One week after beginning a new prescription for potassium chloride, a client tells the practical nurse (PN) that there is tingling and numbness in the feet and hands. Which action should the PN take?
Notify the unit charge nurse of the client's reported symptoms immediately.
Reassure the client that the supplement will soon relieve those symptoms.
Explain that a calcium supplement may be necessary.
Encourage the client to decrease the intake of dietary sodium.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Notify the unit charge nurse of the client's reported symptoms immediately: Tingling and numbness can be signs of hyperkalemia, a serious and potentially life-threatening complication from potassium supplementation. Immediate reporting is necessary for prompt evaluation and intervention to prevent cardiac or neuromuscular complications.
B. Reassure the client that the supplement will soon relieve those symptoms: Symptoms like tingling and numbness are not expected side effects of potassium therapy. Reassurance without investigation could delay necessary medical treatment and worsen the client’s condition.
C. Explain that a calcium supplement may be necessary: Calcium supplementation is not the standard response to symptoms of potassium imbalance. Without a clear diagnosis, recommending additional supplements could complicate the clinical situation further.
D. Encourage the client to decrease the intake of dietary sodium: Although reducing sodium is generally beneficial for health, it does not address the acute issue of possible potassium imbalance causing neuromuscular symptoms. Immediate clinical evaluation takes priority.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Place the suppository high in the rectum: Inserting the suppository high in the rectum ensures that it is positioned beyond the anal sphincter, where it can be effectively absorbed. Proper placement maximizes the medication's effect and prevents expulsion, which is critical for achieving pain relief and antispasmodic benefits after prostate surgery.
B. Allow the suppository to soften before insertion: Allowing the suppository to soften may make it difficult to insert and can result in incomplete delivery of the medication. A firm suppository is easier to insert properly and ensures accurate medication placement and effectiveness.
C. Freeze the suppository prior to insertion: Freezing the suppository is not recommended because it can make it too hard and sharp, potentially causing trauma to delicate rectal tissues, especially in a postoperative client who may already have increased sensitivity and healing tissues.
D. Avoid use of a lubricant with insertion of the suppository: Using a water-soluble lubricant is important during suppository insertion to minimize mucosal trauma and facilitate smoother placement. Avoiding lubrication can cause unnecessary discomfort and increase the risk of rectal injury.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Provide a tepid sponge bath: Providing a tepid sponge bath is an effective non-pharmacological intervention to help lower a dangerously high fever in a child. This method promotes gentle cooling by encouraging heat loss through evaporation, helping reduce the risk of another seizure without causing abrupt temperature changes.
B. Remove blankets while shivering: Removing blankets while the child is actively shivering is not recommended because shivering can increase the body's metabolic rate and paradoxically raise the core temperature. Managing the fever should focus on gradual cooling without triggering additional metabolic heat production.
C. Apply blankets during diaphoresis: Applying blankets during diaphoresis, when the child is already sweating, can trap heat and counteract the body's natural efforts to cool down. During diaphoresis, lighter coverings or removing excess clothing is more appropriate to facilitate heat loss.
D. Turn on an oscillating fan: Although using a fan can aid in cooling by promoting air circulation, it can also cause rapid cooling, leading to shivering. Shivering increases metabolic heat production, which may worsen the child's condition during a febrile episode rather than improving it.
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