A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has a potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L. Which of the following findings should the nurse recognize as a potential causative factor?

Client has an NG tube to gastric suction.

Client has a history of alcohol abuse disorder.

Client reports drinking 3.5 to 4 L of water each day.

Client is currently prescribed spironolactone.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

The correct answer is choice A. Client has an NG tube to gastric suction.

Choice A rationale:

Having an NG tube to gastric suction can lead to hypokalemia because the suctioning process removes potassium from the stomach contents, leading to a decrease in serum potassium levels.

Choice B rationale:

While a history of alcohol abuse disorder can lead to various electrolyte imbalances, it is not the most direct cause of hypokalemia compared to gastric suction.

Choice C rationale:

Drinking 3.5 to 4 liters of water each day can lead to dilutional hyponatremia but is less likely to cause hypokalemia directly.

Choice D rationale:

Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, which means it helps retain potassium in the body. Therefore, it is not a causative factor for hypokalemia.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice B rationale:

The patient's tachycardia, pale, cool skin, and decreased urine output are signs of the body's natural compensatory mechanisms in response to fluid volume deficit. When the body

experiences a decrease in fluid volume, it tries to compensate by increasing heart rate (tachycardia) to maintain blood flow to vital organs and constricting blood vessels to preserve fluid and maintain blood pressure. Pale, cool skin is a result of vasoconstriction, and decreased urine output is a way the body conserves water during dehydration.

Choice A rationale:

Effects of rapidly infused intravenous fluids are not the cause of the patient's current findings. In fact, the nurse's notes indicate that the IV fluid therapy (0.9% sodium chloride) was initiated at 125 mL/hr, which is a relatively standard and cautious rate. Rapidly infused fluids could potentially cause fluid overload, but that is not the situation here.

Choice C rationale:

Pharmacological effects of a diuretic are not relevant to this patient's presentation. There is no mention of diuretic use in the nurse's notes, and the symptoms presented are more consistent with fluid volume deficit and dehydration rather than diuretic use.

Choice D rationale:

Cardiac failure is not the correct answer, as there is no indication of heart failure in the patient's presentation or nurse's notes. The symptoms and findings described are more indicative of fluid volume deficit, which is not synonymous with cardiac failure.

A. Respiratory acidosis. B. Metabolic acidosis. C. Metabolic alkalosis. D. Respiratory alkalosis.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

The arterial blood gas results show a low pH (acidosis) and an elevated Paco2 (partial pressure of carbon dioxide), which indicates respiratory acidosis. This condition occurs when there is inadequate removal of carbon dioxide through ventilation, leading to an accumulation of carbonic acid in the blood and a decrease in pH.

Choice B rationale:

Metabolic acidosis would present with a low pH and a low bicarbonate (HCO3-) level, not an elevated Paco2.

Choice C rationale:

Metabolic alkalosis would present with a high pH and an elevated bicarbonate (HCO3-) level, not an elevated Paco2.

Choice D rationale:

Respiratory alkalosis would present with a high pH and a decreased Paco2, not an elevated Paco2 as seen in this case.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has a potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L. Which of the following findings should the nurse recognize as a potential causative factor?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient experiencing multisystem fluid volume deficit has tachycardia, pale, cool skin, and decreased urine output. The nurse realizes these findings are most likely a direct result of which process?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client whose arterial blood gas results show a pH of 7.3 and a Paco2 of 50 mm Hg. The nurse should identify that the client is experiencing which of the following acid-base imbalances?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A patient's blood gases show a pH of 7.53 and bicarbonate level of 36 mEq/L. The nurse realizes that the patient is demonstrating which acid-base disorder?

A patient with a history of stomach ulcers is diagnosed with hypophosphatemia. What intervention should the nurse include in this patient's plan of care?

A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving IV fluids to correct dehydration. Which of the following laboratory values should indicate to the nurse that the client is effectively responding to treatment?

A nurse is caring for four hospitalized clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse identify as being at risk for fluid volume deficit?

A postoperative patient is diagnosed with fluid volume overload. What should the nurse expect to assess in this patient?

A patient is admitted with hypernatremia caused by being stranded on a boat in the Atlantic Ocean for five days without a fresh water source. What is this patient at risk for developing?

A patient with fluid overload is prescribed furosemide (Lasix) 20 mg by mouth each day. What should the nurse include when teaching the patient about this medication? Select all that apply.

A patient with chronic renal failure has an occluded arteriovenous fistula, and routine hemodialysis is delayed. However, the patient's serum potassium level is 6.0 mEq/L. What should the nurse expect to be prescribed for this patient? Select all that apply.