Question 1
A patient had a thyroidectomy and now reports tingling around the mouth and has a positive Chvostek sign. What laboratory finding would be most helpful to the healthcare professional?
◦ TSH and T
4◦ Serum sodium
◦ Serum calcium
◦ Urine osmolality
Question 2
A patient diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has the following laboratory values: arterial pH 7.20; serum glucose 500 mg/dL; positive urine glucose and ketones; serum potassium (K+) 2 mEq/L; serum sodium (Na+) 130 mEq/L. The patient reports that he has been sick with the “flu” for 1 week. What relationship do these values have to his insulin deficiency?
◦ Increased glucose use causes the shift of fluid from the intravascular to the intracellular space.
◦ Decreased glucose use causes fatty acid use, ketogenesis, metabolic acidosis, and osmotic diuresis.
◦ Increased glucose and fatty acids stimulate renal diuresis, electrolyte loss, and metabolic alkalosis.
◦ Decreased glucose use results in protein catabolism, tissue wasting, respiratory acidosis, and electrolyte loss.
Blue whale skeleton, outside the Long Marine Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Cruz
Nurses may collaborate with social workers, physicians, and other members of the health care team to
Patient teaching: ear assessment
Sequence of patient positions for heart auscultation
Bilateral psoriasis on a patient’s knees.
Laboratory requisition slip.