A nurse is caring for a client who arrives at the emergency department and reports vomiting and diarrhea for the past 3 days. The client's serum potassium level is 2.8 mEq/L. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement first?

Administer an IV potassium drip.

Listen to the client's bowel sounds.

Check the client's hand grasps.

Initiate cardiac monitoring for the client.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

The client has hypokalemia, which is a low level of potassium in the blood. Hypokalemia can cause cardiac arrhythmias, which can be life-threatening. The nurse should initiate cardiac monitoring first to assess the client's heart rhythm and rate, and intervene if any abnormalities are detected. Administering an IV potassium drip is an appropriate intervention for hypokalemia, but it is not the first priority. Listening to the client's bowel sounds and checking the client's hand grasps are also relevant assessments for hypokalemia, as it can cause decreased bowel motility and muscle weakness, but they are not as urgent as cardiac monitoring.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

This is because the most common cause of infusion pump alarms is occlusion or obstruction of the IV line, which can be due to kinking, bending, or compression of the tubing or catheter by the client's arm or body position. By repositioning the client's arm, the nurse can relieve the occlusion and restore the flow of the IV fluid.

This action should be done before checking for other possible causes of alarm, such as redness at the IV site (which could indicate infection or inflammation), loose tubing connections (which could cause leakage or air embolism), or clogged IV catheter (which could require flushing with saline or heparin solution).

A. A client who has a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in the left arm B. A client who has a right upper extremity arteriovenous fistula C. A client who has right-sided weakness due to Parkinson's disease D. A client who has left-sided Bell's palsy

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The nurse should obtain a blood pressure reading using only the left extremity from a client who has a right upper extremity arteriovenous fistula. An arteriovenous fistula is a surgical connection between an artery and a vein that is created for hemodialysis access.

Measuring blood pressure on the arm with an arteriovenous fistula can cause damage to the fistula, reduce blood flow, and increase the risk of infection or thrombosis. Therefore, blood pressure should be measured on the opposite arm or on another site such as the leg.

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A nurse is caring for a client who arrives at the emergency department and reports vomiting and diarrhea for the past 3 days. The client's serum potassium level is 2.8 mEq/L. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a client who has an IV in the left forearm and whose infusion pump has alarmed several times. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a group of clients. The nurse should obtain a blood pressure reading using only the left extremity from which of the following clients?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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