Nursing Elites

1. A patient's lab results show a slight decrease in potassium. The physician has declined to treat with drug therapy but has suggested increasing the potassium through diet. Which of the following would be a good source of potassium?

• A. Apples
• B. Asparagus
• C. Carrots
• D. Bananas

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Bananas are an excellent source of potassium, making them a good choice to increase potassium levels through diet. While apples, asparagus, and carrots are nutritious, they are not particularly high in potassium compared to bananas. Therefore, choosing bananas would be more effective in increasing the patient's potassium intake.

2. Which of the following are sources of water intake?

• A. Drinking fluids.
• B. Consuming water from the food we eat.
• C. Water from metabolic processes.
• D. Drinking fluids, consuming water from the food we eat, and water from metabolic processes.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. The sources of water intake include drinking fluids, consuming water from the food we eat, and water from metabolic processes. Water intake is not solely from the liquids we drink but also from the water content present in the food we consume and the water produced during metabolic processes such as cellular respiration. Therefore, option D is the correct answer as it covers all the sources of water intake. Options A, B, and C alone do not encompass all the sources of water intake, making them incorrect choices.

3. A female patient is discharged from the hospital after having an episode of heart failure. She's prescribed daily oral doses of digoxin (Lanoxin) and furosemide (Lasix). Two days later, she tells her community health nurse that she feels weak and her heart 'flutters' frequently. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Tell the patient to rest more often.
• B. Tell the patient to stop taking the digoxin and call the physician.
• C. Call the physician, report the symptoms, and request to draw a blood sample to determine the patient's potassium level.
• D. Tell the patient to avoid foods that contain caffeine.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take is to call the physician, report the symptoms, and request to draw a blood sample to determine the patient's potassium level. Furosemide is a potassium-wasting diuretic, and low potassium levels can lead to weakness and palpitations. Resting more often won't address the underlying issue of hypokalemia caused by furosemide. While digoxin can have side effects, it is not causing the symptoms described by the patient. Avoiding caffeine may be beneficial, but addressing the potassium level is more critical in this situation.

4. . A medical nurse educator is reviewing a patients recent episode of metabolic acidosis with members of the nursing staff. What should the educator describe about the role of the kidneys in metabolic acidosis?

• A. The kidneys retain hydrogen ions and excrete bicarbonate ions to help restore balance.
• B. The kidneys excrete hydrogen ions and conserve bicarbonate ions to help restore balance
• C. The kidneys react rapidly to compensate for imbalances in the body
• D. The kidneys regulate the bicarbonate level in the intracellular fluid.

Correct answer: B

Rationale:

5. 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: The correct answer is A: Diminished deep tendon reflexes. In a patient with hypermagnesemia, the nurse would assess for diminished deep tendon reflexes. Hypermagnesemia can lead to neuromuscular depression, causing a decrease in deep tendon reflexes. Tachycardia (choice B) is more commonly associated with hypomagnesemia. Cool clammy skin (choice C) is not typically a direct symptom of hypermagnesemia. While hypermagnesemia does involve increased serum magnesium levels (choice D), assessing serum levels is a laboratory test and not a clinical assessment like checking deep tendon reflexes.

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