A nurse is caring for a client who arrives at the emergency department and reports vomiting and diarrhea for the past 3 days. The client's serum potassium level is 2.8 mEq/L. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement first?

Listen to the client's bowel sounds.

Initiate cardiac monitoring for the client.

Check the client's hand grasps

Administer an IV potassium drip

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A reason:

Listening to the client's bowel sounds should not be implemented. While assessing bowel sounds is important, it is not the highest priority in this situation. The client's low serum potassium level indicates the potential for serious cardiac arrhythmias, so actions related to monitoring and addressing this electrolyte imbalance are more critical.

Choice B reason:

Initiate cardiac monitoring for the client is the correct answer. A serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L is significantly low and can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Initiating cardiac monitoring is crucial to assess the client's heart rhythm and ensure that any potential abnormalities are identified promptly.

Choice C reason:

Check the client's hand grasps should not be implemented. Assessing the client's hand grasps can provide information about muscle strength, but it is not the immediate priority when the client has a critically low potassium level.

Choice D reason:

Administer an IV potassium drip should not be implemented. Administering IV potassium is important for correcting the potassium imbalance, but the priority is to assess and monitor the client's cardiac status first. Rapid administration of potassium can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, so it's important to ensure the heart's stability through cardiac monitoring before administering potassium.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A Reason:

Changing the catheter dressing daily - While it's important to maintain the dressing and keep it clean and dry, changing the dressing daily might not be necessary. The dressing should be changed according to facility policy and based on assessment findings.

Choice B Reason:

Cleaning the insertion site using 20 mL of hydrogen peroxide - Hydrogen peroxide is not recommended for cleaning PICC line insertion sites, as it can cause tissue irritation. The insertion site should be cleaned with an appropriate antiseptic solution per facility guidelines.

Choice C Reason:

Use a 10-mL syringe to flush the line. When completing discharge teaching for a client with a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line, the nurse should include instructions regarding the proper care of the line. Using a 10-mL syringe to flush the line is the appropriate practice to prevent excessive pressure within the catheter and minimize the risk of catheter damage or rupture.

Choice D Reason:

Not elevating the arm above the level of the heart - Elevation of the arm above the heart level is generally not contraindicated for a PICC line. However, it's important to avoid activities that could lead to kinking or pulling on the line. The nurse should provide specific instructions regarding arm movement and care to the client.

A. Place the client in a protective environment. B. Obtain a stool specimen with gloves. C. Clean surfaces with chlorhexidine. D. Wash hands with alcohol-based hand rub

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A Reason:

Placing the client in a protective environment is not necessary for C. difficile gastroenteritis. Standard precautions, including diligent hand hygiene and appropriate personal protective equipment, are sufficient.

Choice B Reason:

Obtain a stool specimen with gloves is necessary. Obtaining a stool specimen with gloves is an appropriate nursing action when caring for a client with Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) gastroenteritis. C. difficile is a bacterium that can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. It's important to follow infection control practices to prevent the spread of the bacteria.

Choice C Reason:

Cleaning surfaces with chlorhexidine is not the preferred disinfectant for C. difficile. Sporicidal agents, such as bleach-based solutions, are recommended to effectively kill the spores of C. difficile.

Choice D Reason:

Washing hands with alcohol-based hand rub is not sufficient for C. difficile. C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers, so using soap and water for handwashing is recommended to ensure proper removal of the spores.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse is caring for a client who arrives at the emergency department and reports vomiting and diarrhea for the past 3 days. The client's serum potassium level is 2.8 mEq/L. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is completing discharge teaching with a client who has a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line in the left arm. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is planning care for a client who has Clostridium difficile gastroenteritis. Which of the following is an appropriate nursing action?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who has an IV in the left forearm and whose infusion pump has alarmed several times. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who has sinus bradycardia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has heart failure and instructs him to limit sodium intake to 2 g per day. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A nurse is caring for a client who has a newly inserted chest tube. The nurse should clarify which of the following prescriptions with the provider?

A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for four clients who are scheduled for surgery. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse report to the surgeon?

A nurse is performing a cranial nerve assessment on a client following a head injury. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect if the client has impaired function of the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII)?

A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed an antibiotic. The client tells the nurse. "I don't like taking medications because I don't think I need them." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving 2 units of packed RBCs. Which of the following manifestations indicates a hemolytic transfusion reaction?