A patient who is hospitalized with a possible electrolyte imbalance is disoriented and weak, has an irregular pulse, and takes hydrochlorothiazide. He most likely suffers from:
- A. Hypernatremia
- B. Hyponatremia
- C. Hyperkalemia
- D. Hypokalemia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
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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 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.
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.
Your patient has the following arterial blood gas results: pH 7.26, PaCO2 28, HCO3 11 mEq/L. How would the nurse interpret the results?
- A. Respiratory acidosis with no compensation
- B. Metabolic alkalosis with a compensatory alkalosis
- C. Metabolic acidosis with no compensation
- D. Metabolic acidosis with a compensatory respiratory alkalosis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
The triage nurse notes upon assessment in the emergency room that the patient with anxiety is hyperventilating. The nurse is aware that hyperventilation is the most common cause of which acid-base imbalance?
- A. Respiratory acidosis
- B. Respiratory alkalosis
- C. Increased PaCO2
- D. Central nervous system (CNS) disturbances
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.