A patients most recent laboratory results show a slight decrease in potassium. The physician has opted to forego drug therapy but has suggested increasing the patients dietary intake of potassium. Which of the following would be a good source of potassium?
- A. Apples
- B. Asparagus
- C. Carrots
- D. Bananas
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Bananas are high in potassium. Apples, carrots, and asparagus are not high in potassium.
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A newly graduated nurse is admitting a patient with a long history of emphysema. The new nurses preceptor is going over the patients past lab reports with the new nurse. The nurse takes note that the patients PaCO2 has been between 56 and 64 mm Hg for several months. The preceptor asks the new nurse why they will be cautious administering oxygen. What is the new nurses best response?
- A. The patients calcium will rise dramatically due to pituitary stimulation.
- B. Oxygen will increase the patients intracranial pressure and create confusion.
- C. Oxygen may cause the patient to hyperventilate and become acidotic.
- D. Using oxygen may result in the patient developing carbon dioxide narcosis and hypoxemia.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When PaCO2 chronically exceeds 50 mm Hg, it creates insensitivity to CO2 in the respiratory medulla, and the use of oxygen may result in the patient developing carbon dioxide narcosis and hypoxemia. No information indicates the patients calcium will rise dramatically due to pituitary stimulation. No feedback system that oxygen stimulates would create an increase in the patients intracranial pressure and create confusion. Increasing the oxygen would not stimulate the patient to hyperventilate and become acidotic; rather, it would cause hypoventilation and acidosis.
A gerontologic nurse teaching students about the high incidence and prevalence of dehydration in older adults. What factors contribute to this phenomenon? Select all that apply.
- A. Decreased kidney mass
- B. Increased conservation of sodium
- C. Decreased renal blood flow
- D. Decreased excretion of potassium
Correct Answer: A, D, E
Rationale: Dehydration in the elderly is common as a result of decreased kidney mass, decreased glomerular filtration rate, decreased renal blood flow, decreased ability to concentrate urine, inability to conserve sodium, decreased excretion of potassium, and a decrease of total body water. Increased water volume and sodium conservation are not typical contributors to dehydration in older adults.
Diagnostic testing has been ordered to differentiate between normal anion gap acidosis and high anion gap acidosis in an acutely ill patient. What health problem typically precedes normal anion gap acidosis?
- A. Metastases
- B. Excessive potassium intake
- C. Water intoxication
- D. Excessive administration of chloride
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Normal anion gap acidosis results from the direct loss of sodium bicarbonate, as in diarrhea, loss from lower intestinal fistulas, ureterostomies, and use of diuretics; early renal insufficiency; excessive administration of chloride; and the administration of parenteral nutrition without bicarbonate or bicarbonate-producing solutes (e.g., lactate). Based on these facts, the other listed options are incorrect.
The nurse is providing care for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. When describing the process of respiration the nurse explains how oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the pulmonary capillaries and the alveoli. The nurse is describing what process?
- A. Diffusion
- B. Osmosis
- C. Active transport
- D. Filtration
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Diffusion is the natural tendency of a substance to move from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration. It occurs through the random movement of ions and molecules. Examples of diffusion are the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the pulmonary capillaries and alveoli and the tendency of sodium to move from the ECF compartment, where the sodium concentration is high, to the ICF, where its concentration is low. Osmosis occurs when two different solutions are separated by a membrane that is impermeable to the dissolved substances; fluid shifts through the membrane from the region of low solute concentration to the region of high solute concentration until the solutions are of equal concentration. Active transport implies that energy must be expended for the movement to occur against a concentration gradient. Movement of water and solutes occurring from an area of high hydrostatic pressure to an area of low hydrostatic pressure is filtration.
You are performing an admission assessment on an older adult patient newly admitted for end-stage liver disease. What principle should guide your assessment of the patients skin turgor?
- A. Overhydration is common among healthy older adults.
- B. Dehydration causes the skin to appear spongy.
- C. Inelastic skin turgor is a normal part of aging.
- D. Skin turgor cannot be assessed in patients over 70.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Inelastic skin is a normal change of aging. However, this does not mean that skin turgor cannot be assessed in older patients. Dehydration, not overhydration, causes inelastic skin with tenting. Overhydration, not dehydration, causes the skin to appear edematous and spongy.
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