A patient is admitted who has had severe vomiting for 24 hours. She states that she is exhausted and weak. The results of an admitting ECG show flat T waves and ST segment depression. Choose the most likely potassium (K ) value for this patient.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 2.0mEq/L. Severe vomiting can lead to hypokalemia, characterized by flat T waves and ST segment depression on ECG. This is due to decreased potassium levels affecting cardiac repolarization. A potassium level of 2.0mEq/L is dangerously low and consistent with the ECG findings in this scenario. Choices A, C, and D have potassium levels that are not reflective of severe hypokalemia, therefore they are incorrect. Option A (4.0mEq/L) is within the normal range, option C (8.0mEq/L) is elevated, and option D (2.6mEq/L) is higher than the correct value of 2.0mEq/L.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 500 ml. When someone loses 0.5 kg of weight, it is estimated that about 500 ml of fluid has been lost, as 1 kg of body weight is roughly equivalent to 1 liter of fluid. This fluid loss is due to water loss through sweating, breathing, and urine. Choice A (50 ml) is too small of an amount for a significant weight loss. Choice B (750 ml) is too high and would correspond to a larger weight loss. Choice D (75 ml) is also too small to account for a 0.5 kg weight loss.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Hypoventilation. In chronic respiratory acidosis, the lungs cannot effectively eliminate carbon dioxide, leading to an accumulation of CO2 in the blood, causing acidosis. Hypoventilation results in decreased removal of CO2, exacerbating the acidosis. A: Hyperventilation would lead to respiratory alkalosis, not acidosis. B: Loss of acid by kidneys would result in metabolic alkalosis, not respiratory acidosis. D: Loss of base by kidneys would lead to metabolic acidosis, not respiratory acidosis. In summary, the main issue in chronic respiratory acidosis is inadequate elimination of CO2 due to hypoventilation, leading to acidosis.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct order of priority for nursing actions for a new laryngectomee is: ii.Set up a visit from a well-adjusted laryngectomee, iii.Maintain a patent airway, iv.Control postoperative pain, i.Assist with ambulation. Setting up a visit from a well-adjusted laryngectomee comes first to provide emotional support and guidance. Maintaining a patent airway is crucial for breathing. Controlling postoperative pain is important for comfort. Assisting with ambulation is necessary but can be done after ensuring the other priorities are addressed. Other choices are incorrect because they do not prioritize emotional support, airway maintenance, and pain control before assisting with ambulation.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Step 1: IV morphine is the correct choice as it is a potent analgesic and has a rapid onset of action to reduce shortness of breath (SOB) in a crisis situation. Step 2: Oral cortisone (A) is not suitable for quick relief of SOB as it has a slower onset of action. Step 3: IM meperidine (C) is an opioid analgesic but not commonly used for managing SOB in end-stage respiratory disease. Step 4: IV propranolol (D) is a beta-blocker and not indicated for immediate relief of SOB in a crisis situation.