Nursing Elites

1. A client with a serum potassium of 7.5 mEq/L and cardiovascular changes needs immediate intervention. Which prescription should the nurse implement first?

• A. Prepare to administer sodium polystyrene sulfate (Kayexalate) 15 g by mouth.
• B. Provide a heart-healthy, low-potassium diet.
• C. Prepare to administer dextrose 20% and 10 units of regular insulin IV push.
• D. Prepare the client for hemodialysis treatment.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In a client with a serum potassium level of 7.5 mEq/L and cardiovascular changes, the priority intervention is to lower the potassium level quickly to prevent life-threatening complications like arrhythmias. The correct answer is to prepare to administer dextrose 20% and 10 units of regular insulin IV push. This combination helps shift potassium from the extracellular to the intracellular space, reducing serum potassium levels rapidly. Administering sodium polystyrene sulfate (Kayexalate) by mouth may take several hours to work, making it a less effective immediate intervention. Providing a heart-healthy, low-potassium diet is important for long-term management but is not the most urgent action in this situation. While hemodialysis is a definitive treatment for hyperkalemia, it is not the first-line intervention for acute management of high potassium levels with cardiovascular manifestations.

2. The patient asks the nurse if he will die if air bubbles get into the IV tubing. What is the nurse's best response?

• A. The system is closed, and that scenario is highly unlikely.
• B. Only relatively large volumes of air administered rapidly are dangerous.
• C. There is a risk of complications associated with IV administration.
• D. You have been influenced by movies too much.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because air emboli are more commonly associated with central vein access. Usually, only relatively large volumes of air administered rapidly are dangerous. It is a significant concern when air enters a central venous access line. Choice A is incorrect as it downplays the risk and is not entirely accurate. Choice C is too general and does not specifically address the patient's concern. Choice D is dismissive and does not provide any relevant information regarding the risk of air bubbles in IV tubing.

3. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving an epidural infusion for pain management. Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention from the nurse?

• A. Redness at the catheter insertion site
• B. Report of headache and stiff neck
• C. Temperature of 100.1 F (37.8 C)
• D. Pain rating of 8 on a scale of 0 to 10

Correct answer: B

Rationale:

4. A nurse is caring for a client who has the following arterial blood values: pH 7.12, PaO2 56 mm Hg, PaCO2 65 mm Hg, and HCO3 22 mEq/L. Which clinical situation should the nurse correlate with these values?

• A. . Diabetic ketoacidosis in a person with emphysema
• B. Bronchial obstruction related to aspiration of a hot dog
• C. Anxiety-induced hyperventilation in an adolescen
• D. Diarrhea for 36 hours in an older, frail woman

Correct answer: A

Rationale:

5. The nurse is assessing the patient for the presence of a Chvostek's sign. What electrolyte imbalance does a positive Chvostek's sign indicate?

• A. Hypermagnesemia
• B. Hypomagnesemia
• C. Hypocalcemia
• D. Hyperkalemia

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Chvostek's sign is characterized by a brief contraction of the upper lip, nose, or side of the face and is indicative of hypocalcemia, making choice C the correct answer. Hypomagnesemia (choice B) is associated with Trousseau's sign, not Chvostek's sign. Hypermagnesemia (choice A) is not related to Chvostek's sign. Hyperkalemia (choice D) is not typically associated with Chvostek's sign; instead, it may present with muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias.

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