ATI RN
Nutrition and Fluid Balance Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which condition can lead to metabolic alkalosis?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Excessive vomiting. Vomiting causes loss of stomach acid and chloride ions, leading to an increase in bicarbonate concentration and resulting in metabolic alkalosis. Diarrhea (choice A) causes loss of bicarbonate and can lead to metabolic acidosis. Hyperventilation (choice C) can cause respiratory alkalosis by blowing off too much carbon dioxide. Hypoventilation (choice D) can cause respiratory acidosis by retaining too much carbon dioxide.
Question 2 of 5
A marathon runner collapses from heat exhaustion. Which fluid imbalance is likely?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B, Hyponatremia. Heat exhaustion leads to excessive sweating, causing loss of sodium and water. This imbalance results in low sodium levels in the blood. Hypernatremia (A) is high sodium levels and is not likely in this scenario. Hyperkalemia (C) and Hypokalemia (D) are imbalances in potassium levels, not sodium, and are not directly related to heat exhaustion. Therefore, the most likely fluid imbalance in a marathon runner collapsing from heat exhaustion is Hyponatremia due to excessive sweating and sodium loss.
Question 3 of 5
A patient presents with confusion, headache, and a serum sodium level of 130 mEq/L. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administer hypertonic IV fluids. In hyponatremia (low serum sodium level), hypertonic IV fluids help raise sodium levels gradually to prevent rapid correction and avoid complications like cerebral edema. Administering hypotonic IV fluids (choice A) can worsen the condition by further diluting sodium levels. Restricting fluid intake (choice C) may not address the underlying electrolyte imbalance. Administering potassium supplements (choice D) is not appropriate for hyponatremia.
Question 4 of 5
A patient is admitted with severe burns and a serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. What is the most likely cause of the hyperkalemia?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cellular destruction. Severe burns can lead to significant tissue damage, causing intracellular potassium to leak into the bloodstream, resulting in hyperkalemia. Increased dietary intake of potassium (Choice B) would not cause such a rapid rise in serum potassium levels. Diuretic therapy (Choice C) typically leads to potassium loss, not hyperkalemia. Excessive vomiting (Choice D) can result in hypokalemia due to potassium loss, not hyperkalemia. In this case, the most likely cause of hyperkalemia in a patient with severe burns is the release of potassium from damaged cells into the bloodstream.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse uses a picture to show how ions equalize their concentration by which passive transport process?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Diffusion. Diffusion is the passive transport process where ions move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration until equilibrium is reached. This aligns with the scenario described in the question where ions equalize their concentration. Osmosis (A) specifically refers to the movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane. Filtration (B) involves the movement of solutes through a membrane due to pressure differences. Titration (C) is a laboratory technique used to determine the concentration of a substance in a solution and is not related to passive transport processes like diffusion.