A patient presents to the emergency department with suspected thyroid storm. The nurse should be alert to which of the following cardiac rhythms while providing care to this patient?
- A. Atrial fibrillation
- B. Idioventricular rhythm
- C. Junctional rhythm
- D. Sinus bradycardia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Atrial fibrillation. In thyroid storm, excess thyroid hormone levels can lead to increased sympathetic activity, causing tachycardia and arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is common in thyroid storm due to the hypermetabolic state and increased risk of atrial arrhythmias. Other choices are incorrect: B (Idioventricular rhythm) is not typically associated with thyroid storm, C (Junctional rhythm) is less likely since atrial arrhythmias are more common, and D (Sinus bradycardia) is unlikely due to the hypermetabolic state causing tachycardia.
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Mechanisms for development of diabetes insipidus include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
- A. ADH deficiency
- B. ADH excess
- C. ADH insensitivity
- D. ADH replacement therapy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: ADH deficiency. Diabetes insipidus is caused by a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), leading to excessive urine production and thirst. ADH is responsible for regulating water reabsorption in the kidneys. When ADH levels are low or absent, the kidneys cannot concentrate urine effectively, resulting in excessive urine output.
Explanation for why other choices are incorrect:
B: ADH excess would not lead to diabetes insipidus, as it would result in increased water reabsorption and concentrated urine.
C: ADH insensitivity refers to a condition where the body does not respond to ADH, but it does not cause diabetes insipidus.
D: ADH replacement therapy is actually a treatment for diabetes insipidus, not a mechanism for its development.
The patient is admitted with complaints of general malaise and fatigue, along with a decreased urinary output. The patient’s urinalysis shows coarse, muddy brown granular casts and hematuria. The nurse determines that the patient has:
- A. acute kidney injury from a prerenal condition.
- B. acute kidney injury from postrenal obstruction.
- C. intrarenal disease, probably acute tubular necrosis.
- D. a urinary tract infection.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: intrarenal disease, probably acute tubular necrosis. The presence of coarse, muddy brown granular casts and hematuria in the urinalysis indicates damage to the renal tubules, which is characteristic of acute tubular necrosis. This condition is a type of intrarenal disease where there is direct damage to the kidney tubules, leading to decreased urinary output and symptoms like malaise and fatigue. Prerenal and postrenal conditions do not typically present with granular casts and hematuria, making choices A and B incorrect. Urinary tract infection is also unlikely to cause the specific findings seen in this case, ruling out choice D. Therefore, choice C is the most appropriate based on the urinalysis results and clinical presentation.
Which of the following laboratory values would be found in a patient with syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone?
- A. Fasting blood glucose 156 mg/dL
- B. Serum potassium 5.8 mEq/L
- C. Serum sodium 115 mEq/L
- D. Serum sodium 152 mEq/L
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C, Serum sodium 115 mEq/L. In syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), there is excess release of ADH leading to water retention and dilutional hyponatremia. Low serum sodium levels (hyponatremia) are characteristic of SIADH due to water retention without proportional sodium retention. Choices A and B are not indicative of SIADH. Choice D, high serum sodium, is more likely in conditions causing dehydration or excessive sodium intake.
The term used to describe an increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine is
- A. oliguria.
- B. azotemia.
- C. acute kidney injury.
- D. prerenal disease.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: azotemia. Azotemia refers to elevated levels of nitrogenous waste products like BUN and creatinine in the blood. This occurs when the kidneys are not functioning properly, leading to decreased filtration and excretion of waste products. Oliguria (A) is reduced urine output, not specific to elevated BUN and creatinine levels. Acute kidney injury (C) is a broader term for sudden loss of kidney function. Prerenal disease (D) typically refers to conditions affecting blood flow to the kidneys, leading to decreased kidney function, but it does not specifically describe the increase in BUN and creatinine levels.
A normal urine output is considered to be
- A. 80 to 125 mL/min.
- B. 180 L/day.
- C. 80 mL/min.
- D. 1 to 2 L/day.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: 1 to 2 L/day. Normal urine output typically ranges from 1 to 2 liters per day, which is considered adequate for maintaining proper hydration and eliminating waste products. A: 80 to 125 mL/min is too low for daily output. B: 180 L/day is excessively high and unrealistic. C: 80 mL/min is also too low for daily urine output. Therefore, D is the most appropriate choice based on standard guidelines for urine excretion.