Questions 9

ATI RN

ATI RN Test Bank

ATI Fluid and Electrolytes Questions

Question 1 of 5

You are the surgical nurse caring for a 65-year-old female patient who is postoperative day 1 following a thyroidectomy. During your shift assessment, the patient complains of tingling in her lips and fingers. She tells you that she has an intermittent spasm in her wrist and hand, and she exhibits increased muscle tone. What electrolyte imbalance should you first suspect?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The symptoms described, including tingling in the lips and fingers, intermittent spasms, and increased muscle tone, are indicative of tetany, which is a common manifestation of hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia can lead to neuromuscular irritability, causing symptoms such as paresthesias and muscle spasms. Hypophosphatemia primarily affects the central nervous system, resulting in seizures and coma. Hypermagnesemia typically presents with hypoactive reflexes and somnolence. Hyperkalemia can cause paresthesias and anxiety, but in this case, the patient's symptoms are more suggestive of hypocalcemia.

Question 2 of 5

What percentage of body water can be as high as in a newborn?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 80%. Newborns can have a body water content as high as 80% due to their higher total body water compared to adults. Choice B (70%) is incorrect because newborns typically have a higher body water percentage. Choice C (60%) is also incorrect as it underestimates the body water content in newborns. Choice D (90%) is incorrect as it overestimates the body water percentage in newborns.

Question 3 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 4 of 5

Which of the following organs does not contribute to fluid output from the body?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. All the listed organs (lungs, skin, and intestines) contribute to fluid loss from the body. Lungs contribute to fluid loss through respiration, skin through sweating, and intestines through excretion. Therefore, none of the organs listed in the options retain fluids within the body. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because all of these organs play a role in fluid output from the body.

Question 5 of 5

You are an emergency-room nurse caring for a trauma patient. Your patient has the following arterial blood gas results: pH 7.26, PaCO2 28, HCO3 11 mEq/L. How would you interpret these results?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: A low pH indicates acidosis (normal pH is 7.35 to 7.45). The PaCO2 is also low, which causes alkalosis. The bicarbonate is low, which causes acidosis. The pH bicarbonate more closely corresponds with a decrease in pH, making the metabolic component the primary problem. Therefore, the correct interpretation of the arterial blood gas results is metabolic acidosis with a compensatory respiratory alkalosis. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the primary acid-base disturbance and the compensatory response seen in the given results.

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