RN Targeted Medical Surgical: Fluid,
Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Online
Practice 2022;Already graded A+
A nurse is assessing a client who has dehydration. Which of the following assessments
is the priority?
a. Skin turgor
b. Urine output
c. Weight
d. Mental status Correct answer- Mental status
The greatest risk to this client is injury from declining mental status or a fall from
worsened dehydration. Therefore, assessing the client's mental status is the priority.
A nurse is assessing a client who is using PCA following a thoracotomy. The client is
short of breath, appears restless, and has a respiratory rate of 28/min. The client's ABG
results are pH 7.52, PoO2 89 mm hg, and HCO3- 24 mEq/L. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
a. Instruct the client to cough forcefully.
b. Assist the client with ambulation.
c. Provide calming interventions.
d. Discontinue the PCA. Correct answer- Provide calming interventions
The client's respiratory rate is above the expected range. Calming the client should
decrease the respiratory rate, which will cause the client's carbon dioxide levels to
increase. This will help correct the pH imbalance.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a sodium level of 155 mEq/L. Which of the
following IV fluids should the nurse anticipate the provider to prescribe?
a. Dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride
b. Dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer's
c. 3% sodium chloride
d. 0.45% sodium chloride Correct answer- 0.45% sodium chloride
A sodium level of 155 mEq/L is an indication of hypernatremia. The nurse should
anticipate a prescription for a hypotonic solution. The 0.45% sodium chloride is a
hypotonic solution used to provide free water and treat cellular dehydration, which
, promotes waste elimination by the kidneys.Dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride is a
hypertonic solution. The 3% sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution. Lactated Ringer's
solution contains sodium and other electrolytes and is not indicated for hypernatremia.
A nurse is evaluating a client who is receiving IV fluids to treat isotonic dehydration.
Which of the following laboratory findings indicates that the fluid therapy has been
effective?
a. BUN 26 mg/dL
b. Serum sodium 138 mEq/L
c. Hct 56%
d. Urine specific gravity 1.035 Correct answer- Serum sodium 142 mEq/L
Isotonic dehydration includes loss of water and electrolytes due to a decrease in oral
intake of water and salt. A serum sodium level of 142 mEq/L is within the expected
reference range and indicates that the fluid therapy has been effective.BUN is elevated.
HCT is elevated and USG is elevated.
A nurse is providing dietary teaching to a client who has kidney disease. Which of the
following food choices should the nurse include in the teaching as containing the lowest
amount of magnesium?
a. 1 large hard-boiled egg
b. 1 cup bran cereal
c. 1/2 cup almond
d. 1 cup cooked spinach Correct answer- 1 large hard-boiled eggs
One large hard-boiled egg contains 5 mg of magnesium. Therefore, the nurse should
recommend this food as containing the lowest amount of magnesium.Cereal has 112
mg. Almonds 193 mg and spinach 157 mg.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving furosemide daily. During the morning
assessment, the client tells the nurse that he is "feeling weak in the legs." Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
a. Monitor the client's bowel sounds.
b. Review the client's daily laboratory results.
c. Auscultate the client's lungs.
d. Palpate the client's peripheral pulses. Correct answer- Auscultate the client's lungs
Using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the first action the nurse
should take is to auscultate the client's lungs to assess for respiratory changes due to
weakness of the respiratory muscles.
While reviewing a client's laboratory results, a nurse notes a serum calcium level of 0.8
mg/dL. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Online
Practice 2022;Already graded A+
A nurse is assessing a client who has dehydration. Which of the following assessments
is the priority?
a. Skin turgor
b. Urine output
c. Weight
d. Mental status Correct answer- Mental status
The greatest risk to this client is injury from declining mental status or a fall from
worsened dehydration. Therefore, assessing the client's mental status is the priority.
A nurse is assessing a client who is using PCA following a thoracotomy. The client is
short of breath, appears restless, and has a respiratory rate of 28/min. The client's ABG
results are pH 7.52, PoO2 89 mm hg, and HCO3- 24 mEq/L. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
a. Instruct the client to cough forcefully.
b. Assist the client with ambulation.
c. Provide calming interventions.
d. Discontinue the PCA. Correct answer- Provide calming interventions
The client's respiratory rate is above the expected range. Calming the client should
decrease the respiratory rate, which will cause the client's carbon dioxide levels to
increase. This will help correct the pH imbalance.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a sodium level of 155 mEq/L. Which of the
following IV fluids should the nurse anticipate the provider to prescribe?
a. Dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride
b. Dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer's
c. 3% sodium chloride
d. 0.45% sodium chloride Correct answer- 0.45% sodium chloride
A sodium level of 155 mEq/L is an indication of hypernatremia. The nurse should
anticipate a prescription for a hypotonic solution. The 0.45% sodium chloride is a
hypotonic solution used to provide free water and treat cellular dehydration, which
, promotes waste elimination by the kidneys.Dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride is a
hypertonic solution. The 3% sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution. Lactated Ringer's
solution contains sodium and other electrolytes and is not indicated for hypernatremia.
A nurse is evaluating a client who is receiving IV fluids to treat isotonic dehydration.
Which of the following laboratory findings indicates that the fluid therapy has been
effective?
a. BUN 26 mg/dL
b. Serum sodium 138 mEq/L
c. Hct 56%
d. Urine specific gravity 1.035 Correct answer- Serum sodium 142 mEq/L
Isotonic dehydration includes loss of water and electrolytes due to a decrease in oral
intake of water and salt. A serum sodium level of 142 mEq/L is within the expected
reference range and indicates that the fluid therapy has been effective.BUN is elevated.
HCT is elevated and USG is elevated.
A nurse is providing dietary teaching to a client who has kidney disease. Which of the
following food choices should the nurse include in the teaching as containing the lowest
amount of magnesium?
a. 1 large hard-boiled egg
b. 1 cup bran cereal
c. 1/2 cup almond
d. 1 cup cooked spinach Correct answer- 1 large hard-boiled eggs
One large hard-boiled egg contains 5 mg of magnesium. Therefore, the nurse should
recommend this food as containing the lowest amount of magnesium.Cereal has 112
mg. Almonds 193 mg and spinach 157 mg.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving furosemide daily. During the morning
assessment, the client tells the nurse that he is "feeling weak in the legs." Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
a. Monitor the client's bowel sounds.
b. Review the client's daily laboratory results.
c. Auscultate the client's lungs.
d. Palpate the client's peripheral pulses. Correct answer- Auscultate the client's lungs
Using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the first action the nurse
should take is to auscultate the client's lungs to assess for respiratory changes due to
weakness of the respiratory muscles.
While reviewing a client's laboratory results, a nurse notes a serum calcium level of 0.8
mg/dL. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
