Nokea
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.
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A patient is in the hospital with heart failure. The nurse notes during the evening assessment that the patient's neck veins are distended and the patient has dyspnea. What action should the nurse take?
- A. Place the patient in low Fowler's and notify the physician.
- B. Increase the patient's IV fluid and auscultate the lungs.
- C. Place the patient in semi-Fowler's and prepare to give the PRN diuretic as ordered.
- D. Discontinue the patient's IV.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Third spacing occurs when fluid moves out of the intravascular space but not into the intracellular space. Based upon this fluid shift, the nurse will expect the patient to demonstrate:
- A. Hypertension
- B. Bradycardia
- C. Hypervolemia
- D. Hypovolemia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
A patient is receiving furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg/d IV. What electrolyte value should be monitored when a patient is receiving a loop diuretic?
- A. Calcium levels
- B. Phosphorous levels
- C. Potassium levels
- D. Magnesium levels
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
A nurse is visiting an 84-year-old woman living at home and recovering from hip surgery. The woman seems confused and has poor skin turgor, and she states that ¢â‚¬Å“she stops drinking water early in the day because it is too difficult to get up during the night to go to the bathroom.¢â‚¬ The nurse explains to the woman that:
- A. She will need to have her medications adjusted and be readmitted to the hospital for a complete workup.
- B. Limiting fluids can create imbalances in the body that can result in confusion; maybe we need to adjust the timing of your fluids.
- C. It is normal to be a little confused following surgery and it safe not to urinate at night.
- D. Confusion following surgery is common in the elderly due to loss of sleep.
Correct Answer: B
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.