you are the surgical nurse caring for a 65 year old female patient who is postoperative day 1 following a thyroidectomy during your shift assessment t
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Nursing Elites

ATI RN

ATI Fluid Electrolyte and Acid-Base Regulation

1. You are the surgical nurse caring for a 65-year-old female patient who is postoperative day 1 following a thyroidectomy. During your shift assessment, the patient complains of tingling in her lips and fingers. She tells you that she has an intermittent spasm in her wrist and hand and she exhibits increased muscle tone. What electrolyte imbalance should you first suspect?

Correct answer: B

Rationale:

2. You are caring for a patient admitted with a diagnosis of acute kidney injury. When you review your patient's most recent laboratory reports, you note that the patient's magnesium levels are high. You should prioritize assessment for which of the following health problems?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Corrected Rationale: To assess a patient's magnesium status, the nurse should check deep tendon reflexes. Diminished deep tendon reflexes may indicate high serum magnesium levels, as hypermagnesemia can lead to neuromuscular effects. Tachycardia, cool clammy skin, and acute flank pain are not typically associated with high magnesium levels and are not priority assessments in this situation.

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?

Correct answer: B

Rationale:

4. While assessing a clients peripheral IV site, the nurse observes a streak of red along the vein path and palpates a 4-cm venous cord. How should the nurse document this finding?

Correct answer: A

Rationale:

5. What fluid is found in spaces between the cells?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, Interstitial fluid. Interstitial fluid is the fluid that surrounds and occupies the spaces between cells, providing them with nutrients and removing waste. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because intracellular fluid refers to fluid inside cells, plasma refers to the liquid component of blood, and electrolyte refers to substances that dissociate into ions in solution, affecting fluid balance but not specifically found in spaces between cells.

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