A nurse is caring for a client at a follow-up visit who has been taking lithium therapy for bipolar disorder.
Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing lithium toxicity?

Hypoglycemia.

Excess salivation.

Urinary retention.

Dysrhythmia.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Dysrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm that can be a sign of severe lithium toxicity.

Lithium toxicity can occur when a person takes too much lithium, a mood- stabilizing medication used to treat bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.

Choice A is wrong because hypoglycemia is not a symptom of lithium toxicity. Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar that can cause symptoms such as shakiness, sweating, hunger, and confusion.

Choice B is wrong because excess salivation is not a symptom of lithium toxicity. Excess salivation can be caused by various factors, such as infections, medications, or nerve damage.

Choice C is wrong because urinary retention is not a symptom of lithium toxicity. Urinary retention is the inability to empty the bladder completely, which can cause pain, discomfort, and infection. Lithium toxicity can actually cause increased urine output, not decreased.

Normal ranges for blood lithium levels are 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L for maintenance therapy and 0.8 to 1.5 mEq/L for acute therapy. Levels above 1.5 mEq/L can cause mild to moderate toxicity, and levels above 2.0 mEq/L can cause severe toxicity. Levels above 3.0 mEq/L are considered a medical emergency.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Muscle irritability. A client with a lithium level of

2.0 mEq/L has severe lithium toxicity, which can cause muscle irritability, tremors, seizures, and other neurological symptoms. The normal therapeutic range for lithium is 0.8-1.2 mEq/L.

Choice B is wrong because constipation is not a sign of lithium toxicity, but rather a possible side effect of lithium therapy at lower doses.

Choice C is wrong because hypoglycemia is not a sign of lithium toxicity, but rather a possible complication of diabetes or other conditions that affect blood sugar levels.

Choice D is wrong because increased blood pressure is not a sign of lithium toxicity, but rather a possible risk factor for cardiovascular disease or other conditions that affect blood vessels.

A. Proteinuria. B. Hypolipidemia. C. Hyperalbuminemia. D. Increased hemoglobin.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Proteinuria is the presence of excess protein in the urine, which is a hallmark of nephrotic syndrome. Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder that causes increased permeability of the glomerular basement membrane, leading to loss of protein and other substances in the urine.

Choice B is wrong because hypolipidemia is a low level of lipids in the blood, which is not expected in nephrotic syndrome. On the contrary, nephrotic syndrome causes hyperlipidemia, which is a high level of lipids in the blood, due to increased synthesis and decreased clearance of lipoproteins.

Choice C is wrong because hyperalbuminemia is a high level of albumin in the blood, which is not expected in nephrotic syndrome. On the contrary, nephrotic syndrome causes hypoalbuminemia, which is a low level of albumin in the blood, due to loss of albumin in the urine and decreased synthesis by the liver.

Choice D is wrong because increased hemoglobin is not expected in nephrotic syndrome. On the contrary, nephrotic syndrome can cause anemia, which is a low level of hemoglobin in the blood, due to loss of iron and erythropoietin in the urine and decreased production of red blood cells by the bone marrow.

Normal ranges for proteinuria are less than 150 mg per day or less than 10 mg per deciliter on a random urine sample. Normal ranges for serum lipids are total cholesterol less than 200 mg per deciliter, LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg per deciliter, HDL cholesterol more than 40 mg per deciliter for men and more than 50 mg per deciliter for women, and triglycerides less than 150 mg per

deciliter. Normal ranges for serum albumin are 3.5 to 5.0 grams per deciliter.

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A nurse is caring for a client at a follow-up visit who has been taking lithium therapy for bipolar disorder. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing lithium toxicity?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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A nurse is caring for a client at a follow-up visit who has been taking lithium therapy for bipolar disorder.
Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing lithium toxicity?