Which action should be included in the teaching plan for a patient with hypernatremia?
Drink plenty of water whenever thirsty.
Review food labels for sodium content.
Monitor daily urine output volume.
Use salt tablets after strenuous exercise.
The Correct Answer is B
Drinking plenty of water whenever thirsty is not the most appropriate action for a patient with hypernatremia. While it's important to stay hydrated, excessive water intake can potentially worsen hypernatremia by diluting blood sodium levels further. This is because the body tries to balance sodium levels by either retaining water or excreting it through urine. In hypernatremia, the body is already short on water relative to sodium, so consuming too much water can exacerbate the imbalance.
Choice B rationale:
Reviewing food labels for sodium content is crucial for managing hypernatremia. It empowers patients to make informed choices and limit their sodium intake.
Sodium is a major contributor to hypernatremia, and reducing dietary sodium intake is a key strategy to lower blood sodium levels.
By carefully reading food labels and selecting low-sodium options, patients can effectively manage their sodium intake and promote a gradual return to normal sodium levels.
This approach addresses the root cause of hypernatremia and promotes long-term control of blood sodium levels.
Choice C rationale:
Monitoring daily urine output volume can be helpful in tracking fluid status, but it's not the primary action for managing hypernatremia.
While urine output can provide insights into fluid balance, it doesn't directly address the underlying issue of excessive sodium. Focusing on dietary sodium intake is a more direct and effective approach to correcting hypernatremia.
Choice D rationale:
Using salt tablets after strenuous exercise is not recommended for patients with hypernatremia.
Salt tablets are intended to replenish electrolytes lost through sweating, but they can worsen hypernatremia by further increasing sodium levels.
Patients with hypernatremia should focus on reducing sodium intake, not increasing it.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["B","E","G"]
Explanation
B. Position the patient with the head of the bed elevated. Rationale:
Promotes lung expansion: Elevating the head of the bed by at least 30 degrees utilizes gravity to assist in diaphragmatic descent and lung expansion. This allows for greater intake of air, optimizing oxygen intake and facilitating better gas exchange.
Reduces work of breathing: When upright, the abdominal muscles can more effectively aid in breathing, reducing the workload on the diaphragm and accessory muscles. This conserves energy and decreases the patient's respiratory effort.
Enhances secretion drainage: Gravity also aids in the movement of secretions from the lower lobes of the lungs towards the upper airways, where they can be more easily coughed up or suctioned. This helps to clear the airways and improve ventilation.
E. Teach the patient to cough at least once an hour. Rationale:
Clears secretions: Coughing is a natural mechanism to clear secretions from the lungs and airways. It helps to prevent mucus buildup and potential obstruction, which can lead to atelectasis (collapse of lung tissue) and further compromise ventilation.
Improves gas exchange: By removing secretions, coughing allows for better airflow and gas exchange within the lungs. This enhances oxygenation and helps to prevent respiratory complications.
G. Assist the patient in ambulating safely. Rationale:
Mobilizes secretions: Ambulation encourages movement of secretions from the lower lobes of the lungs, promoting their clearance and preventing mucus buildup.
Prevents atelectasis: Walking and movement help to expand the lungs, reducing the risk of atelectasis and improving overall ventilation.
Enhances circulation: Ambulation also improves circulation, which can help to deliver oxygen to the tissues more effectively and aid in healing.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Incorrect. Open-angle glaucoma is not characterized by an abnormally small angle.
The angle in open-angle glaucoma is open, but the drainage system is not working properly. Therefore, restoring a smaller angle would not be an effective treatment goal.
Choice B rationale:
Incorrect. Eye drops used to treat open-angle glaucoma are not typically used for pain control.
While some individuals may experience mild discomfort associated with elevated eye pressure, pain is not a common symptom of open-angle glaucoma.
Additionally, eye drops used to treat glaucoma do not have anti-inflammatory properties to address swelling.
Choice C rationale:
Incorrect. While reducing excess eye pressure is an important initial goal of treatment, long-term management of open-angle glaucoma requires ongoing maintenance of normal eye pressure.
Simply reducing pressure temporarily is not sufficient to prevent vision loss.
Choice D rationale:
Correct. The primary goal of treatment for open-angle glaucoma is to maintain normal eye pressure over the long term. This is because elevated eye pressure can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss.
Eye drops are often used to lower eye pressure, and they typically need to be used for life to prevent vision loss.
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