ATI RN
Fluid and Electrolytes ATI Questions
Question 1 of 5
What would be the best initial nursing actions prior to inserting an IV?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Prior to initiating an IV, the nurse should verify the physician's order for IV therapy.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is visiting an 84-year-old woman living at home and recovering from hip surgery. The woman seems confused and has poor skin turgor, and she states that ¢â‚¬Å“she stops drinking water early in the day because it is too difficult to get up during the night to go to the bathroom.¢â‚¬ The nurse explains to the woman that:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In elderly patients, the clinical manifestations of fluid and electrolyte disturbances may be subtle or atypical. For example, fluid deficit may cause confusion or cognitive impairment in the elderly person.
Question 3 of 5
Third spacing occurs when fluid moves out of the intravascular space but not into the intracellular space. Based upon this fluid shift, the nurse will expect the patient to demonstrate:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Third-spacing fluid shift, which occurs when fluid moves out of the intravascular space but not into the intracellular space, can cause hypovolemia.
Question 4 of 5
A female patient is discharged from the hospital after having an episode of heart failure. She's prescribed daily oral doses of digoxin (Lanoxin) and furosemide (Lasix). Two days later, she tells her community health nurse that she feels weak and her heart "flutters" frequently. What action should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Furosemide is a potassium-wasting diuretic. A low potassium level may cause weakness and palpitations. Telling the patient to rest more often won't help the patient if she's hypokalemic. Digoxin isn't causing the patient's symptoms, so she doesn't need to stop taking it. The patient should probably avoid caffeine, but this wouldn't resolve potassium depletion.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse working in the PACU is aware that which of the following procedures may contribute to extracellular losses?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fluid loss from the extracellular compartment can be caused by abdominal surgery.