An elderly patient is admitted after being found alone in the home with no food available. Severe malnutrition is diagnosed and refeeding has been instituted
The nurse should plan to monitor this patient for which complications of this therapy? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Hypernatremia
2. Low potassium levels
3. Prolongation of the PR interval
4. Edema
5. Pulmonary crackles
2,4,5
Rationale 1: High sodium levels are not a complication of refeeding.
Rationale 2: Potassium stores are depleted as new ATP is generated. This is a serious adverse effect of refeeding.
Rationale 3: The most common finding is prolongation of the QT interval, not prolongation of the PR interval.
Rationale 4: Edema may be caused by other factors but is also associated with refeeding.
Rationale 5: The patient may develop heart failure, which would be evidenced by the presence of crackles.
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