A patient is admited with hypernatremia caused by being stranded on a boat in the Atlantic Ocean for two days without water. What is the patient at risk for developing?
Cerebral bleeding
Pulmonary edema
Cardiac arrhythmias
Seizures
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A: Cerebral bleeding is incorrect because it is not a common complication of hypernatremia, which is a high sodium level in the blood. Cerebral bleeding can be caused by conditions such as head trauma, stroke, or aneurysm.
Choice B: Pulmonary edema is incorrect because it is a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs, causing shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. Pulmonary edema can be caused by conditions such as heart failure, kidney failure, or lung injury.
Choice C: Cardiac arrhythmias is correct because it is a condition where the heart beats irregularly, too fast, or too slow. Cardiac arrhythmias can be caused by hypernatremia, which can affect the electrical activity and contractility of the heart muscle. Hypernatremia can also cause dehydration, hypovolemia, and hypotension, which can impair the blood flow and oxygen delivery to the heart.
Choice D: Seizures is incorrect because it is a condition where abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes convulsions, loss of consciousness, or altered behavior. Seizures can be caused by conditions such as epilepsy, brain tumor, or infection.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A: Anticipating the administration of intravenous sodium bicarbonate is incorrect because this would increase the pH and worsen the alkalosis. Sodium bicarbonate is used to treat metabolic acidosis, not respiratory alkalosis.
Choice B: Preparing to start an intravenous fluid bolus using isotonic fluids is incorrect because this would not affect the pH or the PaCO2. Isotonic fluids are used to treat fluid volume deficit, not respiratory alkalosis.
Choice C: Immediately administering oxygen via a mask and monitoring oxygen saturation is incorrect because this would decrease the respiratory drive and increase the PaCO2. Oxygen therapy is used to treat hypoxemia, not respiratory alkalosis.
Choice D: Encouraging the patient to breathe in and out slowly into a paper bag is correct because this would increase the PaCO2 and lower the pH. Rebreathing carbon dioxide is a common treatment for respiratory alkalosis caused by hyperventilation.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A: Cerebral bleeding is incorrect because it is not a common complication of hypernatremia, which is a high sodium level in the blood. Cerebral bleeding can be caused by conditions such as head trauma, stroke, or aneurysm.
Choice B: Pulmonary edema is incorrect because it is a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs, causing shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. Pulmonary edema can be caused by conditions such as heart failure, kidney failure, or lung injury.
Choice C: Cardiac arrhythmias is correct because it is a condition where the heart beats irregularly, too fast, or too slow. Cardiac arrhythmias can be caused by hypernatremia, which can affect the electrical activity and contractility of the heart muscle. Hypernatremia can also cause dehydration, hypovolemia, and hypotension, which can impair the blood flow and oxygen delivery to the heart.
Choice D: Seizures is incorrect because it is a condition where abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes convulsions, loss of consciousness, or altered behavior. Seizures can be caused by conditions such as epilepsy, brain tumor, or infection.
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