The patient has a potassium level of 5.9 mEq/L. The nurse is administering glucose and insulin. The patient's wife says, 'He doesn't have diabetes, why is he getting insulin?' What is the best response by the nurse?

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ATI Pharmacology Proctored Exam 2019 Quizlet Questions

Question 1 of 5

The patient has a potassium level of 5.9 mEq/L. The nurse is administering glucose and insulin. The patient's wife says, 'He doesn't have diabetes, why is he getting insulin?' What is the best response by the nurse?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Hyperkalemia (potassium 5.9 mEq/L) is treated emergently with glucose and insulin, which drive potassium into cells, temporarily lowering serum levels . Insulin facilitates this shift by enhancing cellular uptake, paired with glucose to prevent hypoglycemia—accurate and clear for the wife. Choice B misstates that potassium is excreted via blood sugar; it's redistributed, not eliminated. Choice C compares insulin to Kayexalate (which binds potassium in the gut), but safety isn't the primary rationale. Choice D incorrectly suggests renal excretion, which isn't insulin's role (diuretics or dialysis do that). Choice A explains the mechanism correctly, addressing the wife's confusion with scientific clarity.

Question 2 of 5

During diuretic therapy, the nurse monitors the fluid and electrolyte status of the patient. Which assessment findings are symptoms of hyponatremia? (Select all that apply.)

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Lethargy is A common symptom of hyponatremia, which is an electrolyte imbalance characterized by low sodium levels in The blood. This can lead to neurological symptoms such as confusion, weakness, and lethargy.

Question 3 of 5

A patient with extremely high blood pressure (BP) is in the emergency department. The physician will order therapy with nitroglycerin to manage the patient™s BP. Which form of nitroglycerin is most appropriate?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In a patient with extremely high blood pressure requiring immediate treatment in the emergency department, the most appropriate form of nitroglycerin is the intravenous (IV) infusion. IV nitroglycerin allows for rapid onset of action, precise control of the dosage, and continuous monitoring of blood pressure to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. In this critical situation, the sublingual spray, transdermal patch, and oral capsule forms would not provide the rapid and precise control needed to manage the patient's high blood pressure effectively. IV nitroglycerin is the preferred route of administration for patients with hypertensive emergencies.

Question 4 of 5

A fat soluble vitamin that is essential for the normal hepatic biosynthesis of factors required for blood clotting

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for the normal hepatic biosynthesis of factors required for blood clotting. These clotting factors are important for the process of blood coagulation, preventing excessive bleeding when we get injured. Vitamin K plays a crucial role in maintaining proper blood clotting function and a deficiency in this vitamin can lead to increased bleeding tendency.

Question 5 of 5

A 42-year-old woman has widely disseminated colon cancer. Her main symptom is pain from a spinal crush fracture, incompletely suppressed by oral morphine. She is also troubled by constipation, nausea and occasional vomiting. Which of the following is true?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Metastatic colon cancer with spinal pain needs palliation. Fentanyl patches cause nausea, like morphine, due to opioid effects, so that's false. Cisplatin, for other cancers, doesn't prolong survival in advanced colon cancer (FOLFOX does). Radiotherapy to the primary isn't mainstay for metastases; palliation is. Biopsy of the vertebra is unnecessary with known cancer. Intercostal nerve block targets chest pain, not spinal, but localized nerve blocks (e.g., epidural) are true options for refractory pain, making this the best fit per key.

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