A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is 1 day postoperative following a thyroidectomy and reports severe muscle spasms of the lower extremities. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Determine the client’s calcium level.
Give the client an oral potassium supplement.
Administer intravenous normal saline solution.
Monitor the client’s peripheral pulses.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A: Determine the client’s calcium level. This is the priority action for the nurse to take because the client might have hypocalcemia, which is a low level of calcium in the blood. Hypocalcemia can occur after a thyroidectomy due to accidental removal or damage of the parathyroid glands, which regulate calcium levels. Hypocalcemia can cause muscle spasms, tetany, paresthesia, and seizures.
Choice B: Give the client an oral potassium supplement. This is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take because the client might have hyperkalemia, which is a high level of potassium in the blood. Hyperkalemia can also occur after a thyroidectomy due to damage to the adrenal glands, which regulate potassium levels. Hyperkalemia can cause muscle weakness, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest.
Choice C: Administer intravenous normal saline solution. This is not a necessary action for the nurse to take because the client does not have signs of dehydration or fluid imbalance. Normal saline solution does not affect calcium or potassium levels.
Choice D: Monitor the client’s peripheral pulses. This is an important action for the nurse to take, but not the priority. The nurse should monitor the client’s peripheral pulses for signs of decreased perfusion or ischemia, which can result from hypocalcemia or hyperkalemia affecting the cardiac function. However, this should be done after determining the client’s calcium level and correcting it if needed.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A: Peri-umbilical area. This is not an area that the nurse should inspect to monitor for the presence of jaundice in a client who is African American and has cholecystitis. The peri-umbilical area is the area around the navel, which is part of the skin. The skin can show jaundice, but it may be difficult to detect in clients with dark skin tones.
Choice B: Nail beds. This is not an area that the nurse should inspect to monitor for the presence of jaundice in a client who is African American and has cholecystitis. The nail beds are part of the skin that can show jaundice, but they may also be affected by other factors such as anemia, cyanosis, or nail polish.
Choice C: Webbed areas of the fingers. This is not an area that the nurse should inspect to monitor for the presence of jaundice in a client who is African American and has cholecystitis. The webbed areas of the fingers are part of the skin that can show jaundice, but they may also be influenced by other factors such as temperature, circulation, or pressure.
Choice D: Hard palate. This is an area that the nurse should inspect to monitor for the presence of jaundice in a client who is African American and has cholecystitis, which is an inflammation of the gallbladder. Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood. Bilirubin is a pigment that is produced from the breakdown of red blood cells and is normally excreted in bile. If the gallbladder or bile ducts are inflamed or obstructed, bile cannot flow into the duodenum and bilirubin accumulates in the blood and tissues. The hard palate is a part of the oral mucosa that can show jaundice, especially in clients with dark skin tones.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A: Check for bleeding on the dressing at the back of the client’s neck. This is an implementation that the nurse should recommend for a client who is 4 hr postoperative from a subtotal thyroidectomy, which is a surgical removal of part of the thyroid gland. The nurse should check for bleeding on the dressing at the back of the client’s neck because this is where blood can pool and go unnoticed. Bleeding can cause hematoma, compression of the airway, and respiratory distress.
Choice B: Ensure that acetylcysteine IV is readily available. This is not an implementation that the nurse should recommend for a client who is 4 hr postoperative from a subtotal thyroidectomy. Acetylcysteine IV is an antidote for acetaminophen overdose, which can cause liver damage, but it is not related to thyroid surgery.
Choice C: Place the client in a side-lying position. This is not an implementation that the nurse should recommend for a client who is 4 hr postoperative from a subtotal thyroidectomy. The nurse should place the client in a semi-Fowler’s position, which is a position with the head of the bed elevated to 30 to 45 degrees. This position can facilitate breathing, reduce edema, and prevent aspiration.
Choice D: Check the client for asterixis. This is not an implementation that the nurse should recommend for a client who is 4 hr postoperative from a subtotal thyroidectomy. Asterixis is a sign of hepatic encephalopathy, which is a condition caused by liver failure, but it is not related to thyroid surgery.
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