A nurse in an urgent care clinic is collecting data from a client who reports having diarrhea for the past 3 days. Which of the following findings indicates hypokalemia?
Pitting edema
Diplopia
Muscle weakness
Hyperactive bowel sounds
The Correct Answer is C
A nurse collecting data from a client who reports having diarrhea for the past 3 days should identify that muscle weakness is a symptom of hypokalemia. Hypokalemia is a condition in which the blood potassium level is low and can be caused by excessive fluid loss through diarrhea. Potassium helps regulate muscle contractions, so when blood potassium levels are low, muscles may produce weaker contractions which result in muscle weakness.
The other options are not typical symptoms of hypokalemia.
a) Pitting edema is not a typical symptom of hypokalemia.
b) Diplopia is not a typical symptom of hypokalemia.
d) Hyperactive bowel sounds are not a typical symptom of hypokalemia.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The nurse should expect the provider to discontinue phenelzine 2 weeks before starting fluoxetine treatment. Phenelzine is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) and should not be taken with fluoxetine, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Taking these two medications together can cause a dangerous drug interaction known as serotonin syndrome.
a) Levothyroxine is a thyroid hormone replacement medication and does not interact with fluoxetine.
b) Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and does not interact with fluoxetine.
c) Simvastatin is a cholesterol- lowering medication and does not interact with fluoxetine.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
ESR is a laboratory test that measures the rate at which red blood cells settle in a vertical tube of blood over a specific period of time. An elevated ESR is a nonspecific indicator of inflammation in the body, including infections. In the presence of an infection, the body releases certain substances that can increase the rate at which red blood cells settle, leading to an elevated ESR.
Decreased platelet count is not typically associated with infection. Low platelet count, known as thrombocytopenia, can be caused by various factors such as certain medications, autoimmune disorders, or bone marrow disorders. Infection may cause other changes in blood counts, but decreased platelets are not a direct indicator of infection.
Decreased hemoglobin levels, known as anemia, can be caused by various factors such as nutritional deficiencies, chronic diseases, or blood loss. While some infections can lead to anemia indirectly, decreased hemoglobin is not a specific indicator of infection.
Increased iron levels, known as hyperferritinemia, can occur in various conditions, including infections, but it is not a direct indicator of infection. It is important to assess the overall clinical picture and other laboratory findings to determine the cause of increased iron levels.
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