Which client electrocardiography (ECG) change from baseline will alert the nurse to possible development of hypercalcemia?
Shortened QT interval.
Inverted T waves.
Prominent U wave.
Absent P wave.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Hypercalcemia shortens the QT interval on ECG due to accelerated cardiac repolarization. This aligns with electrolyte-related cardiac monitoring, making it the correct change the nurse would recognize as indicating possible hypercalcemia in the client’s electrocardiography assessment.
Choice B reason: Inverted T waves suggest ischemia or hypokalemia, not hypercalcemia, which shortens the QT interval. This is incorrect, as it doesn’t align with the nurse’s expected ECG change for hypercalcemia compared to the characteristic shortened QT interval.
Choice C reason: Prominent U waves are associated with hypokalemia, not hypercalcemia, which affects the QT interval. Shortened QT is correct, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s monitoring for hypercalcemia’s ECG changes in the client.
Choice D reason: Absent P waves indicate atrial fibrillation, not hypercalcemia, which shortens the QT interval. This is incorrect, as it doesn’t reflect the nurse’s anticipated ECG change for hypercalcemia, unlike the characteristic shortened QT interval in the client’s monitoring.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Assessing pain at the insertion site is important but less urgent than ensuring vascular patency post-catheterization. Checking pulses detects complications like occlusion, making this incorrect, as it’s secondary to the nurse’s priority of monitoring for vascular issues immediately post-procedure.
Choice B reason: Assessing dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses is most important to detect vascular complications, such as arterial occlusion, post-cardiac catheterization. This aligns with post-procedure protocols, making it the correct action to ensure limb perfusion and prevent serious complications immediately.
Choice C reason: Observing the access site for bleeding is key but secondary to ensuring distal perfusion via pulses. Vascular occlusion is a greater risk, making this incorrect, as it’s less urgent than the nurse’s priority of checking pulses post-cardiac catheterization.
Choice D reason: Checking capillary refill time assesses perfusion but is less specific than pulse assessment for detecting arterial issues post-catheterization. Pulses are the priority, making this incorrect, as it’s secondary to the nurse’s focus on immediate vascular integrity post-procedure.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Analyzing care levels is important, but the nurse’s negligence lies in not addressing the critical magnesium level. Reporting to the practitioner is the appropriate action, making this incorrect, as it’s less specific than the failure to act on a critical lab result.
Choice B reason: Respecting patient wishes relates to DNR but doesn’t negate the need to report critical labs for non-resuscitative care. Failure to act is the issue, making this incorrect, as it misapplies the DNR to the nurse’s duty to address the magnesium level.
Choice C reason: Wrongful death assumes patient harm or death, which isn’t indicated here. Failure to act on the critical magnesium level is the negligence, making this incorrect, as it overstates the outcome compared to the nurse’s inaction on the lab result.
Choice D reason: Failure to take appropriate action, such as reporting a critical magnesium level of 1.1 mEq/L, is negligent, regardless of DNR status. This aligns with nursing standards, making it the correct action the nurse neglected, as critical labs require practitioner notification.
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