NUR1460 EXAM 1 | 115 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
Hypokalemia- CAUSES Answer - *** alkalotic. body is trying to DITCH
potassium.***
D: drugs (laxatives, loop/thiazide diuretics)
I: inadequate consumption of potassium (NPO, starving)
T: too much water intake (dilutes potassium)
C: Cushing's Syndrome
H: Heavy fluid loss (diarrhea, vomiting, NG suction, wound drainage, sweating)
Hypokalemia- S/S Answer - A SIC WALT
A: alkalosis
S: shallow respirations
I: irritability
C: confusion and drowsiness
W: weakness and fatigue
A: arrhythmias
L: lethargy
T: thread pulse
,Hypokalemia- INTERVENTIONS Answer - -watch other electrolytes (magnesium
especially as it decreases too & hard to get potassium back up if magnesium is
low)
-never give IV push, IM or SUBQ
-if giving IV give according to bag instruction- 20 meq/mL in 1L bag, 100ml an
hour
***always watch patients to see how they react to medication.
Hyperkalemia- CAUSES Answer - the body CARED too much about potassium
C: cellular movement of potassium from intracellular to extracellular (burns,
tissue damage, acidosis)
A: adrenal insufficiency w/ Addison's disease
R: renal failure
E: excessive intake
D: Drugs (potassium-sparing drugs like Aldactone, Triamterene, ACE inhibitors,
NSAIDS)
Hyperkalemia- S/S Answer - MURDER
M: muscle weakness
U: urine output- little
R: respiratory failure (due to decreased ability to use breathing muscles)
D: decreased cardiac contractility (weak pulse, low BP)
E: early signs of muscle twitches/cramps- late signs profound weakness
R: rhythm changes
Hyperkalemia- INTERVENTIONS Answer - Prepare patient for dialysis if they are
renal failure and get dialysis regularly as they will have high potassium.
Kayexalate is sometimes ordered, promotes GI sodium absorption which causes
potassium excretion, give potassium wasting diuretics like Lasix or
, hydrochlorothiazide, administer hypertonic solution of glucose and regular
insulin to pull potassium into cell (glucagon and insulin). Cut back on foods that
are high in potassium
foods high in potassium Answer - potatoes, pork, oranges, tomatoes,
avocados, strawberries, spinach, fish, mushrooms, musk melons, cantaloupe,
carrots, raisins, bananas
Hypocalcemia- CAUSES Answer - remember LOW CALCIUM
L: low parathyroid hormone
O: oral intake inadequate
W: wound drainage
C: Celiac's and Crohn's
A: acute pancreatitis
L: low vitamin D levels
C: chronic kidney issues
I: increased phosphorus levels in the blood
U: using medication such as magnesium supplements, laxatives, loop diuretics,
calcium binder drugs
M: mobility issues
Hypocalcemia- S/S Answer - CRAMPs
C: confusion
R: reflexes hyperactive
A: arrhythmias
M: muscles spasms in calves or feet, tetany, seizures
P: positive Trousseau (before Chvostek)
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
Hypokalemia- CAUSES Answer - *** alkalotic. body is trying to DITCH
potassium.***
D: drugs (laxatives, loop/thiazide diuretics)
I: inadequate consumption of potassium (NPO, starving)
T: too much water intake (dilutes potassium)
C: Cushing's Syndrome
H: Heavy fluid loss (diarrhea, vomiting, NG suction, wound drainage, sweating)
Hypokalemia- S/S Answer - A SIC WALT
A: alkalosis
S: shallow respirations
I: irritability
C: confusion and drowsiness
W: weakness and fatigue
A: arrhythmias
L: lethargy
T: thread pulse
,Hypokalemia- INTERVENTIONS Answer - -watch other electrolytes (magnesium
especially as it decreases too & hard to get potassium back up if magnesium is
low)
-never give IV push, IM or SUBQ
-if giving IV give according to bag instruction- 20 meq/mL in 1L bag, 100ml an
hour
***always watch patients to see how they react to medication.
Hyperkalemia- CAUSES Answer - the body CARED too much about potassium
C: cellular movement of potassium from intracellular to extracellular (burns,
tissue damage, acidosis)
A: adrenal insufficiency w/ Addison's disease
R: renal failure
E: excessive intake
D: Drugs (potassium-sparing drugs like Aldactone, Triamterene, ACE inhibitors,
NSAIDS)
Hyperkalemia- S/S Answer - MURDER
M: muscle weakness
U: urine output- little
R: respiratory failure (due to decreased ability to use breathing muscles)
D: decreased cardiac contractility (weak pulse, low BP)
E: early signs of muscle twitches/cramps- late signs profound weakness
R: rhythm changes
Hyperkalemia- INTERVENTIONS Answer - Prepare patient for dialysis if they are
renal failure and get dialysis regularly as they will have high potassium.
Kayexalate is sometimes ordered, promotes GI sodium absorption which causes
potassium excretion, give potassium wasting diuretics like Lasix or
, hydrochlorothiazide, administer hypertonic solution of glucose and regular
insulin to pull potassium into cell (glucagon and insulin). Cut back on foods that
are high in potassium
foods high in potassium Answer - potatoes, pork, oranges, tomatoes,
avocados, strawberries, spinach, fish, mushrooms, musk melons, cantaloupe,
carrots, raisins, bananas
Hypocalcemia- CAUSES Answer - remember LOW CALCIUM
L: low parathyroid hormone
O: oral intake inadequate
W: wound drainage
C: Celiac's and Crohn's
A: acute pancreatitis
L: low vitamin D levels
C: chronic kidney issues
I: increased phosphorus levels in the blood
U: using medication such as magnesium supplements, laxatives, loop diuretics,
calcium binder drugs
M: mobility issues
Hypocalcemia- S/S Answer - CRAMPs
C: confusion
R: reflexes hyperactive
A: arrhythmias
M: muscles spasms in calves or feet, tetany, seizures
P: positive Trousseau (before Chvostek)
