ATI RN
Fluid and Electrolytes ATI Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse preparing to start an IV on a newly admitted patient teaches the patient about the procedure and begins to prepare the site. The nurse should always start by:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Before preparing the skin, the nurse should ask the patient if he or she is allergic to latex or iodine, which are products commonly used in setting up for IV therapy. A local reaction could result in irritation to the IV site or, in the extreme, it could result in anaphylaxis, which can be life threatening.
Question 2 of 5
A female patient is discharged from the hospital after having an episode of heart failure. She's prescribed daily oral doses of digoxin (Lanoxin) and furosemide (Lasix). Two days later, she tells her community health nurse that she feels weak and her heart "flutters" frequently. What action should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Furosemide is a potassium-wasting diuretic. A low potassium level may cause weakness and palpitations. Telling the patient to rest more often won't help the patient if she's hypokalemic. Digoxin isn't causing the patient's symptoms, so she doesn't need to stop taking it. The patient should probably avoid caffeine, but this wouldn't resolve potassium depletion.
Question 3 of 5
The renin and angiotensin systems help to maintain the balance of sodium and water in the body. What other functions do these systems serve?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The renin and angiotensin systems help to maintain the balance of sodium and water in the body and maintain healthy blood volumes.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is admitting a patient with a suspected fluid imbalance. The most sensitive indicator of body fluid balance is:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Daily weights show trends and can assist medical management by indicating if interventions and medications are effective. Laboratory data are objective data that indicate whether electrolyte levels are within normal limits for the patient with fluid balance problems. However, if a patient is dehydrated, some laboratory data can show false elevations. Intake and output is extremely important, but matching the two is difficult because fluid is also lost through breathing, perspiration, stool, and surgical tubes. Vital signs may or may not be helpful because heart rate and blood pressure can be elevated by either depletion or excess of fluids in some situations.
Question 5 of 5
What would be the best initial nursing actions prior to inserting an IV?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Prior to initiating an IV, the nurse should verify the physician's order for IV therapy.
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