Nokea
A female patient is discharged from the hospital after having an episode of heart failure. She's prescribed daily oral doses of digoxin (Lanoxin) and furosemide (Lasix). Two days later, she tells her community health nurse that she feels weak and her heart 'flutters' frequently. What action should the nurse take?
- A. Tell the patient to rest more often.
- B. Tell the patient to stop taking the digoxin, and call the physician.
- C. Call the physician, report the symptoms, and request to draw a blood sample to determine the patient's potassium level.
- D. Tell the patient to avoid foods that contain caffeine.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Furosemide is a potassium-wasting diuretic. A low potassium level may cause weakness and palpitations. Telling the patient to rest more often won't help the patient if she's hypokalemic. Digoxin isn't causing the patient's symptoms, so she doesn't need to stop taking it. The patient should probably avoid caffeine, but this wouldn't resolve potassium depletion.
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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 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.
When selecting a site on the hand or arm for insertion of an IV catheter, the nurse should:
- A. Choose a proximal site.
- B. Choose a distal site.
- C. Have the patient hold his arm over his head.
- D. Leave the tourniquet on for at least 5 minutes.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When selecting a site for insertion of an IV catheter, the nurse should choose a distal site, not a proximal site. Selection of a distal site leaves the upper veins available for subsequent cannulations. Instruct the patient to hold his arm in a dependent position to increase blood flow. Never leave a tourniquet in place longer than 2 minutes.
A patient who is in renal failure partially loses the ability to regulate changes in pH because the kidneys:
- A. Regulate and reabsorb carbonic acid to change and maintain pH
- B. Buffer acids through electrolyte changes
- C. Regenerate and reabsorb bicarbonate to maintain a stable pH
- D. Combine carbonic acid and bicarbonate to maintain a stable pH
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Which of the following might the nurse assess in a patient diagnosed with hypermagnesemia?
- A. Diminished deep tendon reflexes
- B. Tachycardia
- C. Cool clammy skin
- D. Increased serum magnesium
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.