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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Respiratory acidosis: COPD often results in impaired gas exchange and decreased removal of carbon dioxide, leading to its accumulation in the blood. This results in respiratory acidosis, characterized by elevated PaCO2 and a decreased pH.
B. Respiratory alkalosis: This condition is generally associated with hyperventilation, where excessive loss of carbon dioxide leads to a higher blood pH. It is less common in COPD, where hypoventilation is more typical.
C. Metabolic acidosis: While COPD can sometimes lead to metabolic acidosis, it is not the primary condition associated with the disease. Metabolic acidosis usually results from conditions affecting the kidneys or metabolic processes.
D. Metabolic alkalosis: This is characterized by an increased blood pH due to a loss of acid or an excess of bicarbonate. It is not typically associated with COPD.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Impaired carbon dioxide elimination due to shunting: Shunting in ARDS affects oxygenation rather than carbon dioxide elimination. ARDS primarily results in impaired gas exchange due to inflammation and fluid accumulation in the alveoli, affecting oxygen rather than CO2.
B. Decreased pulmonary arterial pressure due to ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch: ARDS typically leads to increased pulmonary arterial pressure due to inflammation and decreased lung compliance. The V/Q mismatch contributes to impaired gas exchange, often resulting in elevated pulmonary arterial pressure rather than decreased.
C. Hypoxemia due to dead space: In ARDS, hypoxemia is primarily due to impaired gas exchange from damaged alveoli, not due to dead space. Dead space refers to areas where ventilation occurs without adequate blood flow, which is not the main issue in ARDS.
D. Decreased pulmonary compliance due to stiffness: ARDS is characterized by decreased pulmonary compliance due to the stiffness of the lung tissue caused by inflammation and edema. This decreased compliance makes lung expansion more difficult, which is a central feature of ARDS.
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