NSG 3800/3850 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
How do we lose electrolytes? - answers - sweating, vomiting/diarrhea, urine, lung
expansion
What is the normal range for sodium? - answers - 135-145
How do sodium imbalances occur? - answers - due to cellular fluid shifts
What is hyponatremia? - answers - low sodium in the blood
What are the causes of hyponatremia? - answers - - excessive sweating
- loop/thiazide diuretics
- ng tube continuous suction
What are the s/s of hyponatremia? - answers - - headache
- lethargy
- papilledema
- weight gain and edema
- n/v
What is a nursing intervention for hyponatremia? - answers - monitor for cns (neuro)
changes
What is the cause of hypernatremia? - answers - hypertonic enteral feeding/receiving gt
tube without any water flushes
What are the s/s of hypernatremia? - answers - - neuro deficits (confusion)
- seziures
What is a nursing intervention for hypernatremia? - answers - assess deep tendon
reflexes
What is the treatment for hypernatremia? - answers - diuretics and hypotonic ivf (5%
d5w)
What is the normal range for potassium? - answers - 3.5-5
What does hypokalemia affect? - answers - resting membrane potential of the cell that
will result in skeletal muscle weakness
What is the cause of hypokalemia? - answers - loop/thiazide diuretics (you are urinating
k+ out)
What are the s/s of hypokalemia? - answers - - weakness/fatigue
, - arrhythmias
- weak/irregular pulse
What are nursing interventions for hypokalemia? - answers - - diet high in k+
- never iv push
- a critically low k+ will require iv pump and potassium replacement therapy
- monitor k+ level if on diuretics --> may need a med change or added k+
supplementation
What do we always want to be concerned about with hyperkalemia? - answers - cardiac
dysrhythmias
What would an ekg show for hyperkalemia? - answers - tall, peaked t waves
What are foods high in potassium? - answers - spinach, watermelon, sweet potatoes
What hormone is associated with calcium imbalances? - answers - parathyroid hormone
What is the cause of hypocalcemia? - answers - - low parathyroid hormone
- chronic kidney disease
What are the s/s of hypocalcemia? - answers - - tingling in the extremities
- tetany
- facial muscle twitches after light taps over facial nerve (chvostek sign)
What precautions do we want hypocalcemia patients to be on? - answers - seizure
precautions (padding/side rails up)
What is the cause of hypercalcemia? - answers - - high pth secretion
- daily intake of hctz
What are the s/s of hypercalcemia? - answers - - confusion
- lethargy
- coma
What is the treatment of hypercalcemia? - answers - loop diuretic (furosemide) with
0.9% normal saline ivf
What is the range for magnesium? - answers - 1.5-2.5
What is the cause of hypomagnesemia? - answers - alcoholism and malnutrition
What are the s/s of hypomagnesemia? - answers - irritability and restlessness
What are the s/s of hypermagnesemia? - answers - - patient is sluggish
- hypotension
How do we lose electrolytes? - answers - sweating, vomiting/diarrhea, urine, lung
expansion
What is the normal range for sodium? - answers - 135-145
How do sodium imbalances occur? - answers - due to cellular fluid shifts
What is hyponatremia? - answers - low sodium in the blood
What are the causes of hyponatremia? - answers - - excessive sweating
- loop/thiazide diuretics
- ng tube continuous suction
What are the s/s of hyponatremia? - answers - - headache
- lethargy
- papilledema
- weight gain and edema
- n/v
What is a nursing intervention for hyponatremia? - answers - monitor for cns (neuro)
changes
What is the cause of hypernatremia? - answers - hypertonic enteral feeding/receiving gt
tube without any water flushes
What are the s/s of hypernatremia? - answers - - neuro deficits (confusion)
- seziures
What is a nursing intervention for hypernatremia? - answers - assess deep tendon
reflexes
What is the treatment for hypernatremia? - answers - diuretics and hypotonic ivf (5%
d5w)
What is the normal range for potassium? - answers - 3.5-5
What does hypokalemia affect? - answers - resting membrane potential of the cell that
will result in skeletal muscle weakness
What is the cause of hypokalemia? - answers - loop/thiazide diuretics (you are urinating
k+ out)
What are the s/s of hypokalemia? - answers - - weakness/fatigue
, - arrhythmias
- weak/irregular pulse
What are nursing interventions for hypokalemia? - answers - - diet high in k+
- never iv push
- a critically low k+ will require iv pump and potassium replacement therapy
- monitor k+ level if on diuretics --> may need a med change or added k+
supplementation
What do we always want to be concerned about with hyperkalemia? - answers - cardiac
dysrhythmias
What would an ekg show for hyperkalemia? - answers - tall, peaked t waves
What are foods high in potassium? - answers - spinach, watermelon, sweet potatoes
What hormone is associated with calcium imbalances? - answers - parathyroid hormone
What is the cause of hypocalcemia? - answers - - low parathyroid hormone
- chronic kidney disease
What are the s/s of hypocalcemia? - answers - - tingling in the extremities
- tetany
- facial muscle twitches after light taps over facial nerve (chvostek sign)
What precautions do we want hypocalcemia patients to be on? - answers - seizure
precautions (padding/side rails up)
What is the cause of hypercalcemia? - answers - - high pth secretion
- daily intake of hctz
What are the s/s of hypercalcemia? - answers - - confusion
- lethargy
- coma
What is the treatment of hypercalcemia? - answers - loop diuretic (furosemide) with
0.9% normal saline ivf
What is the range for magnesium? - answers - 1.5-2.5
What is the cause of hypomagnesemia? - answers - alcoholism and malnutrition
What are the s/s of hypomagnesemia? - answers - irritability and restlessness
What are the s/s of hypermagnesemia? - answers - - patient is sluggish
- hypotension
