clinical skills exam questions Related

Review clinical skills exam questions related questions and content

The patient is admitted to the unit with the diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis. The patient is started on intravenous (IV) fluids and IV mannitol. What action by the nurse is best?

  • A. Assess the patient’s hearing.
  • B. Assess the patient’s lungs.
  • C. Decrease IV fluids once the diuretic has been administered.
  • D. Give extra doses before giving radiological contrast agents.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Assess the patient's lungs. In rhabdomyolysis, muscle breakdown releases myoglobin which can cause kidney damage. Mannitol is given to prevent kidney damage by promoting diuresis. However, mannitol can also cause fluid overload and pulmonary edema. Therefore, assessing the patient's lungs is crucial to monitor for signs of fluid overload and prevent complications.

A: Assessing the patient's hearing is not directly related to the management of rhabdomyolysis and mannitol administration.
C: Decreasing IV fluids after administering a diuretic like mannitol can lead to inadequate fluid resuscitation and worsening kidney injury.
D: Giving extra doses before radiological contrast agents is not necessary in the context of rhabdomyolysis and mannitol administration.