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?

Administer an IV potassium drip.

Listen to the client's bowel sounds.

Check the client's hand grasps.

Initiate cardiac monitoring for the client.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

The client has hypokalemia, which is a low level of potassium in the blood. Hypokalemia can cause cardiac arrhythmias, which can be life-threatening. The nurse should initiate cardiac monitoring first to assess the client's heart rhythm and rate, and intervene if any abnormalities are detected. Administering an IV potassium drip is an appropriate intervention for hypokalemia, but it is not the first priority. Listening to the client's bowel sounds and checking the client's hand grasps are also relevant assessments for hypokalemia, as it can cause decreased bowel motility and muscle weakness, but they are not as urgent as cardiac monitoring.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A flat lesion with irregular borders is one of the signs of melanoma, a type of skin cancer that arises from melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment. Other signs of melanoma include asymmetry, color variation, diameter greater than 6 mm, and evolution or change over time. The other options are more characteristic of other types of skin cancer or benign lesions.

A. WBC count 15,000/mm3 B. Sodium 130 mg/dL C. BUN 8 mg/dL D. Hematocrit 35%

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A high WBC count (leukocytosis) indicates an inflammatory response to an infection, such as pneumonia. The nurse should expect to see this value in a client who has pneumonia and monitor the client for signs and symptoms of sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The other values are within normal or expected ranges for a client who has pneumonia.

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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?

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Explanation

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