A heating pad is ordered for a patient with a lumbar sprain. The nurse knows that the purpose of the heating pad is to:
Promote healing by increasing the rate of the muscle remodeling process.
Decrease pain by reducing inflammation.
Decrease pain by increasing circulation to a painful area and relaxing tense muscles.
Decrease pain by numbing pain signals.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A: Promote healing by increasing the rate of the muscle remodeling process
While heat can aid in the healing process by improving blood flow and nutrient delivery to the injured area, it does not specifically increase the rate of the muscle remodeling process. Muscle remodeling involves complex cellular activities that are not solely influenced by external heat application.
Choice B: Decrease pain by reducing inflammation
Heat therapy is generally not used to reduce inflammation. In fact, applying heat to an inflamed area can sometimes exacerbate the inflammation. Cold therapy is more effective for reducing inflammation, especially in the initial stages of an injury.
Choice C: Decrease pain by increasing circulation to a painful area and relaxing tense muscles
This is the correct answer. Applying heat to a painful area causes vasodilation, which increases blood flow and helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to the affected tissues. This process helps to relax tense muscles and alleviate pain. Heat therapy is particularly effective for muscle spasms, stiffness, and chronic pain conditions.
Choice D: Decrease pain by numbing pain signals
Heat therapy does not numb pain signals in the same way that cold therapy does. Cold therapy works by numbing the affected area and reducing nerve activity, which helps to alleviate pain. Heat therapy, on the other hand, works by improving circulation and relaxing muscles.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A: Infuse the KCl at a maximum rate of 10 mEq/hr
This is the correct answer. The recommended infusion rate for potassium chloride is generally not to exceed 10 mEq per hour to avoid complications such as hyperkalemia and cardiac arrhythmias. This rate ensures that the potassium is administered safely and effectively, allowing for proper monitoring and adjustment if necessary.
Choice B: Discontinue cardiac monitoring during the infusion
This choice is incorrect. Cardiac monitoring is essential during the infusion of potassium chloride, especially in patients with severe hypokalemia, due to the risk of arrhythmias and other cardiac complications. Continuous monitoring allows for the early detection of any adverse effects and timely intervention.
Choice C: Administer the KCl as a rapid IV bolus
Administering potassium chloride as a rapid IV bolus is dangerous and contraindicated. Rapid infusion can lead to severe hyperkalemia, which can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias. Potassium chloride should always be administered slowly and diluted in an appropriate volume of fluid.
Choice D: Refuse to give the KCl through a peripheral venous line
While central lines are preferred for higher concentrations of potassium chloride due to the risk of irritation and phlebitis, peripheral lines can be used for lower concentrations and slower infusion rates. Refusing to administer potassium chloride through a peripheral line is not necessary if the infusion is properly managed and monitored.
Correct Answer is True
Explanation
Choice A: True
The statement that a patient with alkalosis can develop hyperkalemia is generally incorrect. Alkalosis, which is a condition characterized by a higher-than-normal pH in the blood, typically leads to hypokalemia rather than hyperkalemia. This occurs because alkalosis causes potassium to shift from the extracellular fluid into the cells, reducing the plasma potassium concentration. Therefore, it is uncommon for alkalosis to result in hyperkalemia.
Choice B: False
The correct answer is that a patient with alkalosis is unlikely to develop hyperkalemia. Alkalosis usually causes a decrease in plasma potassium levels, leading to hypokalemia. This is due to the movement of potassium ions into the cells in exchange for hydrogen ions, which are moved out of the cells to help buffer the increased pH. Consequently, the plasma potassium concentration drops, making hyperkalemia an unlikely outcome in the presence of alkalosis.
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