ATI - Fluid and Electrolytes Practice
Questions and answers
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is dehydrated. Which of the following
BUN lab values should the nurse report to the provider?
A.) 25 mg/dL
B.) 13 mg/dL
C.) 10 mg/dL
D.) 18 mg/dL
A.) 25 mg/dL
Rationale: The expected reference range for BUN values is 10 to 20 mg/dL. If the BUN is above
this range, the kidneys might be having difficulty excreting urea & nitrogen. Elevation can be
seen in dehydration & might require the use of intravenous fluids
A nurse is caring for a client who has a postoperative ileus and an NG tube that has drained 2,
500 mL in the past 6 hr. Which of the following electrolyte imbalances should the nurse monitor
the client for?
A.) Elevated sodium level
B.) Decreased potassium level
C.) Elevated magnesium level
D.) Decreased calcium level
B.) Decreased potassium level
Rationale: Hypokalemia is an electrolyte imbalance in which the serum potassium level is less
than 3.5 mEq/L. Hypokalemia may be the result of diuretic use, diarrhea, vomiting, & prolonged
nasogastric suctioning.
Brainpower
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A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription of potassium chloride (KCL) 20 mEq PO
daily. The nurse reviews the client's most recent laboratory results & finds the client's potassium
level is 5.2 mEq/L. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.) Give the ordered KCL as prescribed
B.) Omit the KCL dose & document it was not given
C.) Call the prescribing physician & inform her of the client's serum potassium level results
D.) Call the lab to verify the client's results
C.) Call the prescribing physician & inform her of the client's serum potassium level results
Rationale: As a potassium level of 5.2 mEq/L is above the expected reference range, the nurse
should hold the medication & notify the provider of the client's serum potassium level.
A nurse is caring for four hospitalized clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse
identify as being at risk for fluid volume deficit?
A.) The client who has been NPO since midnight for endoscopy
B.) The client who has left-sided heart failure and has a brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level of
600 pg/mL
C.) The client who has end-stage renal failure and is scheduled for dialysis today
D.) The client who has gastroenteritis and is febrile
D.) The client who has gastroenteritis and is febrile.
Rationale: Gastroenteritis is characterized by diarrhea & may be associated with vomiting, so it
can be a significant source of fluid loss. A fever raises the metabolic rate, further putting the
client at increased risk for dehydration.
A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and a new prescription for furosemide. Which
of the following laboratory values should the nurse review before administering furosemide?
A.) Bicarbonate
B.) Carbon dioxide
C.) Potassium
D.) Phosphate
C.) Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic & therefore promotes excretion of potassium. The
nurse should monitor the client's serum potassium level before administering it to prevent
hypokalemia
Questions and answers
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is dehydrated. Which of the following
BUN lab values should the nurse report to the provider?
A.) 25 mg/dL
B.) 13 mg/dL
C.) 10 mg/dL
D.) 18 mg/dL
A.) 25 mg/dL
Rationale: The expected reference range for BUN values is 10 to 20 mg/dL. If the BUN is above
this range, the kidneys might be having difficulty excreting urea & nitrogen. Elevation can be
seen in dehydration & might require the use of intravenous fluids
A nurse is caring for a client who has a postoperative ileus and an NG tube that has drained 2,
500 mL in the past 6 hr. Which of the following electrolyte imbalances should the nurse monitor
the client for?
A.) Elevated sodium level
B.) Decreased potassium level
C.) Elevated magnesium level
D.) Decreased calcium level
B.) Decreased potassium level
Rationale: Hypokalemia is an electrolyte imbalance in which the serum potassium level is less
than 3.5 mEq/L. Hypokalemia may be the result of diuretic use, diarrhea, vomiting, & prolonged
nasogastric suctioning.
Brainpower
Read More
Previous
Play
Next
Rewind 10 seconds
Move forward 10 seconds
Unmute
0:00
, /
0:00
Full screen
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription of potassium chloride (KCL) 20 mEq PO
daily. The nurse reviews the client's most recent laboratory results & finds the client's potassium
level is 5.2 mEq/L. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.) Give the ordered KCL as prescribed
B.) Omit the KCL dose & document it was not given
C.) Call the prescribing physician & inform her of the client's serum potassium level results
D.) Call the lab to verify the client's results
C.) Call the prescribing physician & inform her of the client's serum potassium level results
Rationale: As a potassium level of 5.2 mEq/L is above the expected reference range, the nurse
should hold the medication & notify the provider of the client's serum potassium level.
A nurse is caring for four hospitalized clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse
identify as being at risk for fluid volume deficit?
A.) The client who has been NPO since midnight for endoscopy
B.) The client who has left-sided heart failure and has a brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level of
600 pg/mL
C.) The client who has end-stage renal failure and is scheduled for dialysis today
D.) The client who has gastroenteritis and is febrile
D.) The client who has gastroenteritis and is febrile.
Rationale: Gastroenteritis is characterized by diarrhea & may be associated with vomiting, so it
can be a significant source of fluid loss. A fever raises the metabolic rate, further putting the
client at increased risk for dehydration.
A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and a new prescription for furosemide. Which
of the following laboratory values should the nurse review before administering furosemide?
A.) Bicarbonate
B.) Carbon dioxide
C.) Potassium
D.) Phosphate
C.) Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic & therefore promotes excretion of potassium. The
nurse should monitor the client's serum potassium level before administering it to prevent
hypokalemia
