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.
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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Justice is the ethical principle of treating the patient fairly and equally among staff when making assignments. The charge nurse is upholding this principle by ensuring that the workload is distributed evenly and that no staff member is overburdened or underutilized.
Choice A is wrong because Veracity is wrong because veracity is the ethical principle of telling the truth to the patient.
This principle is not relevant to the scenario of making assignments.
Choice C is wrong because Autonomy is wrong because autonomy is the ethical principle of respecting the patient’s right to make their own healthcare decisions.
This principle is not relevant to the scenario of making assignments.
Choice D is wrong because Fidelity is wrong because fidelity is the ethical principle of keeping promises to the patient.
This principle is not relevant to the scenario of making assignments.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The nurse should instruct the client to avoid bananas because they are one of the foods that can cause a cross-reaction with latex allergy. This means that people who are allergic to latex may also have an allergic reaction to bananas because they contain similar proteins.
Choice A is wrong because wheat is not a latex cross-reactive food.
Choice B is wrong because strawberries are a low or undetermined cross- reactive food.
Choice C is wrong because peanuts are a low or undetermined cross-reactive food.
Some other foods that the nurse should instruct the client to avoid are avocado, kiwi, chestnut, papaya, and potato. These foods have a high or moderate association with latex cross-reactions. The client should also be careful with other fruits and vegetables that may contain similar proteins to latex.
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