The nurse is caring for a client in acute addisonian crisis. Which laboratory data would the nurse expect to find?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In acute Addisonian crisis, the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol and aldosterone, leading to a decrease in blood volume and blood pressure. This can cause hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) due to the lack of aldosterone, which normally helps regulate potassium excretion from the body. Additionally, clients in Addisonian crisis may experience hyponatremia (low sodium levels) rather than hypernatremia. Reduced blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and hyperglycemia would not be typical findings in acute Addisonian crisis.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The most common cause of hyperaldosteronism is an adrenal adenoma, which is a benign tumor of the adrenal gland. Adrenal adenomas produce excessive amounts of aldosterone, a hormone that regulates sodium and potassium balance in the body. This overproduction of aldosterone can lead to increased sodium retention and potassium excretion, resulting in hypertension and low potassium levels in the blood. Excessive sodium intake and deficient potassium intake are not common causes of hyperaldosteronism. Pituitary adenomas are associated with conditions such as Cushing's syndrome or acromegaly, but not hyperaldosteronism.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Wheezes are high-pitched, musical sounds heard during inspiration or expiration due to the constriction or narrowing of the airways, commonly associated with asthma exacerbations. The presence of wheezes indicates airway obstruction, making it the expected breath sound in a patient admitted for an asthma exacerbation. Rubs, rattles, and crackles are associated with different conditions such as pleural friction rubs, respiratory secretions, and fluid in the alveoli, respectively.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Offering softer diet may not address refusal due to developmental factors.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Pulmonary edema is characterized by increased hydrostatic pressure in the pulmonary capillaries and a rise in pulmonary venous pressure, which leads to fluid leaking out of the pulmonary capillaries and into the alveoli. This results in elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, which is a key characteristic of pulmonary edema. Therefore, all of the above alterations (increased hydrostatic pressure, a rise in pulmonary venous pressure, and elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure) are seen in pulmonary edema.