NURS 172 EXAM 3 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025-2026 LATEST UPDATE
A. 50 year-old with pneumonia, diaphoresis, and high fevers
B. 62-year old with congestive heart failure taking loop diuretics
C. 39-year old with diarrhea and vomiting
D. 60-year old with lung cancer and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
A. 50 year-old with pneumonia, diaphoresis, and high fevers
Diaphoresis and a high fever can lead to free water loss through the skin, resulting in
hypernatremia. Loop diuretics are more likely to result in a hypovolemic hyponatremia.
Diarrhea and vomiting cause both sodium and water losses. Clients with syndrome of
inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) have hyponatremia, due to increased water
reabsorption in the renal tubules.
A client is admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis who, with treatment, has a normal blood
glucose, pH, and serum osmolality. During assessment, the client complains of weakness in the
legs. Which of the following is a priority nursing intervention?
A. Request a physical therapy consult from the physician
B. Ensure the client is safe from falls and check the most recent potassium level
C. Allow uninterrupted rest periods throughout the day
D. Encourage the client to increase intake of dairy products and green leafy vegetables. B.
Ensure the client is safe from falls and check the most recent potassium level.
,In the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis, the blood sugar is lowered, the pH is corrected, and
potassium moves back into the cells, resulting in low serum potassium. Client safety and the
correction of low potassium levels are a priority. The weakness in the legs is a clinical
manifestation of the hypokalemia. Dairy products and green, leafy vegetables are a source of
calcium.
A client with a potassium level of 5.5 mEq/L is to receive sodium polystyrene sulfonate
(Kayexalate) orally. After administering the drug, the priority nursing action is to monitor
A. Urine output
B. Blood pressure
C. Bowel movements
D. ECG for tall, peaked T waves C. Bowel movements
Kayexalate causes potassium to be exchanged for sodium in the intestines and excreted
through bowel movements. If client does not have stools, the drug cannot work properly. Blood
pressure and urine output are not of primary importance. The nurse would already expect
changes in T waves with hyperkalemia. Normal serum potassium is 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L.
The nurse is caring for a client who has been in good health up to the present and is admitted
with cellulitis of the hand. The client's serum potassium level was 4.5 mEq/L yesterday. Today
the level is 7 mEq/L. Which of the following is the next appropriate nursing action?
A. Call the physician and report results
,B. Question the results and redraw the specimen
C. Encourage the client to increase the intake of bananas
D. Initiate seizure precautions B. Question the results and redraw the specimen
A client who has been in good health up to the present is admitted for cellulitis of the hands.
When the serum potassium goes from 4.5 mEq/L to 7.0 mEq/L with no risk factors for
hyperkalemia, false high results should be suspected because of hemolysis of the specimen. The
physician would likely question results as well. Bananas are a food high in potassium. Seizures
are not a clinical manifestation of hyperkalemia.
A client is receiving an intravenous magnesium infusion to correct a serum level of 1.4 mEq/L.
Which of the following assessments would alert the nurse to immediately stop the infusion?
A. Absent patellar reflex
B. Diarrhea
C. Premature ventricular contractions
D. Increase in blood pressure A. Absent patellar reflex
An intravenous magnesium infusion may be used to treat a low serum magnesium level.
Normal serum magnesium is 1.5 to 2.5 mEq/L. Clinical manifestations of hypermagnesemia are
the result of depressed neuromuscular transmission. Absent reflexes indicate a magnesium
level around 7 mEq/L. Diarrhea and PVCs are not clinical manifestations of high magnesium
levels. Hypermagnesemia causes hypotension.
, A client with chronic renal failure reports a 10 pound weight loss over 3 months and has had
difficulty taking calcium supplements. The total calcium is 6.9 mg/dl. Which of the following
would be the first nursing action?
A. Assess for depressed deep tendon reflexes
B. Call the physician to report calcium level
C. Place an intravenous catheter in anticipation of administering calcium gluconate
D. Check to see if a serum albumin level is available D. Check to see if a serum albumin level
is available
A client with chronic renal failure who reports a 10 pound weight loss over 3 months and has
difficulty taking calcium supplements is poorly nourished and likely to have hypoalbuminemia.
A drop in serum albumin will result in a false low total calcium level. Placing an IV is not a
priority action. Depressed reflexes are a sign of hypercalcemia. Normal serum calcium is 9 to 11
mg/dl.
A client with heart failure is complaining of nausea. The client has received IV furosemide
(Lasix), and the urine output has been 2500 ml over the past 12 hours. The client's home drugs
include metoprolol (Lopressor), digoxin (Lanoxin), furosemide, and multivitamins. Which of the
following are the appropriate nursing actions before administering the digoxin? Select all that
apply.
A. Administer an antiemetic prior to giving the digoxin
B. Encourage the client to increase fluid intake
A. 50 year-old with pneumonia, diaphoresis, and high fevers
B. 62-year old with congestive heart failure taking loop diuretics
C. 39-year old with diarrhea and vomiting
D. 60-year old with lung cancer and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
A. 50 year-old with pneumonia, diaphoresis, and high fevers
Diaphoresis and a high fever can lead to free water loss through the skin, resulting in
hypernatremia. Loop diuretics are more likely to result in a hypovolemic hyponatremia.
Diarrhea and vomiting cause both sodium and water losses. Clients with syndrome of
inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) have hyponatremia, due to increased water
reabsorption in the renal tubules.
A client is admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis who, with treatment, has a normal blood
glucose, pH, and serum osmolality. During assessment, the client complains of weakness in the
legs. Which of the following is a priority nursing intervention?
A. Request a physical therapy consult from the physician
B. Ensure the client is safe from falls and check the most recent potassium level
C. Allow uninterrupted rest periods throughout the day
D. Encourage the client to increase intake of dairy products and green leafy vegetables. B.
Ensure the client is safe from falls and check the most recent potassium level.
,In the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis, the blood sugar is lowered, the pH is corrected, and
potassium moves back into the cells, resulting in low serum potassium. Client safety and the
correction of low potassium levels are a priority. The weakness in the legs is a clinical
manifestation of the hypokalemia. Dairy products and green, leafy vegetables are a source of
calcium.
A client with a potassium level of 5.5 mEq/L is to receive sodium polystyrene sulfonate
(Kayexalate) orally. After administering the drug, the priority nursing action is to monitor
A. Urine output
B. Blood pressure
C. Bowel movements
D. ECG for tall, peaked T waves C. Bowel movements
Kayexalate causes potassium to be exchanged for sodium in the intestines and excreted
through bowel movements. If client does not have stools, the drug cannot work properly. Blood
pressure and urine output are not of primary importance. The nurse would already expect
changes in T waves with hyperkalemia. Normal serum potassium is 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L.
The nurse is caring for a client who has been in good health up to the present and is admitted
with cellulitis of the hand. The client's serum potassium level was 4.5 mEq/L yesterday. Today
the level is 7 mEq/L. Which of the following is the next appropriate nursing action?
A. Call the physician and report results
,B. Question the results and redraw the specimen
C. Encourage the client to increase the intake of bananas
D. Initiate seizure precautions B. Question the results and redraw the specimen
A client who has been in good health up to the present is admitted for cellulitis of the hands.
When the serum potassium goes from 4.5 mEq/L to 7.0 mEq/L with no risk factors for
hyperkalemia, false high results should be suspected because of hemolysis of the specimen. The
physician would likely question results as well. Bananas are a food high in potassium. Seizures
are not a clinical manifestation of hyperkalemia.
A client is receiving an intravenous magnesium infusion to correct a serum level of 1.4 mEq/L.
Which of the following assessments would alert the nurse to immediately stop the infusion?
A. Absent patellar reflex
B. Diarrhea
C. Premature ventricular contractions
D. Increase in blood pressure A. Absent patellar reflex
An intravenous magnesium infusion may be used to treat a low serum magnesium level.
Normal serum magnesium is 1.5 to 2.5 mEq/L. Clinical manifestations of hypermagnesemia are
the result of depressed neuromuscular transmission. Absent reflexes indicate a magnesium
level around 7 mEq/L. Diarrhea and PVCs are not clinical manifestations of high magnesium
levels. Hypermagnesemia causes hypotension.
, A client with chronic renal failure reports a 10 pound weight loss over 3 months and has had
difficulty taking calcium supplements. The total calcium is 6.9 mg/dl. Which of the following
would be the first nursing action?
A. Assess for depressed deep tendon reflexes
B. Call the physician to report calcium level
C. Place an intravenous catheter in anticipation of administering calcium gluconate
D. Check to see if a serum albumin level is available D. Check to see if a serum albumin level
is available
A client with chronic renal failure who reports a 10 pound weight loss over 3 months and has
difficulty taking calcium supplements is poorly nourished and likely to have hypoalbuminemia.
A drop in serum albumin will result in a false low total calcium level. Placing an IV is not a
priority action. Depressed reflexes are a sign of hypercalcemia. Normal serum calcium is 9 to 11
mg/dl.
A client with heart failure is complaining of nausea. The client has received IV furosemide
(Lasix), and the urine output has been 2500 ml over the past 12 hours. The client's home drugs
include metoprolol (Lopressor), digoxin (Lanoxin), furosemide, and multivitamins. Which of the
following are the appropriate nursing actions before administering the digoxin? Select all that
apply.
A. Administer an antiemetic prior to giving the digoxin
B. Encourage the client to increase fluid intake
