Exam 1 Study Guide Questions

Question 1

What is the term for a difference in concentration of particles that is greater on one side of a permeable membrane than on the other side?

Answer 1

Concentration Gradient

Question 2

A patient’s blood osmolarity is 302mOsm/L. What manifestation does the nurse expect to see in the patient?

Answer 2

Thirst

Question 3

An older adult is at risk for fluid and electrolyte problems is carefully monitored by the nurse for the first indication of a fluid balance problem. What is the indication?

Answer 3

Mental status changes

Question 4

What are the consequences for a patient who does not meet the obligatory urine output?

Answer 4

Electrolyte imbalances
Toxic buildup of nitrogen
Acidosis

Question 5

What is the minimum amount of urine output per day needed to excrete toxic waste products?

Answer 5

400ml-600ml

Question 6

Which changes on a patient’s electrocardiogram (ECG) reflect hyperkalemia?

Answer 6

Tall peaked T waves

Question 7

The ED is caring for a patient who was brought in for significant alcohol intoxication and minor trauma to the wrist. What will serial hematocrits for this patient likely show?

Answer 7

Hemoconcentration

Question 8

The nurse assessing a patient notes bounding pulse quality, neck vein distension when supine, presence of crackles in the lungs, and increasing peripheral edema. What fluid disorder do these findings reflect?

Answer 8

Fluid volume excess

Question 9

The nurse is reviewing orders for several patients who are risk for fluid volume overload. For which patient condition does the nurse question an order for diuretics?

Answer 9

End stage renal disease

Question 10

What impacts does sodium have on body function?

Answer 10

Electroneutrality
Regulates water balance
Regulates plasma osmolality
Low sodium stimulates the excretion of aldosterone

Question 11

How does ADH affect urine output?

Answer 11

It increase permeability to the water in the tubules, causing a decrease in urine output.

Question 12

The electrolyte magnesium is responsible for which functions?

Answer 12

Carbohydrate metabolism
Contraction of skeletal muscle
Vitamin activation
Blood coagulation

Question 13

The nurse is caring for a patient with hypernatremia caused by fluid loss. What type of IV solution is best for treating this patient?

Answer 13

0.9% sodium chloride

Question 14

The patient has respiratory muscle weakness resulting in shallow respirations. Which electrolyte abnormality would the nurse suspect?

Answer 14

Hypokalemia

Question 15

The patient has sever hypokalemia. For which intestinal complication does the nurse monitor?

Answer 15

Paralytic ileus

Question 16

A patient who is known to be homeless has been diagnosed with severe end stage renal disease and anemia. He is transfused with three units of packed red blood cells. Which potential electrolyte balance does the nurse anticipate could occur in this patient?

Answer 16

Hyperkalemia

Question 17

A young patient is in the early stages of being treated for severe burns. Which electrolyte imbalance does the nurse expect to assess in this patient?

Answer 17

Hyperkalemia

Question 18

The nurse is evaluating the lab results of a patient with hyperaldosteronism. What is the abnormal electrolyte finding does the nurse expect to see?

Answer 18

Hypernatremia

Question 19

Plasma is part of which body fluid space compartments?

Answer 19

The extracellular compartment
Interstitial fluid
Intravascular fluid

Question 20

The nurse is administering potassium to a patient carefully monitors the infusion because of the risk for which condition?

Answer 20

Cardiac dysrhythmia