Your patient has a CMP drawn to determine their electrolytes. Only part of the values have resulted including the Na+ which is 121 mEq/l. What type of electrolyte imbalance is the patient having?
Hypocalcemia
Hyperkalemia
Hypernatremia
Hyponatremia
The Correct Answer is D
Explanation: The normal range of sodium (Na+) in the blood is 135-145 mEq/L. The patient's sodium level of 121 mEq/L is below the normal range, indicating a low sodium level, which is called hyponatremia.
Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte imbalance that can be caused by a variety of factors, including excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, certain medications, kidney disease, and hormonal imbalances. It can cause symptoms such as nausea, headache, confusion, seizures, and coma, and it can be a medical emergency if the sodium level drops rapidly or severely.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Fluid retention is a common complication in heart failure, and monitoring the client's fluid status is crucial to manage the condition effectively. Daily weights are an essential component of monitoring fluid status and are the most sensitive and practical method to detect changes in the client's fluid status. Weight gain is a reliable indicator of fluid retention, and even small increases in weight can indicate the need for changes in the client's treatment plan.
Although electrolyte monitoring (option a), output measurements (option c), and daily BUN and serum creatinine monitoring (option d) can provide valuable information about the client's fluid status, they are not as sensitive or practical as daily weights. Electrolyte monitoring can help detect changes in fluid balance, but it does not provide a direct indication of fluid status. Output measurements can indicate fluid loss, but they do not provide an accurate assessment of fluid retention. BUN and serum creatinine monitoring can detect changes in renal function, but they are not specific to fluid status.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Crackles, also known as rales, are discontinuous sounds that are typically heard during inspiration in patients with heart failure. These sounds are produced by the sudden opening of small airways and alveoli that are filled with fluid or collapsed due to pulmonary congestion. The sound can be described as similar to the sound of rubbing hair between fingers or the sound of Velcro being pulled apart.
Rhonchi are continuous, low-pitched sounds that are typically heard during expiration and are caused by the movement of air through narrowed airways, such as in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Stridor is a high-pitched, continuous sound that is typically heard during inspiration and indicates upper airway obstruction, which can be life-threatening. Neither rhonchi nor stridor are typically heard in patients with heart failure.
Therefore, based on the patient's history and symptoms, the most likely type of breathing sound to be heard on auscultation is crackles/rales.
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