NUR1460 EXAM 1 | 115 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
Hypokalemia- CAUSES - (ANSWER)*** 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 - (ANSWER)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 - (ANSWER)-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 - (ANSWER)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
,NUR1460 EXAM 1 | 115 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
D: Drugs (potassium-sparing drugs like Aldactone, Triamterene, ACE inhibitors, NSAIDS)
Hyperkalemia- S/S - (ANSWER)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 - (ANSWER)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 - (ANSWER)potatoes, pork, oranges, tomatoes, avocados, strawberries, spinach,
fish, mushrooms, musk melons, cantaloupe, carrots, raisins, bananas
Hypocalcemia- CAUSES - (ANSWER)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
, NUR1460 EXAM 1 | 115 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
M: mobility issues
Hypocalcemia- S/S - (ANSWER)CRAMPs
C: confusion
R: reflexes hyperactive
A: arrhythmias
M: muscles spasms in calves or feet, tetany, seizures
P: positive Trousseau (before Chvostek)
Hypocalcemia- INTERVENTIONS - (ANSWER)-safety (watch for falls due to confusion)
-administer IV calcium
-administer calcium oral with vitamin D supplements
foods high in calcium - (ANSWER)yogurt, sardines, cheese, spinach, collard greens, tofu, rhubarb, milk
Hypercalcemia- CAUSES - (ANSWER)remember HIGH CAL
H: hyperparathyroidism
I: increased intake of calcium
G: glucocorticoid usage
H: hyperthyroidism
C: calcium excretion decreased with thiazide diuretics and renal failure, cancer of the bones
A: adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease)
L: lithium usage
Hypercalcemia- S/S - (ANSWER)the body is too WEAK
W: weakness of muscles (profound)
E: EKG changes
Hypokalemia- CAUSES - (ANSWER)*** 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 - (ANSWER)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 - (ANSWER)-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 - (ANSWER)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
,NUR1460 EXAM 1 | 115 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
D: Drugs (potassium-sparing drugs like Aldactone, Triamterene, ACE inhibitors, NSAIDS)
Hyperkalemia- S/S - (ANSWER)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 - (ANSWER)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 - (ANSWER)potatoes, pork, oranges, tomatoes, avocados, strawberries, spinach,
fish, mushrooms, musk melons, cantaloupe, carrots, raisins, bananas
Hypocalcemia- CAUSES - (ANSWER)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
, NUR1460 EXAM 1 | 115 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION.
M: mobility issues
Hypocalcemia- S/S - (ANSWER)CRAMPs
C: confusion
R: reflexes hyperactive
A: arrhythmias
M: muscles spasms in calves or feet, tetany, seizures
P: positive Trousseau (before Chvostek)
Hypocalcemia- INTERVENTIONS - (ANSWER)-safety (watch for falls due to confusion)
-administer IV calcium
-administer calcium oral with vitamin D supplements
foods high in calcium - (ANSWER)yogurt, sardines, cheese, spinach, collard greens, tofu, rhubarb, milk
Hypercalcemia- CAUSES - (ANSWER)remember HIGH CAL
H: hyperparathyroidism
I: increased intake of calcium
G: glucocorticoid usage
H: hyperthyroidism
C: calcium excretion decreased with thiazide diuretics and renal failure, cancer of the bones
A: adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease)
L: lithium usage
Hypercalcemia- S/S - (ANSWER)the body is too WEAK
W: weakness of muscles (profound)
E: EKG changes
