A nurse is assessing a client who started taking furosemide 2 days ago and has a potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L (3.5 to 5 mEq/L). Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Muscle rigidity of the extremities
Bounding radial pulses
Depressed deep tendon reflexes
Increased bowel motility
The Correct Answer is C
Rationale:
A. Muscle rigidity of the extremities: This finding is more indicative of hyperkalemia or severe electrolyte imbalances but is not a common symptom of hypokalemia.
B. Bounding radial pulses: This finding is more associated with hypervolemia or hyperkalemia, not with hypokalemia caused by furosemide.
C. Depressed deep tendon reflexes: This is the correct response, as low potassium levels (hypokalemia) can lead to diminished reflexes due to its role in neuromuscular function.
D. Increased bowel motility: This is incorrect, as hypokalemia typically results in decreased bowel motility and may cause constipation rather than increased motility.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Mostly cloudy: This option appears to be incorrectly stated. It does not pertain to a critical client assessment related to morphine administration.
B. Apical heart rate: Monitoring the heart rate is important, but respiratory depression is a more immediate and life-threatening concern with morphine administration, so it is not the first priority.
C. Blood pressure: Morphine can cause hypotension, but this is not as critical as respiratory depression, which must be assessed first in opioid administration.
D. Respiratory rate: The most critical assessment when administering morphine is the respiratory rate, as opioid medications like morphine can cause respiratory depression, which can be life-threatening if not addressed.
E. Level of consciousness: While important, changes in consciousness typically follow respiratory depression, so assessing the respiratory rate takes priority.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Abbreviate "daily" as "QD": The abbreviation "QD" is no longer recommended because it can be confused with "QID" (four times daily), potentially leading to dangerous medication errors.
B. Abbreviate "by mouth" as "PO": "PO" is the standard and accepted abbreviation for "by mouth," and it is widely used in medical documentation without ambiguity.
C. Abbreviate "acetaminophen" as "APAP": "APAP" is not universally recognized and may lead to confusion. Using the full name of the drug "acetaminophen" is safer and clearer.
D. Abbreviate "at bedtime" as "qhs": "Qhs" is discouraged as it can be easily misinterpreted. Writing "at bedtime" without abbreviations is the recommended practice to avoid errors.