NUR1460 EXAM 1 | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
| SOLVED 100% CORRECT.
Hypokalemia- CAUSES - ANS.... -*** alkalotic. Body is trying to DITCH
potassium.***
D: drugs (laxatives, loop/thiazide diuretics)
I: inadequate consumption of potassium (NPO, starving)
T: too much water intake (dilutes potassium)
C: Cushing's syndrome
H: Heavy fluid loss (diarrhea, vomiting, NG suction, wound drainage,
sweating)
Hypokalemia- S/S - ANS.... -A SIC WALT
A: alkalosis
S: shallow respirations
I: irritability
C: confusion and drowsiness
W: weakness and fatigue
A: arrhythmias
L: lethargy
T: thread pulse
Hypokalemia- INTERVENTIONS - ANS.... --watch other electrolytes
(magnesium especially as it decreases too & hard to get potassium back
up if magnesium is low)
,-never give IV push, IM or SUBQ
-if giving IV give according to bag instruction- 20 meq/mL in 1L bag, 100ml
an hour
***always watch patients to see how they react to medication.
Hyperkalemia- CAUSES - ANS.... -the body CARED too much about
potassium
C: cellular movement of potassium from intracellular to extracellular (burns,
tissue damage, acidosis)
A: adrenal insufficiency w/ Addison's disease
R: renal failure
E: excessive intake
D: Drugs (potassium-sparing drugs like Aldactone, Triamterene, ACE
inhibitors, NSAIDS)
Hyperkalemia- S/S - ANS.... -MURDER
M: muscle weakness
U: urine output- little
R: respiratory failure (due to decreased ability to use breathing muscles)
D: decreased cardiac contractility (weak pulse, low BP)
E: early signs of muscle twitches/cramps- late signs profound weakness
R: rhythm changes
Hyperkalemia- INTERVENTIONS - ANS.... -Prepare patient for dialysis if
they are renal failure and get dialysis regularly as they will have high
potassium. Kayexalate is sometimes ordered, promotes GI sodium
absorption which causes potassium excretion, give potassium wasting
diuretics like Lasix or hydrochlorothiazide, administer hypertonic solution of
, glucose and regular insulin to pull potassium into cell (glucagon and
insulin). Cut back on foods that are high in potassium
foods high in potassium - ANS.... -potatoes, pork, oranges, tomatoes,
avocados, strawberries, spinach, fish, mushrooms, musk melons,
cantaloupe, carrots, raisins, bananas
Hypocalcemia- CAUSES - ANS.... -remember LOW CALCIUM
L: low parathyroid hormone
O: oral intake inadequate
W: wound drainage
C: Celiac's and Crohn's
A: acute pancreatitis
L: low vitamin D levels
C: chronic kidney issues
I: increased phosphorus levels in the blood
U: using medication such as magnesium supplements, laxatives, loop
diuretics, calcium binder drugs
M: mobility issues
Hypocalcemia- S/S - ANS.... -CRAMPs
C: confusion
R: reflexes hyperactive
A: arrhythmias
M: muscles spasms in calves or feet, tetany, seizures
P: positive Trousseau (before Chvostek)
| SOLVED 100% CORRECT.
Hypokalemia- CAUSES - ANS.... -*** alkalotic. Body is trying to DITCH
potassium.***
D: drugs (laxatives, loop/thiazide diuretics)
I: inadequate consumption of potassium (NPO, starving)
T: too much water intake (dilutes potassium)
C: Cushing's syndrome
H: Heavy fluid loss (diarrhea, vomiting, NG suction, wound drainage,
sweating)
Hypokalemia- S/S - ANS.... -A SIC WALT
A: alkalosis
S: shallow respirations
I: irritability
C: confusion and drowsiness
W: weakness and fatigue
A: arrhythmias
L: lethargy
T: thread pulse
Hypokalemia- INTERVENTIONS - ANS.... --watch other electrolytes
(magnesium especially as it decreases too & hard to get potassium back
up if magnesium is low)
,-never give IV push, IM or SUBQ
-if giving IV give according to bag instruction- 20 meq/mL in 1L bag, 100ml
an hour
***always watch patients to see how they react to medication.
Hyperkalemia- CAUSES - ANS.... -the body CARED too much about
potassium
C: cellular movement of potassium from intracellular to extracellular (burns,
tissue damage, acidosis)
A: adrenal insufficiency w/ Addison's disease
R: renal failure
E: excessive intake
D: Drugs (potassium-sparing drugs like Aldactone, Triamterene, ACE
inhibitors, NSAIDS)
Hyperkalemia- S/S - ANS.... -MURDER
M: muscle weakness
U: urine output- little
R: respiratory failure (due to decreased ability to use breathing muscles)
D: decreased cardiac contractility (weak pulse, low BP)
E: early signs of muscle twitches/cramps- late signs profound weakness
R: rhythm changes
Hyperkalemia- INTERVENTIONS - ANS.... -Prepare patient for dialysis if
they are renal failure and get dialysis regularly as they will have high
potassium. Kayexalate is sometimes ordered, promotes GI sodium
absorption which causes potassium excretion, give potassium wasting
diuretics like Lasix or hydrochlorothiazide, administer hypertonic solution of
, glucose and regular insulin to pull potassium into cell (glucagon and
insulin). Cut back on foods that are high in potassium
foods high in potassium - ANS.... -potatoes, pork, oranges, tomatoes,
avocados, strawberries, spinach, fish, mushrooms, musk melons,
cantaloupe, carrots, raisins, bananas
Hypocalcemia- CAUSES - ANS.... -remember LOW CALCIUM
L: low parathyroid hormone
O: oral intake inadequate
W: wound drainage
C: Celiac's and Crohn's
A: acute pancreatitis
L: low vitamin D levels
C: chronic kidney issues
I: increased phosphorus levels in the blood
U: using medication such as magnesium supplements, laxatives, loop
diuretics, calcium binder drugs
M: mobility issues
Hypocalcemia- S/S - ANS.... -CRAMPs
C: confusion
R: reflexes hyperactive
A: arrhythmias
M: muscles spasms in calves or feet, tetany, seizures
P: positive Trousseau (before Chvostek)
