NURS 106: 65 Final Exam Questions And Answers

Properly assess a client prior to the administration of diuretics - ️️~Assess skin for fluid volume deficit or retention (edema) ~Check for hypertension (monitor BP and pulse) ~Administer IV diuretics slowly to prevent abrupt changes in fluid & electrolytes Describe the signs and symptoms of electrolyte imbalances - ️️fatigue, muscle cramps/weakness, irritability, confusion, dizziness, constipation, increased HR Severe~ heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, death Describe the pathophysiology contributing to acid-base imbalances - ️️People develop acid-base imbalances when their normal homeostatic mechanisms are dysfunctional or overwhelmed. The body has compensatory mechanisms that compensate by involving physiological changes to help normalize pH, but cannot fully fix the problem. FOR EXAMPLE, if there is a respiratory acid-base imbalance, only the lungs can fix the problem but the kidneys can compensate by changing the amount of metabolic acid in the blood Imbalances: 1. Respiratory Acidosis~ alveolar hypoventilation; lungs are unable to excrete enough CO2, so the PaCO2 rises to create an excess of carbonic acid in the blood with increases pH. To compensate, the kidneys increase excretion of metabolic acids in the urine which increases blood HCO3 2. Respiratory Alkalosis~ alveolar hyperventilation; lungs excrete too much carbonic acid so the PACO2 falls, creating a deficit of carbonic acid in the blood which increases pH. Because this is short lived, the kidneys do not have time to compensate 3. Metabolic Acidosis~ increased metabolic acid or decreased bicarbonate; the kidneys are unable to excrete enough metabolic acid OR bicarbonate is removed from the body (as with diarrhea). This causes the pH to fall which stimulates chemoreceptors, so the respiratory system compensates with hyperventilation