A nurse is reinforcing discharge education to a client who has hypokalemia. Which of the following suggestions should be included in the teaching plan?
Report new-onset muscle weakness
Increase consumption of apples and broccoli
Avoid salt substitutes
Report falls, due to high risk of osteoporosis
The Correct Answer is A
A. Report new-onset muscle weakness: Hypokalemia can cause muscle weakness, cramps, and fatigue, which are important symptoms that need to be monitored. Reporting these symptoms promptly is crucial because severe hypokalemia can lead to life-threatening complications, such as respiratory failure or cardiac arrhythmias.
B. Increase consumption of apples and broccoli: While fruits and vegetables like apples and broccoli are healthy, they are not particularly high in potassium. The client should be encouraged to consume potassium-rich foods such as bananas, oranges, potatoes, and spinach to help correct hypokalemia.
C. Avoid salt substitutes: Some salt substitutes contain potassium chloride, which can actually help increase potassium levels. However, this option might be recommended in certain conditions where potassium levels need to be carefully controlled, such as in renal failure, not in hypokalemia management.
D. Report falls, due to high risk of osteoporosis: Hypokalemia does not directly increase the risk of osteoporosis. Falls may occur due to muscle weakness, but this is not specifically related to osteoporosis. Therefore, reporting falls is not the primary concern in hypokalemia.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","D"]
Explanation
A. Dyspnea: Shortness of breath is a common and significant symptom of COPD, resulting from the narrowing of airways and difficulty in expelling air.
B. Chronic cough: A persistent cough, often productive, is a hallmark of COPD. It is typically a response to chronic irritation and inflammation of the airways.
C. Wheezing: Wheezing is a common symptom of COPD due to the constriction of airways and turbulent airflow through narrowed airways.
D. Sputum production: Increased sputum production is common in COPD, especially in chronic bronchitis type of COPD, where inflammation leads to excess mucus production.
E. Chest tightness: While chest tightness can occur in COPD, it is less commonly emphasized compared to the other symptoms listed. The primary symptoms are generally more focused on dyspnea, cough, wheezing, and sputum production.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Reposition the client every 4 hr.: Repositioning should be done more frequently, typically every 2 hours, to prevent complications such as pressure ulcers.
B. Place the head of the client's bed at 40° when supine: Elevating the head of the bed to 30-45° helps reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) by preventing aspiration.
C. Turn off the ventilator alarms before suctioning the client's airway: Ventilator alarms should never be turned off as they are critical for monitoring the client's status. Alarms can be temporarily silenced, but only for the duration of the procedure.
D. Provide mouth care every 10 to 12 hr with hydrogen peroxide: Mouth care should be provided more frequently, typically every 4 hours, to reduce the risk of infection. Hydrogen peroxide is not commonly used due to its potential to cause irritation and harm to oral tissues.
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