Practice Question
A nurse is caring for a client who has hypertension and has a potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Obtain a 12-lead ECG
Rationale:
🔸A potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L indicates severe hyperkalemia, which can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation or asystole.
🔸The priority action is to obtain a 12-lead ECG to assess for characteristic changes, including peaked T-waves, widened QRS complex, or bradyarrhythmias.
🔸These changes guide the urgency of treatment, such as administration of calcium gluconate, insulin with glucose, or dialysis.
🔸Advising dietary changes or obtaining a sodium level is not appropriate until cardiac stability is ensured.
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This question is from RN ATI NSG232 which contains 40 questions.
More Questions from This Exam
A nurse is caring for a client with chest pain who suddenly becomes unresponsive. The client is pulseless, and apneic. The code team places the client on the monitor which indicates ventricular fibrillation, what is the next priority action?
Answer Choices:
A. Amiodarone administration
B. Synchronized Cardioversion
C. Epinephrine administration
D. Defibrillation
A nurse is reviewing blood pressure classifications with a group of nurses at an in-service meeting. Which of the following should the nurse include as a risk factor for the development of hypertension?
Answer Choices:
A. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
B. Taking benazepril
C. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) level of 70 mg/dL
D. A regular exercise routine
A nurse is caring for a client with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The nurse is preparing medications for the client and recognizes that which medication will dilate the client's coronary blood vessels?
Answer Choices:
A. Alteplase (fibrinolytics)
B. IV Nitroglycerine
C. Metoprolol (beta blockers)
D. IV Heparin
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure who takes furosemide 20mg daily at home and is receiving 40mg of furosemide IV daily in the hospital. The nurse is aware that this patient is at risk for what electrolyte imbalance?
Answer Choices:
A. Hypocalcemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypokalemia
A nurse is caring for a client with a possible acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The electrocardiogram (ECG) shows no ST segment elevations or depression. The nurse is aware that an elevation of which lab result will determine if there has been cardiac injury?
Answer Choices:
A. Elevated Troponins
B. Elevated Creatine kinase (CK)
C. Elevated Hemoglobin
D. Elevated B-type Natriuretic
Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI MedSurg
- Answer Choices: 4