NCLEX RN Practice Questions with Answers Related

Review NCLEX RN Practice Questions with Answers related questions and content

The nurse obtains a finger-stick glucose of 400 mg/dL (22.85 mmol/L) for a client who receives total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Which follow-up intervention should the nurse implement?

  • A. Discontinue the current TPN infusion.
  • B. Decrease the infusion rate of the TPN.
  • C. Replace TPN with 5% dextrose solution.
  • D. Confer with provider for glucose control.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: A glucose level of 400 mg/dL indicates significant hyperglycemia, which is a potential complication of TPN due to its high dextrose content. The nurse should confer with the primary health care provider to obtain orders for glucose control, such as insulin administration, to manage the hyperglycemia safely. Discontinuing or altering the TPN infusion without provider orders is inappropriate, as TPN is a critical nutrition source, and abrupt changes could cause metabolic imbalances. Replacing TPN with 5% dextrose would not address the hyperglycemia and could exacerbate it.