A client with acute kidney injury (AKI) has a serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L. The nurse recognizes that administering IV calcium gluconate to this client will result in which of the following effects?

Potassium will be removed from the body and excreted in the stool.

The heart will be protected from dysrhythmias while the serum potassium is elevated.

Potassium will temporarily shift from the blood into the cells.

Serum potassium levels will increase further due to this medication being administered.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A.   Calcium gluconate does not directly affect the elimination of potassium from the body or its excretion in the stool. It does not act on the kidneys or gastrointestinal tract to remove potassium. Its primary role is to stabilize the cardiac membrane.
B.   Calcium gluconate stabilizes the cardiac membrane and reduces the risk of dysrhythmias associated with elevated serum potassium levels. Hyperkalemia can increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias, and calcium gluconate helps to counteract these effects by protecting the heart muscle.
C.   Calcium gluconate does not cause potassium to shift from the blood into the cells. The shift of potassium into cells is typically induced by other treatments such as insulin and glucose or beta- agonists. Calcium gluconate does not have this effect.
D.   Calcium gluconate does not increase serum potassium levels. It primarily serves to protect the heart from the effects of high potassium levels. It does not have a direct effect on the potassium level itself but helps manage the consequences of hyperkalemia.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. BPH is a common condition in older men that causes the prostate gland to enlarge, obstructing the urethra and leading to difficulty urinating, urinary retention, and pelvic pain. The symptoms described, including urinary frequency, weak urinary stream, severe pelvic pain, and a significantly elevated post- void residual urine volume, are consistent with BPH.
B. ESRD can cause urinary symptoms. However, the presentation in this case is more consistent with a urinary obstruction, not a kidney failure issue. ESRD typically involves more systemic symptoms like fatigue, edema, and electrolyte imbalances.
C. This is unlikely given the patient's age and lack of significant comorbidities. Additionally, the primary issue appears to be urinary obstruction, not a decrease in renal perfusion.
D. This is a chronic condition that typically presents with flank pain, and it does not usually cause acute urinary retention.

A. Comparing the client's current weight to the last post-dialysis weight. B. Measuring the client's current creatinine and BUN levels. C. Assessing the client's skin turgor and peripheral edema. D. Auscultating the client's lung sounds for crackles.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. This method is the most reliable for measuring fluid retention. Weight changes are a direct indicator of fluid balance because fluid retention or loss affects body weight. By comparing the client's current weight to their post-dialysis weight, you can determine the amount of fluid they have retained.

B. Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels are indicators of kidney function rather than fluid volume status. Elevated levels can indicate worsening kidney function but do not directly measure fluid retention or overload.
C. While assessing skin turgor and peripheral edema can provide some clues about fluid overload, these signs are less precise and subjective compared to weight measurements. Skin turgor changes and edema can be influenced by various factors, including skin elasticity and other conditions, making them less reliable for accurately measuring fluid volume changes since the last dialysis.
D. Crackles in lung sounds can indicate pulmonary congestion due to fluid overload, but this method is not as precise for quantifying the amount of fluid retained. Crackles suggest fluid accumulation in the lungs, which is a sign of more severe fluid overload but does not provide a specific measurement of fluid volume compared to changes in body weight.

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A client with acute kidney injury (AKI) has a serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L. The nurse recognizes that administering IV calcium gluconate to this client will result in which of the following effects?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is assessing a client who has chronic kidney disease (CKD) for fluid volume overload prior to scheduled hemodialysis. Which of the following methods provides a reliable measurement of the amount of fluid the client has retained since the last dialysis treatment?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is reviewing laboratory findings for four clients. Which of the following clients has manifestations of untreated chronic kidney disease?

A patient who performs dialysis at home using a catheter placed through the abdominal wall reports nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fluid discharge from the catheter site. The laboratory reports reveal an increased white blood cell count (WBC). Which condition does the nurse suspect in the patient?

Which of the following clients is at risk of developing acute kidney injury from a post-renal cause?

A client has had recurrent kidney stones. Upon lab analysis of the client's urine, it is found that excessive purine intake is the underlying cause. Which of the following high-purine foods should the nurse instruct the client to avoid?

A client with chronic kidney disease is receiving epoetin alfa. Which laboratory result would indicate a therapeutic effect of the medication?

A female client has undergone surgery to remove a large struvite kidney stone. Based on the cause of struvite stones, which medication therapy should the nurse anticipate will be ordered to prevent recurrence of the stones?

A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L. Which of the following medications removes excess potassium from the body?