Nokea
The client's lab values are sodium $166 \mathrm{mEq} / \mathrm{L}$, potassium $5.0 \mathrm{mEq} / \mathrm{L}$, chloride $115 \mathrm{mEq} / \mathrm{L}$, and bicarbonate $35 \mathrm{mEq} / \mathrm{L}$. What condition is this client likely to have, judging by anion gap?
- A. Metabolic acidosis
- B. Respiratory alkalosis
- C. Metabolic alkalosis
- D. Respiratory acidosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The anion gap is the difference between sodium and potassium cations and the sum of chloride and bicarbonate anions. An anion gap that exceeds $16 \mathrm{mEq} / \mathrm{L}$ indicates metabolic acidosis. In this case, the anion gap is $(166+5)-(115+35)$, yielding $21 \mathrm{mEq} / \mathrm{L}$, which suggests metabolic acidosis. Anion gap is not used to check for respiratory alkalosis, metabolic alkalosis, or respiratory acidosis.
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The nurse is caring for a client with severe hypokalemia. The physician has prescribed IV potassium to be administered at $10 \mathrm{mEq} / \mathrm{hr}$. The client complains of burning along the vein. What should the nurse do?
- A. Seek a physician's prescription to dilute the infusion.
- B. Switch to an oral formulation.
- C. Increase the speed of transfusion.
- D. Change the electrolyte.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Treatment of severe hypokalemia requires treatment with IV infusion of potassium. Clients may experience burning along the vein with IV infusion of potassium in proportion to the infusion's concentration. If the client can tolerate the fluid, consult with the physician about diluting the potassium in a larger volume of IV solution. Oral potassium may not be enough in severe cases hypokalemia. Hypokalemia requires treatment with potassium and not any other electrolyte.
The nurse is caring for a client with laboratory values indicating dehydration. Which clinical symptom is consistent with the dehydration?
- A. Cool and pale skin
- B. Crackles in the lung fields
- C. Distended jugular veins
- D. Dark, concentrated urine
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dehydration indicates a fluid volume deficit. Dark, concentrated urine indicates a lack of fluid volume. Adding more fluid would dilute the urine. The other options indicate fluid excess.
The nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is experiencing respiratory acidosis. The client asks what is making the acidotic state. What does the nurse identify as the result of the disease process that causes the fall in $\mathrm{pH}$ ?
- A. The lungs are unable to breathe in sufficient oxygen.
- B. The lungs are unable to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.
- C. The lungs have ineffective cilia from years of smoking.
- D. The lungs are not able to regulate carbonic acid levels.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In clients with chronic respiratory acidosis, the client's lungs are not able to regulate carbonic acid levels. The increase in carbonic acid leads to acidosis. In COPD, the client is able to breathe in oxygen, and gas exchange can occur, but the lungs' ability to remove the carbon dioxide from the system is limited. Although individuals with COPD frequently have a history of smoking, ineffective cilia is not the cause of the acidosis.
The nurse is correct to state that a client's body needs to have adequate nutrition to maintain energy. Which type of transport of dissolved substances requires adenosine triphosphate (ATP)?
- A. Osmosis
- B. Passive diffusion
- C. Facilitated diffusion
- D. Active transport
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Active transport requires the use of the body's energy molecule (ATP) to meet body needs for fluid and particle transport. Osmosis is the movement of body fluids through a semipermeable membrane that allows not all substances to pass through. Passive diffusion allows the movement of substances from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration. Facilitated diffusion has certain dissolved substances that require the assistance from a carrier module to pass through the semipermeable membrane.
The nurse is reviewing client lab work for a critical lab value. Which value is called to the health care provider for additional prescriptions?
- A. Potassium: $5.8 \mathrm{mEq} / \mathrm{L}$
- B. Sodium: $138 \mathrm{mEq} / \mathrm{L}$
- C. Magnesium: $2 \mathrm{mEq} / \mathrm{L}$
- D. Calcium: $10 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{dL}$
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Normal potassium level is 3.5 to $5.5 \mathrm{mEq} / \mathrm{L}$. Elevated potassium levels can lead to muscle weakness, paresthesias, and cardiac dysrhythmias.