The nurse is caring for a child with hypoparathyroidism who exhibits a carpal spasm when pressure is applied to the upper arm. Which laboratory value should the nurse review?
Sodium
Calcium
Potassium
Chloride
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Sodium levels are not typically affected by hypoparathyroidism. Hypoparathyroidism primarily affects calcium and phosphorus levels in the body.
Choice B rationale
Hypoparathyroidism leads to abnormally low levels of parathyroid hormone, which results in low calcium levels in the blood. A carpal spasm when pressure is applied to the upper arm, also known as Trousseau’s sign, is a common symptom of hypocalcemia.
Choice C rationale
Potassium levels are not typically affected by hypoparathyroidism. Hypoparathyroidism primarily affects calcium and phosphorus levels in the body.
Choice D rationale
Chloride levels are not typically affected by hypoparathyroidism. Hypoparathyroidism primarily affects calcium and phosphorus levels in the body.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Dividing the gluteal area into quarters and giving the IM injection into the upper outer quadrant is not the recommended technique for a 16-month-old toddler. This site is not typically used until after the child has begun walking regularly and has developed sufficient muscle mass.
Choice B rationale
Administering the injection into the middle of the lateral aspect of the thigh is the recommended technique for a 16-month-old toddler. The vastus lateralis muscle in the thigh is usually the preferred site for IM injections in infants and young children.
Choice C rationale
Using a needle length of 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) to avoid deep tissue damage is not the recommended technique for a 16-month-old toddler. The needle length should be appropriate for the age and size of the child, and a 1/2 inch needle may not be long enough to reach the muscle tissue.
Choice D rationale
Giving the injection in the arm, one to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.0 cm) below the acromion process, is not the recommended technique for a 16-month-old toddler. The deltoid muscle in the arm is typically not used for IM injections until after the child is 3 years old.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Diaphragmatic respirations are not typically associated with acute respiratory distress in a child with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Diaphragmatic respirations are normal in infants and young children.
Choice B rationale
A resting respiratory rate of 35 breaths/min is within the normal range for a 1-year-old child and would not typically indicate acute respiratory distress.
Choice C rationale
Bilateral bronchial breath sounds are normal findings and would not typically indicate acute respiratory distress in a child with RSV45.
Choice D rationale
Flaring of the nares, or nostrils, can be a sign of respiratory distress in infants and young children. It indicates that the child is using additional muscles to breathe, which can occur when the lower airways are blocked or narrowed, as in a severe RSV infection.
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