Practice Question
A nurse is assessing a client who has a decreased potassium level. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Muscle weakness
Rationale:
💠 Hypokalemia affects skeletal muscle function, leading to weakness that may progress from mild fatigue to severe paralysis in extreme cases.
💠 Potassium is critical for nerve impulse conduction and muscle contraction; a deficit disrupts these processes, resulting in decreased strength and sluggish reflexes.
💠 Other clinical signs of hypokalemia can include leg cramps, shallow respirations, weak pulse, and cardiac dysrhythmias.
💠 Findings like Chvostek’s sign are linked to hypocalcemia, not potassium imbalance, while seizures are more associated with sodium imbalances.
💠 Monitoring muscle strength, cardiac rhythm, and potassium levels is essential to prevent complications such as respiratory compromise or arrhythmias.
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This question is from ☑️ RN Nutrition 2023 which contains 71 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Nutrition
- Answer Choices: 4