A home health nurse is making a home visit to a client who takes a daily diuretic for heart failure. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse identify as indicating the client is hypokalemic?
Dyspnea
Oliguria
Pitting edema
Fatigue
The Correct Answer is D
Hypokalemia is a low serum potassium level, usually below 3.5 mEq/L. It can be caused by diuretics that increase potassium excretion, such as thiazides or loop diuretics. Potassium is essential for normal muscle and nerve function, and hypokalemia can impair cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle activity. Symptoms of hypokalemia include fatigue, weakness, muscle cramps, arrhythmias, constipation, and hyporeflexia.
- Dyspnea is difficulty or labored breathing that can be caused by various respiratory or cardiac conditions, such as asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, or heart failure. It is not a specific sign of hypokalemia, although severe hypokalemia can affect respiratory muscle function and cause respiratory failure.
- Oliguria is a reduced urine output, usually less than 400 mL per day or 30 mL per hour. It can be caused by various renal or fluid balance disorders, such as acute kidney injury, dehydration, or shock. It is not a specific sign of hypokalemia, although severe hypokalemia can impair renal function and cause renal failure.
- Pitting edema is a swelling of the tissues that leaves an indentation when pressed with a finger. It can be caused by various fluid retention disorders, such as heart failure, liver cirrhosis, or nephrotic syndrome. It is not a specific sign of hypokalemia, although severe hypokalemia can affect fluid and electrolyte balance and cause edema.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Ventricular gallop is another name for the S3 sound, which is a low-pitched sound heard at the end of diastole, just after the S2 sound. It is caused by the rapid filling of the ventricles and the vibration of the ventricular walls.
Closure of the pulmonic valve is one of the components of the S2 sound, which is a high-pitched sound heard at the end of the systole, just before the S1 sound. It is caused by the closure of the semilunar valves (pulmonic and aortic).
Closure of the mitral valve is one of the components of the S1 sound, which is a high-pitched sound heard at the beginning of systole, just after the S2 sound. It is caused by the closure of the atrioventricular valves (mitral and tricuspid).
d. Atrial gallop is another name for the S4 sound, which is a low-pitched sound heard at the end of diastole, just before the S1 sound. It is caused by atrial contraction and increased resistance to ventricular filling.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Asthma typically presents with wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. While dyspnea is a symptom, tachycardia and weak peripheral pulses are not characteristic findings associated with asthma.
B. Aortic valve regurgitation may cause dyspnea and fatigue, but it is more commonly associated with bounding pulses and diastolic murmur rather than weak peripheral pulses.
C. Heart failure is characterized by symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue, tachycardia, and weak peripheral pulses due to reduced cardiac output and poor perfusion to the extremities. The nurse should recognize these signs as indicative of heart failure.
D. Aortic stenosis can lead to symptoms like dyspnea and fatigue; however, it typically presents with a triad of symptoms including exertional dyspnea, angina, and syncope, rather than weak peripheral pulses.
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