When taking the blood pressure of a client after a parathyroidectomy, the nurse notes that the client's hand has gone into flexion contractions. Which laboratory result does the nurse correlate with this condition?
a. Serum potassium, 2.9 mEq/L
b. Serum potassium, 5.8 mEq/L
c. Serum sodium, 122 mEq/L
d. Serum calcium, 6.9 mg/dL
D
Hypocalcemia destabilizes excitable membranes and can lead to muscle twitches, spasms, and tetany. This effect of hypocalcemia is enhanced in the presence of tissue hypoxia. The flexion contractions (Trousseau's sign) that occur during blood pressure measurement are indicative of hypocalcemia, not the other electrolyte imbalances, which include hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, and hyponatremia.
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An infant is experiencing dyspnea related to patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). What does the nurse understand regarding why dyspnea occurs?
a. Blood is circulated through the lungs again, causing pulmonary circulatory congestion. b. Blood is shunted past the pulmonary circulation, causing pulmonary hypoxia. c. Blood is shunted past cardiac arteries, causing myocardial hypoxia. d. Blood is circulated through the ductus from the pulmonary artery to the aorta, bypassing the left side of the heart.
A patient diagnosed with vascular dementia gets more confused, agitated, and anxious in the evening. This behavior represents
a. sundowning. b. moonlighting. c. differentiating. d. misinterpreting.
Where do the questions for the NCLEX-RN exam come from?
a. a group of test question writers approved by individual state boards of nursing b. educators and clinicians whose names have been suggested by individual state boards ofnursing c. a contracted test writing service d. a curriculum committee comprised of experts only from accredited schools of nursing selected by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
What can be said about the comorbidity of anxiety disorders?
A. Anxiety disorders exist alone. B. A second anxiety disorder may coexist with the first. C. Anxiety disorders virtually never coexist with mood disorders. D. Substance abuse disorders rarely coexist with anxiety disorders.