Fluid & Electrolyte
This fluid compartment accounts for 70% of total body water.
What is Intracellular Fluid (ICF)?
Because sodium controls water movement, this organ system is the primary concern during hyponatremia.
What is the Central Nervous System (CNS)
Scanty urine output, defined as less than 30ml/hr.
What is Oliguria?
This level of anxiety is actually considered helpful because it increases alertness and motivates a person to solve problems
Answer: What is Mild Anxiety?
This condition is described as a gradual, bilateral loss of high-frequency hearing common in older adults.
Answer: What is Presbycusis?
: This serum protein acts as a "magnet" to pull water into the vascular space using oncotic pressure.
What is Albumin?
This is the primary treatment for severe hyponatremia (<135 with symptoms).
Answer: What is Hypertonic Saline?
A high Specific Gravity (>1.030) is most commonly an indicator of this condition.
Answer: What is Dehydration?)
A patient is grieving the loss of their independence after a diagnosis. Because this loss is subjective and cannot be "verified" by others like a death can, it is known as this.
Answer: What is Perceived Loss?
A nurse is caring for an older adult patient with advanced cataracts. Which nursing intervention is the priority for this patient?
A. Provide the patient with a large-print newspaper.
B. Keep the room dimly lit to reduce glare.
C. Orient the patient to the room using a "clock" system for items on the bedside table.
D. Speak in a louder-than-normal tone of voice.
Answer: C.
Rationale: For patients with visual deficits, orientation and safety are priorities. Describing the location of water, the call bell, and personal items using "clock" positions (e.g., "Your water is at 3 o'clock") promotes independence and safet
These is major electrolyte found within the Intracellular space.
Answer: What are Potassium, Phosphorus, and Magnesium?
This is the most dangerous complication of both hypokalemia and hyperkalemia.
Cardiac Arrhythmias or Cardiac Arrest?
This non-invasive tool is used to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder after voiding.
Answer: What is a Bladder Scanner?
This class of medication, which includes Lorazepam (Ativan), works by enhancing the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.
Answer: What are Benzodiazepines?
A patient in long-term isolation begins to experience hallucinations and restlessness. Which condition is most likely occurring?
Insufficient meaningful stimuli can cause RAS to produce distorted signalers lead to hallucinations and confusion.
The physician orders 1,000 mL of 0.9% Normal Saline to infuse over 12 hours. Your IV tubing has a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL. What is the correct drip rate in drops per minute (gtt/min)? (Round to the nearest whole number).
Answer: 14 gtt/min
The Step-by-Step Calculation
1. Identify your variables:
Total Volume: 1,000 mL
Time in Minutes: 12 hours×60 minutes=720 minutes
Drop Factor: 10 gtt/mL
2. Apply the Formula:
3. Solve:
Patients taking this medication must have their levels monitored closely if they become hypokalemic.
Answer: What is Digoxin?
A nurse is assessing a 65-year-old female client who reports losing small amounts of urine whenever she sneezes or laughs. The client states, "I don't even feel like I have to go, it just leaks out." Which intervention should the nurse prioritize for this client?
A. Assist the client with a bladder training schedule every 2 hours.
B. Instruct the client on how to perform pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises.
C. Prepare the patient for a straight catheterization to check for residual urine.
D. Encourage the client to increase daily caffeine intake to stimulate the bladder.
Correct Answer: B
Stress incontinence is caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles or a hypermobile urethra. Kegel exercisesstrengthen these muscles to support the bladder. Bladder training (A) is more effective for Urge incontinence. PVR checks (C) are for Overflow incontinence. Caffeine (D) is a bladder irritant and would worsen the condition.
SSRIs can dangerously increase the effect of this anticoagulant because both drugs compete for albumin binding sites.
What is Coumadin (Warfarin)?
hen a patient is isolated or immobile and the Reticular Activating System (RAS) no longer projects normal activation, they are experiencing this.
What is Sensory Deprivation?
This hormone causes the kidneys to retain Sodium (and water) while excreting Potassium.
What is Aldosterone?
These are two common causes of Hyperkalemia (>5.0)
Answer: What are Renal Failure, Crush Injuries, or K-sparing diuretics?
A nurse is providing education to a female client on ways to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include? Select all that apply.
1."Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom."
2."Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily."
3."Wear tight-fitting nylon underwear to keep the area dry."
4."Void immediately after sexual intercourse."
5."Take bubble baths daily to ensure the perineal area is clean."
6."Avoid using harsh soaps or feminine hygiene sprays in the genital area."
Correct Answers: 1, 2, 4, 6
Rationales:
1 (Correct): Prevents E. coli from the rectal area from entering the urethra.
2 (Correct): Flushes bacteria out of the urinary tract.
4 (Correct): Helps clear bacteria that may have entered the urethra during activity.
6 (Correct): These are irritants that can disrupt the natural flora and increase infection risk.
A student pushes the thought of a difficult exam out of their mind, saying, "I'll deal with it tomorrow." This is an example of which cognitive coping pattern?
Answer: What is Suppression?
A nurse is caring for a hospitalized older adult who has been on bed rest in a private room for 3 days with minimal family visits. The client reports, “I keep seeing shadows moving in the corner of the room.” Which condition is the client most likely experiencing?
A. Delirium related to infection
B. Sensory overload
C. Sensory deprivation
D. Dementia progression
Rationale:
Why the others are incorrect: