Chapter 7, Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Which description of oncotic pressure is correct for the nurse to apply?
1. The pushing force exerted by water in the bloodstream
2. The pressure exerted by electrolytes in the bloodstream
3. The force exerted by albumin in the bloodstream
4. The pressure exerted by the solutes in solution
2. The nurse is providing care for a client with cerebral edema. Which IV does the nurse expect to be
prescribed?
1. Isotonic solution
2. Hypertonic solution
3. Hypotonic solution
4. Isotonic with glucose solution
3. A client’s laboratory test results show overproduction of aldosterone. Which is the best nursing
intervention to maintain serum electrolyte levels in the client?
1. Provide spironolactone
2. Recommend sodium-rich foods
3. Administer sodium chloride injection
4. Give magnesium sulfateNiU njR
ecStiI
onNGTB.COM
4. A registered nurse is teaching a student nurse about the reason for the development of natriuresis.
Which statement made by the student nurse indicates effective teaching?
1. “Natriuresis develops as a result of the excretion of large amounts of sodium.”
2. “Natriuresis develops as a result of the excretion of large amounts of potassium.”
3. “Natriuresis develops as a result of increased concentration of potassium and water
in the blood.”
4. “Natriuresis develops as a result of the reabsorption of sodium into the
bloodstream.”
5. A client has +3 pitting edema on the feet and ascites. Which is the most important laboratory value
to be monitored by the nurse given this condition?
1. Hemoglobin level
2. Serum albumin level
3. Red blood cell count
4. White blood cell count
6. During evaluation of a client who has undergone a bariatric surgery, the nurse finds that the client
has an abnormally rapid heartbeat and hypotension. Which condition has the client developed?
1. Dehydration
2. Hypervolemia
3. Hypernatremia
4. Hyperglycemia
, 7. A nurse is caring for a client who has undergone cardiac surgery. Which is the best method to assess
the client’s fluid loss or gain?
1. Measuring body weight and vital signs every day
2. Recording blood pressure and calorie intake every day
3. Recording 24-hour fluid intake and output and calorie intake
4. Taking waist measurement and placing a Foley catheter
8. Changes in levels of which electrolyte can reduce the body’s response to cardiac drugs?
1. Calcium
2. Sodium
3. Potassium
4. Magnesium
9. An adult client who has hypervolemia reports a headache, muscle cramps, and vomiting. The nurse
notices confusion. Which condition has the client developed?
1. Hyponatremia
2. Hypernatremia
3. Hypokalemia
4. Hyperkalemia
10. The nurse is providing care for a client in chemotherapy. The client is experiencing nausea and
vomiting and reports numbness and tingling around the mouth. Before notifying the health-care
provider, which is the most important assessment for the nurse to perform?
1. Perform a Chvostek’s and Trousseau’s test
2. Determine the current amNUouRnS
tIofNfG
luT
idBlo.sC
t OM
3. Obtain a complete set of vital signs
4. Check for paresthesia in hands and feet
11. The nurse is providing care for a client who reports severe vomiting and diarrhea for 4 days. Clinical
manifestations and laboratory results indicate the client has hypokalemia. Which is the daily
potassium requirement of humans for optimal cell functioning?
1. 40 to 50 mEq
2. 20 to 30 mEq
3. 3.5 mEq
4. 8.5 mEq
12. A client is on digitalis, and the laboratory results show that the client is hypokalemic. Which effect
does hypokalemia have on the drug administered?
1. It might cause pericarditis.
2. It can cause digitalis toxicity.
3. It can increase the effectiveness of digitalis.
4. It will have no effect on digitalis.
13. A health-care provider prescribes IV potassium infusion for a hypokalemic client who is NPO
(nothing by mouth). Which intervention by the nurse is correct when administering IV potassium?
1. First prepare a hypertonic potassium chloride IV bolus
2. Validate the preparation of diluted IV potassium solution
3. Administer 20 mEq of potassium chloride IV push before the IV
, 4. Promote an increase in oral intake of foods and fluids high in potassium
14. The nurse suspects a client has pseudohypocalcemia. Which laboratory result does the nurse monitor
as a probable cause of this condition?
1. Hyperkalemia
2. Hyponatremia
3. Hypophosphatemia
4. Hypoalbuminemia
15. A client has increased serum phosphorus levels. Which condition related to hyperphosphatemia
would the nurse expect to find in the client?
1. Hypocalcemia
2. Hypernatremia
3. Hypomagnesaemia
4. Hyperkalemia
16. The nurse is providing care for a client being treated for diabetic ketoacidosis. Assessment reveals
the presence of tremors, muscle spasms, a positive Babinski’s sign, and cardiac arrhythmias. Which
condition does the nurse recognize?
1. Hypomagnesemia
2. Hypercalcemia
3. Hyperkalemia
4. Hypophosphatemia
17. A client’s serum phosphoruN
sUleR
veSl I
isN5G
.5TmBg./dCLO. M
Which clinical manifestations does the nurse expect
the client to exhibit?
1. Tetany and hypotension
2. Tetany and muscle weakness
3. Ataxia and hypertension
4. Muscle weakness and tremor
18. A client has hypertension and elevated serum calcium concentration. Which condition is likely to
occur in the client?
1. Osteopenia
2. Platelet dysfunction
3. Osteomalacia
4. Ventricular fibrillation
19. Which condition is called hypocalcemia?
1. Serum calcium less than 8.5 mg/dL
2. Serum calcium less than 2.5 mg/dL
3. Serum calcium less than 1.5 mg/dL
4. Serum calcium less than 1.0 mg/dL
Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Which description of oncotic pressure is correct for the nurse to apply?
1. The pushing force exerted by water in the bloodstream
2. The pressure exerted by electrolytes in the bloodstream
3. The force exerted by albumin in the bloodstream
4. The pressure exerted by the solutes in solution
2. The nurse is providing care for a client with cerebral edema. Which IV does the nurse expect to be
prescribed?
1. Isotonic solution
2. Hypertonic solution
3. Hypotonic solution
4. Isotonic with glucose solution
3. A client’s laboratory test results show overproduction of aldosterone. Which is the best nursing
intervention to maintain serum electrolyte levels in the client?
1. Provide spironolactone
2. Recommend sodium-rich foods
3. Administer sodium chloride injection
4. Give magnesium sulfateNiU njR
ecStiI
onNGTB.COM
4. A registered nurse is teaching a student nurse about the reason for the development of natriuresis.
Which statement made by the student nurse indicates effective teaching?
1. “Natriuresis develops as a result of the excretion of large amounts of sodium.”
2. “Natriuresis develops as a result of the excretion of large amounts of potassium.”
3. “Natriuresis develops as a result of increased concentration of potassium and water
in the blood.”
4. “Natriuresis develops as a result of the reabsorption of sodium into the
bloodstream.”
5. A client has +3 pitting edema on the feet and ascites. Which is the most important laboratory value
to be monitored by the nurse given this condition?
1. Hemoglobin level
2. Serum albumin level
3. Red blood cell count
4. White blood cell count
6. During evaluation of a client who has undergone a bariatric surgery, the nurse finds that the client
has an abnormally rapid heartbeat and hypotension. Which condition has the client developed?
1. Dehydration
2. Hypervolemia
3. Hypernatremia
4. Hyperglycemia
, 7. A nurse is caring for a client who has undergone cardiac surgery. Which is the best method to assess
the client’s fluid loss or gain?
1. Measuring body weight and vital signs every day
2. Recording blood pressure and calorie intake every day
3. Recording 24-hour fluid intake and output and calorie intake
4. Taking waist measurement and placing a Foley catheter
8. Changes in levels of which electrolyte can reduce the body’s response to cardiac drugs?
1. Calcium
2. Sodium
3. Potassium
4. Magnesium
9. An adult client who has hypervolemia reports a headache, muscle cramps, and vomiting. The nurse
notices confusion. Which condition has the client developed?
1. Hyponatremia
2. Hypernatremia
3. Hypokalemia
4. Hyperkalemia
10. The nurse is providing care for a client in chemotherapy. The client is experiencing nausea and
vomiting and reports numbness and tingling around the mouth. Before notifying the health-care
provider, which is the most important assessment for the nurse to perform?
1. Perform a Chvostek’s and Trousseau’s test
2. Determine the current amNUouRnS
tIofNfG
luT
idBlo.sC
t OM
3. Obtain a complete set of vital signs
4. Check for paresthesia in hands and feet
11. The nurse is providing care for a client who reports severe vomiting and diarrhea for 4 days. Clinical
manifestations and laboratory results indicate the client has hypokalemia. Which is the daily
potassium requirement of humans for optimal cell functioning?
1. 40 to 50 mEq
2. 20 to 30 mEq
3. 3.5 mEq
4. 8.5 mEq
12. A client is on digitalis, and the laboratory results show that the client is hypokalemic. Which effect
does hypokalemia have on the drug administered?
1. It might cause pericarditis.
2. It can cause digitalis toxicity.
3. It can increase the effectiveness of digitalis.
4. It will have no effect on digitalis.
13. A health-care provider prescribes IV potassium infusion for a hypokalemic client who is NPO
(nothing by mouth). Which intervention by the nurse is correct when administering IV potassium?
1. First prepare a hypertonic potassium chloride IV bolus
2. Validate the preparation of diluted IV potassium solution
3. Administer 20 mEq of potassium chloride IV push before the IV
, 4. Promote an increase in oral intake of foods and fluids high in potassium
14. The nurse suspects a client has pseudohypocalcemia. Which laboratory result does the nurse monitor
as a probable cause of this condition?
1. Hyperkalemia
2. Hyponatremia
3. Hypophosphatemia
4. Hypoalbuminemia
15. A client has increased serum phosphorus levels. Which condition related to hyperphosphatemia
would the nurse expect to find in the client?
1. Hypocalcemia
2. Hypernatremia
3. Hypomagnesaemia
4. Hyperkalemia
16. The nurse is providing care for a client being treated for diabetic ketoacidosis. Assessment reveals
the presence of tremors, muscle spasms, a positive Babinski’s sign, and cardiac arrhythmias. Which
condition does the nurse recognize?
1. Hypomagnesemia
2. Hypercalcemia
3. Hyperkalemia
4. Hypophosphatemia
17. A client’s serum phosphoruN
sUleR
veSl I
isN5G
.5TmBg./dCLO. M
Which clinical manifestations does the nurse expect
the client to exhibit?
1. Tetany and hypotension
2. Tetany and muscle weakness
3. Ataxia and hypertension
4. Muscle weakness and tremor
18. A client has hypertension and elevated serum calcium concentration. Which condition is likely to
occur in the client?
1. Osteopenia
2. Platelet dysfunction
3. Osteomalacia
4. Ventricular fibrillation
19. Which condition is called hypocalcemia?
1. Serum calcium less than 8.5 mg/dL
2. Serum calcium less than 2.5 mg/dL
3. Serum calcium less than 1.5 mg/dL
4. Serum calcium less than 1.0 mg/dL
Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.
