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The nurse is caring for a postthyroidectomy patient at risk for hypocalcemia. What action should the nurse take when assessing for hypocalcemia?
- A. Monitor laboratory values daily for an elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone.
- B. Observe for swelling of the neck, tracheal deviation, and severe pain.
- C. Evaluate the quality of the patient's voice postoperatively, noting any drastic changes.
- D. Observe for muscle twitching and numbness or tingling of the lips, fingers, and toes.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Muscle twitching and numbness or tingling of the lips, fingers, and toes are signs of hyperirritability of the nervous system due to hypocalcemia. The other options describe complications the nurse should also be observing for; however, tetany and neurologic alterations are primary indications of hypocalcemia.
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A 65-year-old male patient was admitted to a medical-surgical unit 72 hours ago with pyloric stenosis; a nasogastric tube was inserted upon admission and has been on low intermittent suction since then. The nurse taking care of the patient notices that his potassium is very low and becomes concerned that the patient may be at risk for:
- A. Hypercalcemia
- B. Metabolic acidosis
- C. Metabolic alkalosis
- D. Respiratory acidosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Probably the most common cause of metabolic alkalosis is vomiting or gastric suction with loss of hydrogen and chloride ions. The disorder also occurs in pyloric stenosis in which only gastric fluid is lost. Vomiting, gastric suction, and pyloric stenosis all remove potassium and can cause hypokalemia.
A nurse is taking care of a 65-year-old female patient in a medical-surgical unit who is in renal failure; during the assessment the patient complains of tingling in her lips and fingers. When the nurse takes her blood pressure, she has a spasm in her wrist and hand. The nurse suspects:
- A. Hypophosphatemia
- B. Hypocalcemia
- C. Hypermagnesemia
- D. Hyperkalemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tetany is the most characteristic manifestation of hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia. Sensations of tingling may occur in the tips of the fingers, around the mouth, and less commonly in the feet. Taking a normal blood pressure could illicit a carpal spasm if it creates slight ischemia of the ulnar nerve.
A nurse sees a variety of patients in the community health clinic. Which of the following patients would be at the greatest risk of dehydration?
- A. An 18-year-old basketball player with a stress fracture of the right foot
- B. An infant with diarrhea
- C. A 45-year-old with stomach flu
- D. An elderly patient living alone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
A nurse preparing to start an IV on a newly admitted patient teaches the patient about the procedure and begins to prepare the site. The nurse should always start by:
- A. Leaving one hand ungloved to assess the site
- B. Preparing the skin with an iodine solution
- C. Asking the patient if he is allergic to latex or iodine
- D. Removing excessive hair at the selected site
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Before preparing the skin, the nurse should ask the patient if he or she is allergic to latex or iodine, which are products commonly used in setting up for IV therapy. A local reaction could result in irritation to the IV site or, in the extreme, it could result in anaphylaxis, which can be life threatening.
The nurse in the intensive care unit receives arterial blood gases (ABG) with a patient who is complaining of being 'short of breath.' The ABG has the following values: pH = 7.21, PaCO2 = 64 mm Hg, HCO3 = 24 mm Hg. The labs reflect:
- A. Respiratory acidosis
- B. Metabolic alkalosis
- C. Respiratory alkalosis
- D. Metabolic acidosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.