« previous next »

Author Question: A patient with acute kidney injury (AKI) has longer QRS intervals on the electrocardiogram (ECG) ... (Read 123 times)

notis

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 596
on: Jun 25, 2018
A patient with acute kidney injury (AKI) has longer QRS intervals on the electrocardiogram (ECG) than were noted on the previous shift. Which action should the nurse take first?
 
  a. Notify the patient's health care provider.
  b. Document the QRS interval measurement.
  c. Check the medical record for most recent potassium level.
  d. Check the chart for the patient's current creatinine level.

Question 2

A 25-year-old male patient has been admitted with a severe crushing injury after an industrial accident. Which laboratory result will be most important to report to the health care provider?
 
  a. Serum creatinine level 2.1 mg/dL
  b. Serum potassium level 6.5 mEq/L
  c. White blood cell count 11,500/L
  d. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 56 mg/dL


dpost18

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 345
Reply #1 on: Jun 25, 2018
Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
The increasing QRS interval is suggestive of hyperkalemia, so the nurse should check the most recent potassium and then notify the patient's health care provider. The BUN and creatinine will be elevated in a patient with AKI, but they would not directly affect the electrocardiogram (ECG). Documentation of the QRS interval is also appropriate, but interventions to decrease the potassium level are needed to prevent life-threatening dysrhythmias.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The hyperkalemia associated with crushing injuries may cause cardiac arrest and should be treated immediately. The nurse also will report the other laboratory values, but abnormalities in these are not immediately life threatening.


Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
« previous next »
 

Did you know?

The first oral chemotherapy drug for colon cancer was approved by FDA in 2001.

Did you know?

There are approximately 3 million unintended pregnancies in the United States each year.

Did you know?

About 600,000 particles of skin are shed every hour by each human. If you live to age 70 years, you have shed 105 pounds of dead skin.

Did you know?

Bisphosphonates were first developed in the nineteenth century. They were first investigated for use in disorders of bone metabolism in the 1960s. They are now used clinically for the treatment of osteoporosis, Paget's disease, bone metastasis, multiple myeloma, and other conditions that feature bone fragility.

Did you know?

For high blood pressure (hypertension), a new class of drug, called a vasopeptidase blocker (inhibitor), has been developed. It decreases blood pressure by simultaneously dilating the peripheral arteries and increasing the body's loss of salt.

Diabetes mellitus. The metabolic disease diabetes mellitus, with symptoms of polydipsia, polyuria, a Diabetes mellitus. The metabolic disease diabetes mellitus, with symptoms of polydipsia, polyuria, a
Preparing the Patient’s Skin for Surgical Procedures Preparing the Patient’s Skin for Surgical Procedures
Algorithm for assessing a patient at risk for suicide. Algorithm for assessing a patient at risk for suicide.
Amyloid plaques (stained blue) in the brain of a deceased patient who had Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid plaques (stained blue) in the brain of a deceased patient who had Alzheimer’s disease.
Patient with DiGeorge syndrome. Note low set ears and wide set downward slanting eyes; often these ... Patient with DiGeorge syndrome. Note low set ears and wide set downward slanting eyes; often these ...
Round your answer to the nearest tenth. A patient with a pulmonary embolus has Refludan ... Round your answer to the nearest tenth. A patient with a pulmonary embolus has Refludan ...
Video: Knee Animation

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library