ATI RN
ATI Fluid and Electrolytes Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which hormone is made in the pituitary gland and increases water absorption in the kidney?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the context of medical-surgical nursing, understanding fluid and electrolyte balance is crucial for providing safe and effective patient care. In this question, the correct answer is D) ADH (antidiuretic hormone). ADH is produced in the pituitary gland and acts on the kidneys to increase water reabsorption, helping to retain water in the body and reduce urine output. This hormone plays a key role in regulating water balance and preventing dehydration. Option A) Intracellular fluid and option B) Interstitial fluid are types of body fluids, but they are not hormones produced in the pituitary gland. They do not directly influence water reabsorption in the kidneys. Option C) Plasma is the liquid component of blood, which contains water, but it is not a hormone that regulates water absorption in the kidneys. Educationally, this question highlights the importance of understanding the role of hormones in fluid regulation. Nurses need to recognize the actions of hormones like ADH to assess and manage patients with fluid and electrolyte imbalances effectively. By grasping the functions of hormones involved in fluid balance, nurses can intervene appropriately to maintain homeostasis and promote positive patient outcomes.
Question 2 of 5
You are caring for a patient who has a diagnosis of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Your patient's plan of care includes assessment of specific gravity every 4 hours. The results of this test will allow the nurse to assess what aspect of the patient's health?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Assessing the specific gravity in a patient with SIADH helps the nurse evaluate the patient's fluid volume status. Specific gravity indicates the concentration of solutes in the urine and can detect if the patient has a fluid volume deficit or excess. Nutritional status, potassium balance, and calcium balance are not directly assessed through specific gravity testing. Nutritional status is typically evaluated through dietary intake and anthropometric measurements. Potassium balance is assessed through blood tests and ECG monitoring. Calcium balance is evaluated through blood tests and bone density scans. Therefore, the correct answer is assessing fluid volume status through specific gravity testing.
Question 3 of 5
You are caring for a patient admitted with a diagnosis of acute kidney injury. When you review your patient's most recent laboratory reports, you note that the patient's magnesium levels are high. You should prioritize assessment for which of the following health problems?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Corrected Rationale: To assess a patient's magnesium status, the nurse should check deep tendon reflexes. Diminished deep tendon reflexes may indicate high serum magnesium levels, as hypermagnesemia can lead to neuromuscular effects. Tachycardia, cool clammy skin, and acute flank pain are not typically associated with high magnesium levels and are not priority assessments in this situation.
Question 4 of 5
You are working on a burns unit, and one of your acutely ill patients is exhibiting signs and symptoms of third spacing. Based on this change in status, you should expect the patient to exhibit signs and symptoms of what imbalance?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When a patient exhibits signs and symptoms of third-spacing, where fluid moves out of the intravascular space but not into the intracellular space, hypovolemia is expected. This leads to a decreased circulating blood volume. Increased calcium and magnesium levels are not typically associated with third-spacing fluid shift. Burns usually result in acidosis rather than alkalosis, making metabolic alkalosis an incorrect choice. Therefore, hypovolemia is the correct answer in this scenario.
Question 5 of 5
A patient with a longstanding diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder presents to the emergency room. The triage nurse notes upon assessment that the patient is hyperventilating. The triage nurse is aware that hyperventilation is the most common cause of which acid-base imbalance?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Respiratory alkalosis. Hyperventilation, which can be caused by extreme anxiety, is the most common cause of acute respiratory alkalosis. This leads to a decrease in PaCO2 levels. Respiratory acidosis, choice A, occurs in conditions like hypoventilation, leading to an increase in PaCO2 levels. Choice C, Increased PaCO2, is not the correct term for an acid-base imbalance related to hyperventilation. Choice D, CNS disturbances, is not directly related to the acid-base imbalance caused by hyperventilation.