What is a major function of potassium within the body?

regulating cardiac enzymes

maintaining normal nerve and muscle activity

regulating kidney function

stimulating the excretion or retention of chloride

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A. Regulating cardiac enzymes: Potassium does not directly regulate cardiac enzymes. Its influence on the heart is more about maintaining the electrical potential across cell membranes, which is crucial for the heart's rhythm and contractility.

B. Maintaining normal nerve and muscle activity: Potassium is crucial for maintaining normal nerve and muscle function. It helps generate electrical impulses in cells, particularly in muscles and nerves, including the heart muscle.

C. Regulating kidney function: While potassium levels are regulated by the kidneys, potassium itself does not regulate kidney function. The kidneys help maintain potassium balance in the body by excreting or conserving it.

D. Stimulating the excretion or retention of chloride: Potassium does not regulate chloride excretion or retention. The excretion or retention of chloride is often linked to the movement of sodium and other ions to maintain electrical neutrality and fluid balance.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Moist skin: Dehydration typically causes the skin to become dry, not moist. In fluid volume deficit, the body loses water and electrolytes, leading to a lack of moisture in the skin.

B. Distended neck veins: Distended neck veins are typically a sign of fluid volume excess or overload, such as in heart failure, not fluid volume deficit. Dehydration usually leads to decreased blood volume, which results in flat veins.

C. Increased urinary output: Dehydration leads to decreased urine output as the body attempts to conserve water. Increased urinary output would be seen in conditions like diabetes insipidus, not dehydration.

D. Thready pulses: Thready pulses are a common sign of dehydration. Fluid volume deficit reduces circulating blood volume, leading to weaker and less palpable pulses, which is characteristic of dehydration.

A. Increased urinary output B. Reduced abdominal distention C. Kussmaul respirations D. Decreased blood pressure

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Increased urinary output: Increased urinary output is not a primary compensatory mechanism for metabolic acidosis. The kidneys help compensate by excreting hydrogen ions and reabsorbing bicarbonate, but this does not directly lead to increased urinary output.

B. Reduced abdominal distention: Abdominal distention is unrelated to the compensatory mechanism for metabolic acidosis. The primary compensatory mechanism is respiratory, not gastrointestinal.

C. Kussmaul respirations: Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid breaths that occur as a compensatory mechanism for metabolic acidosis. The body increases the respiratory rate and depth to expel CO2, which is acidic and raise the blood pH, helping to correct the acid-base imbalance.

D. Decreased blood pressure: Decreased blood pressure can occur in various conditions, including metabolic acidosis, but it is not part of the compensatory mechanism. The body's response to metabolic acidosis is increasing ventilation to expel CO2 and correct the pH imbalance.

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What is a major function of potassium within the body?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is collecting data from a client who is dehydrated due to fluid volume deficit. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The nurse is caring for a patient with metabolic acidosis. Which assessment finding reveals that the compensatory mechanism to correct this imbalance is in effect?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nursing intervention for Hyperkalemia is?

The K laboratory report shows a level of 5.2 mEq/L (Normal 3.5-5.0 mEq/L). What is the most important assessment for the nurse to make?

The nurse is assessing a patient and finds crackles in the lung bases and neck vein distention. Which action will the nurse take first?

A nurse is caring for four clients who have drainage tubes. The nurse should identify the client who has which of the following tubes as being at risk for hypokalemia?

A patient is experiencing respiratory acidosis. Which organ system is responsible for compensation in this patient?

An emergency department nurse admits a client who has tried to commit suicide by taking an overdose of oxycodone (OxyContin). For which acid-base imbalance should the nurse assess this client?

The regulatory system of acid-base balance takes the longest time to respond, and regulates pH of extracellular (ECF) by eliminating hydrogen ions or bicarbonate in body fluids.

A licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) is preparing to add a new IV of 5% dextrose in water (D5W) with potassium (K) to an existing line. The LPN/LVN notices that only 25 mL of urine has been collected over the past hour. What is the most appropriate nursing intervention?