A client receiving long-term therapy with lithium carbonate ...

[hbsimmons88]

A client receiving long-term therapy with lithium carbonate (Lithobid) exhibits muscle tremors, confusion, vomiting, and diarrhea. The nurse anticipates that the results of the latest test of the serum lithium level will be between:
 
  1. 0 and 0.5 mEq/L
  2. 0.6 and 1.0 mEq/L
  3. 1.0 and 1.3 mEq/L
  4. 1.5 and 2.0 mEq/L

Question 2

Which client would the emergency department triage nurse classify as emergent?
 
  1. A client with a displaced fracture
  2. A client with a temperature of 101 F
  3. A client with a simple laceration and soft tissue injury
  4. A client with crushing substernal pain who is short of breath

[tandmlomax84]

Answer to Question 1

4

Rationale: The therapeutic serum level of lithium is 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L.. Serum lithium concentrations of 1.5 to 2.0 mEq/L may produce a variety of symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, incoordination, coarse hand tremors, muscle tremors, and mental confusion.

Answer to Question 2

4

Rationale: A triage method commonly used in the emergency department consists of three cate-gories: emergent, urgent, and nonurgent. The emergent category implies that a condition exists that poses an immediate threat to life or limb; an example of a client who fits into this category is the client experiencing crushing substernal pain who is short of breath. The urgent category in-dicates that the client should be treated quickly but that an immediate threat to life does not exist at the moment. The client with a displaced fracture and the client with a temperature of 101 F would fit into this category. The nonurgent category indicates that the client can generally toler-ate waiting several hours for health care services without a significant risk of clinical deteriora-tion. The client with a simple laceration and soft tissue injury would fit into this category.