Chapter 13-Fluid and Electrolyte Balance and
Disturbance Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update)
1. You are caring for a patient who has a diagnosis of
syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
(SIADH). Your patient's plan of care includes assessment
of specific gravity every 4 hours. The results of this test
will allow the nurse to assess what aspect of the patient's
health?
A) Nutritional status
B) Potassium balance
C) Calcium balance
D) Fluid volume status - Correct Answer ✅Ans: D
2. You are caring for a patient admitted with a diagnosis
of acute kidney injury. When you review your patient's
most recent laboratory reports, you note that the
patient's magnesium levels are high. You should prioritize
assessment for which of the following health problems?
A) Diminished deep tendon reflexes
B) Tachycardia
C) Cool, clammy skin
,Chapter 13-Fluid and Electrolyte Balance and
Disturbance Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update)
D) Acute flank pain - Correct Answer ✅Ans: A
3. You are working on a burns unit and one of your
acutely ill patients is exhibiting signs and symptoms of
third spacing. Based on this change in status, you should
expect the patient to exhibit signs and symptoms of what
imbalance?
A) Metabolic alkalosis
B) Hypermagnesemia
C) Hypercalcemia
D) Hypovolemia - Correct Answer ✅Ans: D
A patient with a longstanding diagnosis of generalized
anxiety disorder presents to the emergency room.
The triage nurse notes upon assessment that the patient
is hyperventilating. The triage nurse is aware that
hyperventilation is the most common cause of which
acidbase imbalance?
A) Respiratory acidosis
,Chapter 13-Fluid and Electrolyte Balance and
Disturbance Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update)
B) Respiratory alkalosis
C) Increased PaCO2
D) CNS disturbances - Correct Answer ✅Ans: B
Feedback:
The most common cause of acute respiratory alkalosis is
hyperventilation. Extreme anxiety can lead to
hyperventilation. Acute respiratory acidosis occurs in
emergency situations, such as pulmonary edema,
and is exhibited by hypoventilation and decreased
PaCO2. CNS disturbances are found in extreme
hyponatremia and fluid overload.
You are an emergency-room nurse caring for a trauma
patient. Your patient has the following arterial
blood gas results: pH 7.26, PaCO2 28, HCO3 11 mEq/L.
How would you interpret these results?
A) Respiratory acidosis with no compensation
B) Metabolic alkalosis with a compensatory alkalosis
, Chapter 13-Fluid and Electrolyte Balance and
Disturbance Exam Questions and Answers
(Latest Update)
C) Metabolic acidosis with no compensation
D) Metabolic acidosis with a compensatory respiratory
alkalosis - Correct Answer ✅Ans: D
Feedback:
A low pH indicates acidosis (normal pH is 7.35 to 7.45).
The PaCO3 is also low, which causes alkalosis.
The bicarbonate is low, which causes acidosis. The pH
bicarbonate more closely corresponds with a
decrease in pH, making the metabolic component the
primary problem.
6. You are making initial shift assessments on your
patients. While assessing one patient's peripheral IV site,
you note edema around the insertion site. How should
you document this complication related to IV therapy?
A) Air emboli
B) Phlebitis
C) Infiltration
D) Fluid overload - Correct Answer ✅Ans: C
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Allivia. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $15.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
