While preparing a patient for a procedure in which a neuromuscular blocking agent will be used, the nurse reviews the patient's preprocedure laboratory values. Which abnormality would cause the most concern?
a. Hyponatremia
b. Hypercalcemia
c. Hypomagnesemia
d. Hypokalemia
D
Low potassium levels can enhance paralysis, whereas high potassium levels can reduce paralysis. Because electrolyte status can influence the depth of neuromuscular blockade, it is important to maintain normal electrolyte balance. There are no indications that sodium, calcium, and/or mag-nesium have effects similar to those of potassium in relation to neuromuscular blocking agents.
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What statements by the 54-year-old patient indicates an understanding of the nurse's teaching about how to take sublingual nitroglycerin?
A) "A headache means a toxic level has been reached." B) "I can take up to 3 tablets at 5-minute intervals." C) "I can take as much nitroglycerin as I need because it is not habit forming." D) "If I become dizzy after taking the medication, I should stop taking it."
A traditional family structure in which male and female partners and their children live as an independent unit is known as a(n) _____ family
a. Extended b. Binuclear c. Nuclear d. Blended
The nurse anesthetist stops to see a patient recovering from surgery in the postanesthesia care unit to make sure the patient is not experiencing any untreated side effects from the anesthesia
The nurse anesthetist is conducting which aspect of patient care? 1. Preanesthesia evaluation 2. Emergence 3. Maintenance 4. Postanesthesia care
The process by which an action potential in the plasma membrane of a myocardial cell triggers the events that directly cause contraction of the myocardial cells is referred to as:
a. electrocontraction. b. intercalated communication. c. excitation-contraction coupling. d. myosin communication.