A patient is being admitted to the floor following a motor vehicle accident. Because of the stressful nature of the event, the nurse anticipates the patient will continue to have a sympathetic stress reaction during the postoperative period
When monitoring the patient's serum electrolytes, what will the nurse closely monitor? A) Increased calcium
B) Decreased potassium
C) Increased chloride
D) Decreased sodium
B
Feedback:
Aldosterone, also released with adrenal stimulation, retains sodium and water and causes the excretion of potassium in the urine. As water is retained, sodium is also retained, therefore increasing serum levels. Chloride levels are unlikely to change significantly. Calcium is not involved.
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