An older patient comes into the clinic complaining of watery diarrhea for several days with abdominal and muscle cramping. The nurse realizes that this patient is demonstrating which imbalance?

Hyperkalemia

Hyponatremia

Fluid volume excess

Hypernatremia

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A: Hyperkalemia is not an imbalance that this patient is demonstrating, because this condition occurs when the blood potassium level is too high. This can happen in patients who have renal failure, acidosis, or excessive potassium intake. Hyperkalemia can cause muscle weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and paralysis.

Choice B: Hyponatremia is an imbalance that this patient is demonstrating, because this condition occurs when the blood sodium level is too low. This can happen in patients who have watery diarrhea, which causes the loss of sodium and water from the body. Hyponatremia can cause abdominal and muscle cramping, nausea, confusion, and seizures.

Choice C: Fluid volume excess is not an imbalance that this patient is demonstrating, because this condition occurs when the body retains more ﬂuid than it excretes. This can happen in patients who have heart failure, kidney failure, or excessive ﬂuid intake. Fluid volume excess can cause edema, distended neck veins, and crackles in the lungs.

Choice D: Hypernatremia is not an imbalance that this patient is demonstrating, because this condition occurs when the blood sodium level is too high. This can happen in patients who have dehydration, diabetes insipidus, or excessive sodium intake. Hypernatremia can cause thirst, dry mucous membranes, agitation, and coma.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A: Corticosteroid is incorrect because it does not directly aﬀect the potassium level in the blood, although it can cause sodium and water retention, which can dilute the potassium concentration. Corticosteroid is a type of anti- inﬂammatory medication that can be used to treat conditions such as asthma, arthritis, or allergic reactions.

Choice B: Narcotic is incorrect because it does not directly aﬀect the potassium level in the blood, although it can cause respiratory depression, which can lead to respiratory acidosis and hyperkalemia, or high potassium level. Narcotic is a type of analgesic medication that can be used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Choice C: Thiazide diuretic is correct because it is a type of medication that increases urine output and sodium excretion, but also causes potassium loss in the urine. Thiazide diuretic can be used to treat conditions such as hypertension, edema, or heart failure.

Choice D: Muscle relaxer is incorrect because it does not directly aﬀect the potassium level in the blood, although it can cause muscle weakness, which can mimic the symptoms of hypokalemia. Muscle relaxer is a type of medication that can be used to treat conditions such as muscle spasms, back pain, or fibromyalgia.

A. Calcium-containing antacids B. Increased vitamin D intake C. Potassium phosphate D. Additional milk intake E. IV normal saline

Correct Answer is ["A","E"]

Explanation

Choice A: Calcium-containing antacids are prescribed for patients with high serum phosphate levels, because calcium binds with phosphate and lowers its concentration in the blood. Calcium-containing antacids also help to prevent or treat hypocalcemia, which is a common complication of hyperphosphatemia.

Choice B: Increased vitamin D intake is not prescribed for patients with high serum phosphate levels, because vitamin D enhances the absorption of both calcium and phosphate from the intestines. Increased vitamin D intake can worsen hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia.

Choice C: Potassium phosphate is not prescribed for patients with high serum phosphate levels, because potassium phosphate is a source of phosphate that increases its concentration in the blood. Potassium phosphate can also cause hyperkalemia, which is a dangerous condition that aﬀects the heart rhythm.

Choice D: Additional milk intake is not prescribed for patients with high serum phosphate levels, because milk is rich in both calcium and phosphate. Additional milk intake can worsen hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia.

Choice E: IV normal saline is prescribed for patients with high serum phosphate levels, because normal saline helps to dilute the blood and lower the concentration of phosphate. Normal saline also helps to maintain ﬂuid and electrolyte balance in the body.

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An older patient comes into the clinic complaining of watery diarrhea for several days with abdominal and muscle cramping. The nurse realizes that this patient is demonstrating which imbalance?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient is diagnosed with hypokalemia. After reviewing the patient's current medications, which drug should the nurse consider that might have contributed to the patient's health problem?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A patient has a serum phosphate level of 4.7 mg/dL. Which treatments should the nurse expect to be prescribed for this patient? Select all that apply.

Correct Answer is ["A","E"]

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving IV ﬂuids to correct dehydration. Which of the following laboratory values should indicate to the nurse that the client is eﬀectively responding to treatment?

A nurse is caring for a client whose arterial blood gas results show a pH of 7.3 and a PaCO2 of 50 mm Hg. The nurse should identify that the client is experiencing which of the following acid-base imbalances?

A patient with atrial fibrillation and a serum potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L takes digoxin (Lanoxin), ASA (aspirin), KCL (potassium chloride) and warfarin (Coumadin) daily. The patient reports visual disturbances. The nurse suspects problems with which medication?

A patient with a history of stomach ulcers is diagnosed with hypophosphatemia. What intervention should the nurse include in this patient's plan of care?

The nurse is reviewing the health problems for a group of assigned patients. Which patient does the nurse recognize as being at increased risk for developing metabolic alkalosis?

The nurse is concerned that a patient recovering from a thyroidectomy is developing hypocalcemia. What findings did the nurse use to come to this conclusion? Select all that apply.

A postoperative patient is diagnosed with ﬂuid volume overload. What should the nurse expect to assess in this patient?

A nurse is reviewing a client's laboratory values and discovers the client has a serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the following interventions should the nurse anticipate?