Practice Question
A nurse is assisting in the care of a preschool aged child in the emergency department.
Answer Choices:
Rationale:
✅ The child is showing clear signs of dehydration: Symptoms such as dry mucous membranes, sluggish skin recoil, tachycardia, irritability, and dark concentrated urine all point to significant fluid loss. Immediate IV fluid bolus is necessary to restore intravascular volume and improve perfusion.
✅ Lab results indicate hypokalemia: The potassium level is 3.2 mEq/L, below the normal range (3.5–5.0), which increases the risk for cardiac arrhythmias and muscle dysfunction. Electrolyte replacement, especially potassium, is crucial for safe recovery.
✅ Vital signs and assessment reveal hypovolemia: Tachycardia (130 bpm), borderline low blood pressure (90/60 mmHg), and delayed capillary refill time (3 seconds) further confirm moderate to severe dehydration that requires urgent IV rehydration.
✅ Losses from vomiting and diarrhea deplete both fluids and electrolytes: Replacing both is the standard of care in pediatric gastroenteritis with significant dehydration. Without correction, complications like shock or metabolic derangements may occur.
✅ Addressing the underlying dehydration and electrolyte imbalance is the priority: Other interventions (antiemetics, antibiotics, analgesics) do not correct the acute, life-threatening deficits evident in this scenario.
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This question is from ATI LPN Pediatric Nursing Exam IV which contains 43 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: LPN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: LPN ATI Exams
- Domain: Pediatrics
- Answer Choices: 0