Nursing Elites

1. You are caring for a 65-year-old male patient admitted to your medical unit 72 hours ago with pyloric stenosis. A nasogastric tube placed upon admission has been on low intermittent suction ever since. Upon review of the mornings blood work, you notice that the patients potassium is below reference range. You should recognize that the patient may be at risk for what imbalance?

• A. Hypercalcemia
• B. Metabolic acidosis
• C. Metabolic alkalosis
• D. Respiratory acidosis

Correct answer: C

Rationale:

2. A nurse is caring for a patient who requires measurement of specific gravity every 4 hours. What does this test detect?

• A. Nutritional deficit
• B. Hyperkalemia
• C. Hypercalcemia
• D. Fluid volume status

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Specific gravity is a test used to determine the concentration of solutes in the urine, reflecting the kidney's ability to concentrate urine. Changes in specific gravity can indicate fluid volume status, such as dehydration (fluid volume deficit) or overhydration (fluid volume excess). Options A, B, and C are incorrect as specific gravity does not directly detect nutritional deficits, hyperkalemia, or hypercalcemia.

3. Extracellular fluid includes:

• A. plasma and intracellular fluid.
• B. interstitial and intracellular fluids.
• C. plasma and interstitial fluid.
• D. plasma, interstitial fluid, and intracellular fluid.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'plasma and interstitial fluid.' Extracellular fluid consists of all body fluids outside the cells, primarily including plasma (the liquid component of blood) and interstitial fluid (the fluid between cells). Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because intracellular fluid is located within the cells, not in the extracellular fluid compartment.

4. A newly graduated nurse is admitting a patient with a long history of emphysema. The new nurses preceptor is going over the patients past lab reports with the new nurse. The nurse takes note that the patients PaCO2 has been between 56 and 64 mm Hg for several months. The preceptor asks the new nurse why they will be cautious administering oxygen. What is the new nurses best response?

• A. The patients calcium will rise dramatically due to pituitary stimulation.
• B. Oxygen will increase the patients intracranial pressure and create confusion.
• C. Oxygen may cause the patient to hyperventilate and become acidotic.
• D. Using oxygen may result in the patient developing carbon dioxide narcosis and hypoxemia.

Correct answer: D

Rationale:

5. The term used to describe a blood sodium level of more than 145 mEq/L is:

• A. hyponatremia.
• B. hyperkalemia.
• C. hypernatremia.
• D. hypercalcemia.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: hypernatremia. Hypernatremia refers to an elevated level of sodium in the blood, specifically when it is more than 145 mEq/L. Choice A, hyponatremia, is incorrect as it refers to low sodium levels. Choice B, hyperkalemia, is incorrect as it refers to high potassium levels, not sodium. Choice D, hypercalcemia, is also incorrect as it relates to elevated calcium levels, not sodium.

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