Nursing 3100 UCONN Final EXAM
Questions with Guaranteed Pass
Solutions (2025-2026) Update.
What common antidepressant can cause hyponatremia?
What other drug? - Answer SSRIs (selective seritonin reuptake inhibitors)
thiazide diuretics, ecstasy
what are the risks of reversing hyponatremia too quickly? - Answer brainstem herniation and
risk of cerebral pontine myelinolysis
Which is more fatal? hyperkalemia or hypokalemia? - Answer hyperkalemia
Where do the greatest losses of potassium occur normally? - Answer greatest losses of
potassium occur normally in the distal tubules of the kidney--> you are losing potassium
through bowel movements
Why should one measure urine output before starting a potassium containing IV infusion in a
traumatized patient? - Answer to check for hypernatremia
to make sure urine output is in normal range
Decreased urine output could also mean increasing of the potassium in the blood which could
be fatal
TPN - Answer total parenteral nutrition (if the gut is not working the patient would get its
nutrients through this)
What are the signs of excess fluid in the body? - Answer jugular venous distension
bounding pulses
distended neck veins
hypertension
,Patients receiving tube feedings who are not also given additional water are at risk for what
electrolyte imbalance that may result in changes in personality, agitation, and confusion? -
Answer could have elevated sodium and potassium levels
What does Trousseau's phenomenon and positive Chvostek's sign indicate? - Answer
Hypocalcemic Tetany
What increases the risk of hyponatremia in older adults? - Answer Prostate surgery
hyperglycemia
SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate ADH)
Increased ADH
SSRI's
Diuretics
kidney disease
How do Thiazide diuretics and SSRIs cause hyponatremia - Answer SSRIs and Diuretics cause
excess sodium loss through urine because it causes water retention
In Red Hat Hikers what was the problem with Sue? - Answer she had hyponatremia
How could sue with hyponatremia be treated? - Answer water restriction and increased
sodium intake
How do antiemetics work? - Answer Block the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) via various
avenues
What is the physiology of nausea and vomiting? - Answer The vomiting/emesis center is
located in the medulla oblongata
Direct and indirect stimulants activate that center
CTZ zone - Answer area of the medulla oblongata thatcommunicates with other structures in
the vomiting center to initiate vomiting
, Dopamine (brain area)
Acetylcholine
Histamine (vestibular area of the brain)
Cholinergic receptors (vestibular area of the brain)
When should antiemetics be given? - Answer at least one hour before symptoms
Four classes of antiemetic agents: - Answer Anticholinergic
Antihistamine
Dopamine receptor blockers
Serotonin receptor blockers
What is the effect of isopropyl alcohol on preventing post-op nausea? - Answer use of alcohol
serves as aromatherapy so it helps to reduce the n/v
One way of stopping n/v without administering medication
What would be the laxative choice for a patient recovering from an acute myocardial infarction
(MI)? - Answer Stool softener (colace)
Should avoid straining (velsalva's maneuver)
Trying to produce fecal matter can cause forced air against the heart, also can cause pain or
arrhythmias
What would be the laxative choice for a patient who requires bowel preparation before
surgery? - Answer Hyperosmotic laxatives given in high doses. Need to draw water into the GI
lumen
Stool softens in 2-6 hours
Utilize laxative salts that are poorly absorbed because this helps the osmotic draw of water into
the GI lumen
These agents act rapidly to cause a fluid evacuation of the bowel
Questions with Guaranteed Pass
Solutions (2025-2026) Update.
What common antidepressant can cause hyponatremia?
What other drug? - Answer SSRIs (selective seritonin reuptake inhibitors)
thiazide diuretics, ecstasy
what are the risks of reversing hyponatremia too quickly? - Answer brainstem herniation and
risk of cerebral pontine myelinolysis
Which is more fatal? hyperkalemia or hypokalemia? - Answer hyperkalemia
Where do the greatest losses of potassium occur normally? - Answer greatest losses of
potassium occur normally in the distal tubules of the kidney--> you are losing potassium
through bowel movements
Why should one measure urine output before starting a potassium containing IV infusion in a
traumatized patient? - Answer to check for hypernatremia
to make sure urine output is in normal range
Decreased urine output could also mean increasing of the potassium in the blood which could
be fatal
TPN - Answer total parenteral nutrition (if the gut is not working the patient would get its
nutrients through this)
What are the signs of excess fluid in the body? - Answer jugular venous distension
bounding pulses
distended neck veins
hypertension
,Patients receiving tube feedings who are not also given additional water are at risk for what
electrolyte imbalance that may result in changes in personality, agitation, and confusion? -
Answer could have elevated sodium and potassium levels
What does Trousseau's phenomenon and positive Chvostek's sign indicate? - Answer
Hypocalcemic Tetany
What increases the risk of hyponatremia in older adults? - Answer Prostate surgery
hyperglycemia
SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate ADH)
Increased ADH
SSRI's
Diuretics
kidney disease
How do Thiazide diuretics and SSRIs cause hyponatremia - Answer SSRIs and Diuretics cause
excess sodium loss through urine because it causes water retention
In Red Hat Hikers what was the problem with Sue? - Answer she had hyponatremia
How could sue with hyponatremia be treated? - Answer water restriction and increased
sodium intake
How do antiemetics work? - Answer Block the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) via various
avenues
What is the physiology of nausea and vomiting? - Answer The vomiting/emesis center is
located in the medulla oblongata
Direct and indirect stimulants activate that center
CTZ zone - Answer area of the medulla oblongata thatcommunicates with other structures in
the vomiting center to initiate vomiting
, Dopamine (brain area)
Acetylcholine
Histamine (vestibular area of the brain)
Cholinergic receptors (vestibular area of the brain)
When should antiemetics be given? - Answer at least one hour before symptoms
Four classes of antiemetic agents: - Answer Anticholinergic
Antihistamine
Dopamine receptor blockers
Serotonin receptor blockers
What is the effect of isopropyl alcohol on preventing post-op nausea? - Answer use of alcohol
serves as aromatherapy so it helps to reduce the n/v
One way of stopping n/v without administering medication
What would be the laxative choice for a patient recovering from an acute myocardial infarction
(MI)? - Answer Stool softener (colace)
Should avoid straining (velsalva's maneuver)
Trying to produce fecal matter can cause forced air against the heart, also can cause pain or
arrhythmias
What would be the laxative choice for a patient who requires bowel preparation before
surgery? - Answer Hyperosmotic laxatives given in high doses. Need to draw water into the GI
lumen
Stool softens in 2-6 hours
Utilize laxative salts that are poorly absorbed because this helps the osmotic draw of water into
the GI lumen
These agents act rapidly to cause a fluid evacuation of the bowel
