggest fluid accumulation in the lungs, which is a sign of more severe fluid overload but does not provide a specific measurement of fluid volume compared to changes in body weight.
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