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
Explanation
A. Cardiac enlargement: Chronic hypoxia leads to increased workload on the heart as it works harder to deliver oxygen to tissues. This can result in cardiac enlargement or right-sided heart failure due to pulmonary hypertension, a common consequence of long-term hypoxia.
B. Exophthalmos: Exophthalmos is protrusion of the eyes and is typically associated with thyroid disorders, such as Graves' disease, rather than chronic hypoxia.
C. Gastric ulcerations: While stress and certain medications can lead to gastric ulcerations, they are not directly caused by chronic hypoxia. Chronic hypoxia mainly affects the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems.
D. Urinary tract infections: Chronic hypoxia does not typically lead to urinary tract infections. UTIs are more commonly associated with factors such as poor hygiene, urinary obstruction, or immunosuppression.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Fever: Although fever can occur with various respiratory conditions, it is not the most specific early sign of an exacerbation in pulmonary sarcoidosis.
B. Weight loss: Weight loss is a more general symptom and not specifically indicative of an exacerbation of sarcoidosis.
C. Fatigue: Fatigue is a common symptom of sarcoidosis but is not necessarily an early sign of an exacerbation.
D. Shortness of breath: Shortness of breath is a significant early indicator of exacerbation in pulmonary sarcoidosis. It reflects worsening inflammation and granuloma formation affecting lung function.
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