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.
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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Milk is low in purines and is not associated with an increase in uric acid levels or the formation of uric acid stones. In fact, dairy products like milk can be beneficial in a diet for managing kidney stones because they are low in purines and provide calcium, which may help prevent stone formation.
B. Liver is very high in purines. High-purine foods increase the levels of uric acid in the body, which can lead to the formation of uric acid stones in the kidneys. Therefore, clients with recurrent kidney stones due to excessive purine intake should avoid liver and other organ meats.
C. Spinach is considered to have a moderate level of purines. While it is not as high in purines as organ meats, it still contains a notable amount. However, in comparison to foods like liver, it is less of a concern for individuals who need to strictly limit purine intake.
D. Chocolate contains a moderate amount of purines, but it is not as high in purines as organ meats like liver. While it’s not completely free from purines, its purine content is generally lower compared to foods such as liver.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Hematocrit measures the proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells. Epoetin alfa stimulates red blood cell production, so a therapeutic effect would be indicated by an increase in hematocrit levels. This is a key laboratory result to monitor when assessing the effectiveness of epoetin alfa in treating anemia in CKD patients.
B. Serum potassium levels are important to monitor in CKD patients due to the risk of hyperkalemia, but they are not directly affected by epoetin alfa. Decreasing serum potassium is not a primary indicator of the therapeutic effect of epoetin alfa.
C. Platelet count measures the number of platelets in the blood, which are crucial for blood clotting. Epoetin alfa is not designed to affect platelet counts; thus, a change in platelet count is not an indicator of the medication's therapeutic effect.
D. White blood cell count reflects the immune system's status and is not directly influenced by epoetin alfa. This medication specifically targets red blood cell production and does not impact white blood cell counts.
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