A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is 1 day postoperative following a thyroidectomy and reports severe muscle spasms of the lower extremities. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Determine the client’s calcium level.
Give the client an oral potassium supplement.
Administer intravenous normal saline solution.
Monitor the client’s peripheral pulses.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A: Determine the client’s calcium level. This is the priority action for the nurse to take because the client might have hypocalcemia, which is a low level of calcium in the blood. Hypocalcemia can occur after a thyroidectomy due to accidental removal or damage of the parathyroid glands, which regulate calcium levels. Hypocalcemia can cause muscle spasms, tetany, paresthesia, and seizures.
Choice B: Give the client an oral potassium supplement. This is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take because the client might have hyperkalemia, which is a high level of potassium in the blood. Hyperkalemia can also occur after a thyroidectomy due to damage to the adrenal glands, which regulate potassium levels. Hyperkalemia can cause muscle weakness, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest.
Choice C: Administer intravenous normal saline solution. This is not a necessary action for the nurse to take because the client does not have signs of dehydration or fluid imbalance. Normal saline solution does not affect calcium or potassium levels.
Choice D: Monitor the client’s peripheral pulses. This is an important action for the nurse to take, but not the priority. The nurse should monitor the client’s peripheral pulses for signs of decreased perfusion or ischemia, which can result from hypocalcemia or hyperkalemia affecting the cardiac function. However, this should be done after determining the client’s calcium level and correcting it if needed.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A: Implement neutropenia isolation. This is not an action that the nurse should take for a client who has developed a Clostridium difficile infection. Neutropenia isolation is a type of protective isolation that is used for
clients who have low white blood cell counts and are at risk of infection from others. It is not indicated for clients who have Clostridium difficile infection, which is not transmited through the air.
Choice B: Use alcohol hand sanitizer following client care. This is not an action that the nurse should take for a client who has developed a Clostridium difficile infection. Alcohol hand sanitizer is ineffective against Clostridium difficile spores and can increase the risk of transmission. The nurse should wash their hands with soap and water, which can remove the spores from the skin.
Choice C: Monitor the client for manifestations of fluid overload. This is not an action that the nurse should take for a client who has developed a Clostridium difficile infection. Fluid overload is a condition that occurs when the body retains excess fluid and causes symptoms such as edema, dyspnea, and hypertension. It is not related to Clostridium difficile infection, which can cause fluid loss due to diarrhea and dehydration. The nurse should monitor the client for manifestations of fluid deficit, such as dry mucous membranes, tachycardia, and hypotension.
Choice D: Disinfect equipment with bleach solution. This is an action that the nurse should take for a client who has developed a Clostridium difficile infection, which is a bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon. Clostridium difficile spores are resistant to most disinfectants and can survive on surfaces for a long time. The nurse should disinfect equipment with bleach solution, which can kill the spores and prevent transmission.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A: Docusate. This is not a treatment that the nurse should expect to administer to a client with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Docusate is a stool softener that can prevent constipation and straining, but it is not indicated for ulcerative colitis.
Choice B: A corticosteroid medication. This is a treatment that the nurse should expect to administer to a client with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis, which is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers and inflammation in the colon and rectum. A corticosteroid medication, such as prednisone, can reduce inflammation, suppress the immune system, and relieve symptoms such as diarrhea, bleeding, and pain.
Choice C: Aspirin. This is not a treatment that the nurse should expect to administer to a client with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can relieve pain and inflammation, but it can also irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa and worsen ulcerative colitis.
Choice D: A bowel cathartic medication. This is not a treatment that the nurse should expect to administer to a client with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. A bowel cathartic medication, such as bisacodyl, can stimulate bowel movements and cleanse the colon, but it can also cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and aggravate ulcerative colitis.
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