The cardiac telemetry unit charge nurse receives status reports ...

[tatyanajohnson]

The cardiac telemetry unit charge nurse receives status reports from other nursing units about four patients who need cardiac monitoring. Which patient should be transferred to the cardiac unit first?
 
  a. Patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and a heart rate of 102
  b. Patient with tetany who has a new order for IV calcium chloride
  c. Patient with Cushing syndrome and a blood glucose of 140 mg/dL
  d. Patient with Addison's disease who takes hydrocortisone twice daily

Question 2

Which finding by the nurse when assessing a patient with a large pituitary adenoma is most important to report to the health care provider?
 
  a. Changes in visual field
  b. Milk leaking from breasts
  c. Blood glucose 150 mg/dL
  d. Nausea and projectile vomiting

[nanny]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Emergency treatment of tetany requires IV administration of calcium; ECG monitoring will be required because cardiac arrest may occur if high calcium levels result from too-rapid administration. The information about the other patients indicates that they are more stable than the patient with tetany.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
Nausea and projectile vomiting may indicate increased intracranial pressure, which will require rapid actions for diagnosis and treatment. Changes in the visual field, elevated blood glucose, and galactorrhea are common with pituitary adenoma, but these do not require rapid action to prevent life-threatening complications.