You are the nurse caring for a 65-year-old female patient who is in renal failure. During your shift assessment, the patient complains of tingling in her lips and fingers whenever anyone takes her blood pressure

Question

She tells you that she gets a spasm in her wrist and hand and that it is very painful. What would you suspect?
A) Hypophosphatemia
B) Hypocalcemia
C) Hypermagnesemia
D) Hyperkalemia

Answer 1

Ans: B
Feedback: Tetany is the most characteristic manifestation of hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia. Sensations of tingling may occur in the tips of the fingers, around the mouth, and, less commonly, in the feet. Taking a normal blood pressure could illicit a carpal spasm if it creates slight ischemia of the ulnar nerve. Option A is incorrect; hypophosphatemia creates central nervous dysfunction, resulting in seizures and coma. Option C is incorrect; hypermagnesemia creates hypoactive reflexes and somnolence. Option D is incorrect; hyperkalemia creates paresthesias and anxiety.