A nurse is caring for a client who has a serum calcium level of 14 mg/dL. Which provider order should the nurse implement first?
a. Encourage oral fluid intake.
b. Connect the client to a cardiac monitor.
c. Assess urinary output.
d. Administer oral calcitonin (Calcimar).
ANS: B
This client has hypercalcemia. Elevated serum calcium levels can decrease cardiac output and cause cardiac dysrhythmias. Connecting the client to a cardiac monitor is a priority to assess for lethal cardiac changes. Encouraging oral fluids, assessing urine output, and administering calcitonin are treatments for hypercalcemia, but are not the highest priority.
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