NUR1460 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026/2027
Hypokalemia- CAUSES - ANS *** 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 - ANS 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
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Hypokalemia- INTERVENTIONS - ANS -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 - ANS 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 - ANS 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 - ANS 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
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
, foods high in potassium - ANS potatoes, pork, oranges, tomatoes, avocados, strawberries,
spinach, fish, mushrooms, musk melons, cantaloupe, carrots, raisins, bananas
Hypocalcemia- CAUSES - ANS 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 - ANS CRAMPs
C: confusion
R: reflexes hyperactive
A: arrhythmias
M: muscles spasms in calves or feet, tetany, seizures
P: positive Trousseau (before Chvostek)
Hypocalcemia- INTERVENTIONS - ANS -safety (watch for falls due to confusion)
-administer IV calcium
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026/2027
Hypokalemia- CAUSES - ANS *** 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 - ANS 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
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Hypokalemia- INTERVENTIONS - ANS -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 - ANS 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 - ANS 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 - ANS 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
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
, foods high in potassium - ANS potatoes, pork, oranges, tomatoes, avocados, strawberries,
spinach, fish, mushrooms, musk melons, cantaloupe, carrots, raisins, bananas
Hypocalcemia- CAUSES - ANS 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 - ANS CRAMPs
C: confusion
R: reflexes hyperactive
A: arrhythmias
M: muscles spasms in calves or feet, tetany, seizures
P: positive Trousseau (before Chvostek)
Hypocalcemia- INTERVENTIONS - ANS -safety (watch for falls due to confusion)
-administer IV calcium
@2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
