Practice Question
A nurse is assessing a client who received magnesium sulfate to treat preterm labor. Which of the following clinical findings should the nurse identify as an indication of toxicity of magnesium sulfate therapy and report to the provider?
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Correct Answer:
Respiratory depression
Rationale:
🔸 Respiratory depression is a critical sign of magnesium sulfate toxicity and requires immediate notification of the provider.
🔸 Magnesium acts as a central nervous system depressant; in excessive amounts, it can suppress respiratory muscles and reduce respiratory rate below 12 breaths/min.
🔸 Other signs of toxicity include absent deep tendon reflexes, hypotension, and lethargy, but respiratory compromise is the most urgent.
🔸 Therapeutic serum magnesium levels range between 4–7 mEq/L for seizure prophylaxis, but toxicity typically occurs when levels exceed 7.5–10 mEq/L.
🔸 The antidote for magnesium toxicity is calcium gluconate, which should always be readily available when infusing magnesium.
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This question is from Custom: NUR 2463 Exam #2 which contains 20 questions.
More Questions from This Exam
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A nurse in a provider's office is caring for a client who is at 34 weeks of gestation and at risk for placental abruption. The nurse should recognize that which of the following is the most common risk factor for abruption?
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A nurse is caring for a client who is a primigravida. at term. and having contractions but is stating that she is "not really sure if she is in labor or not." Which of the following should the nurse recognize as a sign of true labor?
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN Custom Exam(s)
- Answer Choices: 4