Which assessments are most important for the nurse to perform to prevent harm on a client with a sodium level of 118 mEq/L (mmol/L)? (Select all that apply)

Testing skin turgor.

Assessing cognition.

Monitoring urine output.

Checking deep tendon reflexes.

Asking about any abdominal pain.

Checking for the presence of fever.

Answer and Explanation

Correct Answer : B,C,D

Choice A reason: Testing skin turgor assesses dehydration, not severe hyponatremia (118 mEq/L), which affects neurological status. Assessing cognition detects complications, making this incorrect, as it’s less critical than the nurse’s priority of monitoring for hyponatremia’s neurological and fluid effects.

Choice B reason: Assessing cognition is critical with a sodium level of 118 mEq/L, as severe hyponatremia causes confusion or seizures. This aligns with neurological assessment, making it a correct action the nurse should perform to prevent harm in the hyponatremic client.

Choice C reason: Monitoring urine output tracks fluid balance, vital in hyponatremia to assess for SIADH or fluid overload. This aligns with renal assessment, making it a correct action the nurse should perform to prevent harm in the client with severe hyponatremia.

Choice D reason: Checking deep tendon reflexes detects neurological changes from hyponatremia, such as hyporeflexia or seizures. This aligns with neurological monitoring, making it a correct assessment the nurse should perform to prevent harm in the client with a sodium of 118 mEq/L.

Choice E reason: Abdominal pain is unrelated to hyponatremia, which primarily affects the brain and fluid balance. Monitoring urine output is more relevant, making this incorrect, as it’s not a priority assessment for the nurse to prevent harm in the hyponatremic client.

Choice F reason: Fever may indicate infection but isn’t directly linked to hyponatremia’s neurological risks. Assessing cognition is critical, making this incorrect, as it’s less urgent than the nurse’s focus on preventing harm from severe hyponatremia’s neurological complications.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Normal ABG values (pH 7.40, CO2 39) don’t reflect COPD’s chronic hypercapnia and compensated acidosis. pH 7.32 with elevated CO2 is typical, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t match the nurse’s expected findings in a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Choice B reason: In COPD, chronic CO2 retention (57 mEq/L) causes respiratory acidosis (pH 7.32) with compensatory HCO3 increase (26 mEq/L). Low PaO2 (85 mm Hg) reflects hypoxemia. This aligns with COPD pathophysiology, making it the correct ABG finding the nurse anticipates in this client.

Choice C reason: Alkalotic pH (7.47) and low CO2 (30 mEq/L) suggest hyperventilation, not COPD’s CO2 retention. Acidosis with high CO2 is expected, making this incorrect, as it contradicts the typical ABG profile in the nurse’s assessment of a COPD client.

Choice D reason: Low CO2 (22 mEq/L) and acidosis (pH 7.30) suggest metabolic acidosis, not COPD’s respiratory acidosis with hypercapnia. Elevated CO2 is typical, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t reflect the nurse’s expected ABG findings in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A. Troubleshoot the ventilator until the problem is found. B. Take the patient off the ventilator and manually ventilate. C. Call the respiratory therapist for help. D. Silence the ventilator alarms until the problem is resolved.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Troubleshooting the ventilator delays oxygenation in a patient with acute lung failure. Manual ventilation ensures immediate breathing, making this incorrect, as it’s less urgent than the nurse’s priority to maintain the patient’s airway and oxygenation during an alarm.

Choice B reason: Manually ventilating the patient after disconnecting from the inoperative ventilator ensures oxygenation in acute lung failure. This aligns with emergency respiratory protocols, making it the correct first action the nurse should take to address the ventilator alarm.

Choice C reason: Calling the respiratory therapist is important but delays immediate oxygenation needed during a ventilator failure. Manual ventilation is the priority, making this incorrect, as it postpones the nurse’s critical action to ensure the patient’s breathing is supported.

Choice D reason: Silencing alarms without addressing the ventilator failure risks hypoxia in a lung failure patient. Manual ventilation is urgent, making this incorrect, as it’s unsafe compared to the nurse’s priority of ensuring oxygenation during the inoperative alarm.

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Which assessments are most important for the nurse to perform to prevent harm on a client with a sodium level of 118 mEq/L (mmol/L)? (Select all that apply)

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