A nurse is caring for a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who presents with hyperkalemia. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement first?
Administer sodium polystyrene sulfonate as prescribed.
Monitor the client’s cardiac rhythm.
Restrict dietary potassium intake.
Prepare the client for hemodialysis.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Administering sodium polystyrene sulfonate helps to lower potassium levels by exchanging sodium ions for potassium ions in the intestines. However, it is not the first intervention because it takes time to work and does not address the immediate risk of cardiac arrhythmias caused by hyperkalemia.
Choice B rationale
Monitoring the client’s cardiac rhythm is the first intervention because hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Continuous cardiac monitoring allows for the early detection and treatment of these arrhythmias, which is crucial for the client’s safety.
Choice C rationale
Restricting dietary potassium intake is an important long-term management strategy for hyperkalemia, especially in clients with chronic kidney disease. However, it does not address the immediate risk of cardiac arrhythmias and is not the first intervention.
Choice D rationale
Preparing the client for hemodialysis is a definitive treatment for hyperkalemia, especially in clients with chronic kidney disease. However, it is not the first intervention because it takes time to arrange and initiate dialysis. Immediate cardiac monitoring is necessary to manage the acute risk of arrhythmias.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
The absence of burning epigastric pain after eating indicates that the treatment for peptic ulcer disease (PUD) secondary to H. pylori has been effective. This suggests that the ulcer has healed and the inflammation has subsided.
Choice B rationale
Coffee-ground emesis indicates the presence of blood in the vomit, which suggests ongoing bleeding and is not a sign of effective treatment for PUD.
Choice C rationale
A decrease in alcohol intake is beneficial for overall health but does not directly indicate the effectiveness of treatment for PUD secondary to H. pylori.
Choice D rationale
Normalization of hemoglobin levels is important but does not specifically indicate the effectiveness of treatment for PUD secondary to H. pylori. The primary indicator would be the resolution of symptoms such as burning epigastric pain.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Decreasing the secretion of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by the pituitary gland is not a compensatory response to fluid volume deficit. TSH primarily regulates thyroid function and metabolism, and its secretion is not directly related to fluid balance or osmolality.
Choice B rationale
Increasing renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity by the kidneys is the body’s primary compensatory response to fluid volume deficit. When there is a decrease in blood volume or blood pressure, the kidneys release renin, which activates the RAAS. This system increases the reabsorption of sodium and water in the kidneys, leading to an increase in blood volume and blood pressure.
Choice C rationale
Decreasing the secretion of cortisol by the adrenal gland is not a compensatory response to fluid volume deficit. Cortisol is a stress hormone that helps regulate metabolism, immune response, and other functions, but it is not directly involved in fluid balance.
Choice D rationale
Increasing the secretion of natriuretic peptides by the heart is a response to fluid overload, not fluid deficit. Natriuretic peptides promote the excretion of sodium and water by the kidneys, which helps reduce blood volume and pressure. This response is opposite to what is needed in a fluid volume deficit situation.
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