A 65-year-old female presents with confusion, headache, and muscle weakness. Her sodium level is 120 mEq/L. Which of the following interventions is most appropriate based on her condition?
Administer hypertonic saline and restrict water intake
Start fluid restriction and administer a loop diuretic
Administer isotonic saline and encourage oral fluid intake
Increase oral sodium intake and administer an antiemetic
The Correct Answer is A
A. Administering hypertonic saline (3% NaCl) is appropriate for treating severe hyponatremia, as it helps to raise sodium levels safely. Restricting water intake is also necessary to prevent further dilution of sodium.
B. Fluid restriction with a loop diuretic may not be effective in this scenario and can worsen the hyponatremia by causing further fluid loss without addressing the sodium levels.
C. Isotonic saline is not indicated for correcting severe hyponatremia, and encouraging oral fluid intake could exacerbate the condition.
D. Increasing oral sodium intake is not sufficient for immediate correction of severe hyponatremia and does not address the acute nature of the client’s symptoms.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Respiratory acidosis is indicated by the low pH (7.22) and elevated PaCO2 (68 mm Hg), demonstrating that CO2 is retained due to hypoventilation (as seen with a respiratory rate of 7/min). The bicarbonate level is within normal range, suggesting no metabolic compensation is present.
B. Metabolic acidosis would be indicated by a low pH and low bicarbonate level, which is not the case here since the bicarbonate is normal at 26 mEq/L.
C. Metabolic alkalosis would present with a high pH and high HCO3, which does not match these values.
D. Respiratory alkalosis would show a high pH and low PaCO2, which is contrary to the provided ABG results.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. While knowing the location of the assault may be relevant for police reports, it does not directly pertain to the client’s health and potential exposure to HIV.
B. Permission to contact the police is important for legal reasons, but the priority is to address the client's health needs first.
C. Identifying the individual who assaulted the client is critical for assessing the risk of HIV exposure and determining the need for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). This question directly impacts the client’s immediate health care.
D. Understanding the day and time of the assault is useful for legal documentation but is less critical than assessing potential exposure to HIV.