The nurse is using Chvostek sign to assess for hypocalcemia. Which statement correctly describes this test?
Tap the face just below and in front of the ear.
Inflate a blood pressure cuff around the upper arm for 4 minutes.
Apply pressure over the ulnar and radial arteries.
Forcefully dorsiflex the ankle when the knee is in an extended position.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Tap the face just below and in front of the ear: This is the correct technique for eliciting Chvostek’s sign, which involves tapping over the facial nerve. A positive sign (twitching of facial muscles) indicates hypocalcemia.
B. Inflate a blood pressure cuff around the upper arm for 4 minutes: This describes Trousseau’s sign, another test for hypocalcemia, where carpopedal spasm occurs due to ischemia.
C. Apply pressure over the ulnar and radial arteries: This describes Allen’s test, used to assess arterial blood flow, not calcium levels.
D. Forcefully dorsiflex the ankle when the knee is in an extended position: This describes Homan’s sign, which is used to assess for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), not hypocalcemia.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Urine output 20 mL/hr: A urine output of 20 mL/hr is on the low side but can still be expected in dehydration, as the body attempts to conserve water. Normal urine output is 30 mL/hr or more, so this could still be a sign of dehydration.
B. Sodium 142 mEq/L (136 to 145 mEq/L): This sodium level is within the normal range. Dehydration may cause sodium to be elevated if water loss is more significant than sodium loss, but a normal value does not indicate dehydration.
C. Cool skin: Cool skin is a typical finding in dehydration, particularly in severe cases, due to reduced peripheral circulation and vasoconstriction as the body tries to maintain core temperature and blood pressure.
D. Bradycardia: Dehydration usually causes tachycardia as a compensatory mechanism to maintain blood pressure and perfusion, not bradycardia.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. "Adding pecans will be a change I can readily make.": Pecans are not a significant source of potassium compared to other foods.
B. "I will eat cantaloupe for my morning snack.": Cantaloupe is a potassium-rich food and an excellent choice to increase dietary potassium.
C. "I will miss eating yogurt every day for breakfast.": Yogurt is a good potassium source, so discontinuing it would not help.
D. "I can plan to eat rice instead of baked potatoes.": Rice is low in potassium, whereas baked potatoes are a potassium-rich option.
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