ATI RN
Fluid and Electrolytes ATI Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is taking care of a 65-year-old female patient in a medical-surgical unit who is in renal failure; during the assessment the patient complains of tingling in her lips and fingers. When the nurse takes her blood pressure, she has a spasm in her wrist and hand. The nurse suspects:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tetany is the most characteristic manifestation of hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia. Sensations of tingling may occur in the tips of the fingers, around the mouth, and less commonly in the feet. Taking a normal blood pressure could illicit a carpal spasm if it creates slight ischemia of the ulnar nerve.
Question 2 of 5
A 65-year-old male patient was admitted to a medical-surgical unit 72 hours ago with pyloric stenosis; a nasogastric tube was inserted upon admission and has been on low intermittent suction since then. The nurse taking care of the patient notices that his potassium is very low and becomes concerned that the patient may be at risk for:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Probably the most common cause of metabolic alkalosis is vomiting or gastric suction with loss of hydrogen and chloride ions. The disorder also occurs in pyloric stenosis in which only gastric fluid is lost. Vomiting, gastric suction, and pyloric stenosis all remove potassium and can cause hypokalemia.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse admitting a patient with a history of emphysema reviews her past lab reports and notes that the patient's PaCO2 has been 56 to 64 mmHg. The nurse will be cautious administering oxygen because:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse preparing to start an IV on a newly admitted patient teaches the patient about the procedure and begins to prepare the site. The nurse should always start by:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Before preparing the skin, the nurse should ask the patient if he or she is allergic to latex or iodine, which are products commonly used in setting up for IV therapy. A local reaction could result in irritation to the IV site or, in the extreme, it could result in anaphylaxis, which can be life threatening.
Question 5 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 'she stops drinking water early in the day because it is too difficult to get up during the night to go to the bathroom.' The nurse explains to the woman that:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. In elderly patients, fluid deficits can lead to confusion and cognitive impairment. Limiting fluids can disrupt the body's balance, leading to such symptoms. Adjusting the timing of fluids can help maintain hydration without causing nighttime interruptions. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not address the underlying issue of fluid imbalance causing confusion. Choice A suggests unnecessary hospital readmission and medication adjustments. Choice C incorrectly normalizes confusion post-surgery and suggests it is safe not to urinate at night, which can exacerbate the issue. Choice D inaccurately attributes confusion to sleep loss rather than fluid imbalance.