You are caring for a patient on the oncology floor with a diagnosis of metastatic brain cancer. During your assessment, you note the patient complains of abdominal pain. Skin turgor indicates dehydration is present
What would you further assess for in this patient?
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hypomagnesemia
C) Hypophosphatemia
D) Hypercalcemia
Ans: D
Feedback: The most common causes of hypercalcemia are malignancies and hyperparathyroidism. Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and constipation are common symptoms of hypercalcemia. Dehydration occurs with nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and calcium reabsorption at the proximal renal tubule. Abdominal and bone pain may also be present. Option A is incorrect; primary manifestations of hypernatremia are neurologic and would not include abdominal pain and dehydration. Option B is incorrect; tetany is the most characteristic manifestation of hypomagnesemia, and this scenario does not mention tetany. Option C is incorrect; most of the signs and symptoms of phosphorus deficiency appear to result from a deficiency of ATP, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, or both. ATP deficiency impairs cellular energy resources; diphosphoglycerate deficiency impairs oxygen delivery to tissues resulting in a wide range of neurologic manifestations, such as irritability, fatigue, apprehension, weakness, numbness, paresthesias, dysarthria, dysphagia, diplopia, confusion, seizures, and coma. This scenario does not indicate that the patient is hypoxic.
You might also like to view...
A nurse is assessing a patient who is experiencing peripheral neurovascular dysfunction. What assessment findings are most consistent with this diagnosis?
A) Hot skin with a capillary refill of 1 to 2 seconds B) Absence of feeling, capillary refill of 4 to 5 seconds, and cool skin C) Pain, diaphoresis, and erythema D) Jaundiced skin, weakness, and capillary refill of 3 seconds
A patient with dementia has difficulty swallowing, and frequently coughs when eating. Recently, the patient has developed a nonproductive cough with a temperature of 99°F
The nurse is concerned that this patient is at risk for developing which health problem? A) Lung cancer B) Chronic bronchitis C) Aspiration and lung abscess D) Chronic obstructive lung disease
Which pain characteristic is usually indicative of cardiac pathology?
a. Fleeting c. Diffuse b. Moving d. Localized
The nurse is aware that a sense of powerlessness is related to loss of control. The nurse can help reduce this perception by ____________________. (Select all that apply.)
a. allowing the patient to make choices whenever possible. b. encouraging the patient to perform self-care. c. respecting the patient's right to refuse treatment. d. explaining all procedures ahead of time. e. adapting the environment to enhance self-care.