Deck 5: Fluids and Electrolytes, Acids and Bases

Question 1

Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful concerning aldosterone?

A) The secretion of aldosterone results in decreased plasma osmolality.
B) Aldosterone secretion increases serum potassium levels.
C) Aldosterone secretion results in an increased blood volume.
D) The secretion of aldosterone causes localized edema.

Answer 1

Aldosterone secretion results in an increased blood volume.

Question 2

What type of fluid compartment is blood plasma considered to be?

A) Intracellular fluid (ICF)
B) Extracellular fluid (ECF)
C) Interstitial fluid
D) Intravascular fluid

Answer 2

Intravascular fluid

Question 3

A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken eyes. After diagnosing him with severe dehydration, the primary care provider orders fluid replacement. The nurse administers a hypertonic intravenous solution. Which of the following would be expected?

A) Symptoms subside quickly
B) Increased ICF volume
C) Decreased ECF volume
D) Intracellular dehydration

Answer 3

Intracellular dehydration

Question 4

A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider reporting muscle weakness and cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of the following could be the cause of her condition?

A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Constipation
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Laxative abuse

Question 5

Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has long-term potassium deficits?

A) Central nervous system (CNS)
B) Lungs
C) Kidneys
D) Gastrointestinal tract

Question 6

A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room (ER) incoherent and semiconscious. CT scan reveals that he is suffering from cerebral edema. This type of edema is referred to as:

A) localized edema.
B) generalized edema.
C) pitting edema.
D) lymphedema.

Question 7

While planning care for older individuals, the nurse remembers that older adults are at a higher risk for developing dehydration. Why is this so?

A) Older adults have a higher total body water volume.
B) Older individuals have decreased muscle mass.
C) Older adults generally have increased thirst.
D) Older adults have an increased tendency toward developing edema.

Question 8

A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumour of the adrenal cortex. Which finding would the nurse expect to see in the laboratory results?

A) Decreased blood volume
B) Decreased blood K⁺ levels
C) Increased urine Na⁺ levels
D) Increased white blood cells

Question 9

An experiment was designed to test the effects of the Starling forces on fluid movement. Which of the following alterations would result in fluid moving into the interstitial space?

A) Increased capillary oncotic pressure
B) Increased interstitial hydrostatic pressure
C) Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
D) Increased interstitial oncotic pressure

Question 10

A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which assessment finding should the nurse expect to observe?

A) Weak pulse
B) Excessive thirst
C) Oliguria
D) Constipation

Question 11

A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider reporting restlessness, muscle cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following could have caused his condition?

A) Primary hyperaldosteronism
B) Cellular trauma, like a crush injury
C) Insulin secretion
D) Diuretic use

Question 12

Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing hypernatremia?

A) A patient experiencing vomiting
B) A patient taking diuretics
C) A patient with dehydration
D) A patient with hypoaldosteronism

Question 13

A 70-year-old male with chronic kidney failure presents with edema. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this condition?

A) Increased capillary oncotic pressure
B) Decreased interstitial oncotic pressure
C) Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
D) Increased interstitial hydrostatic pressure

Question 14

What determines water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments?

A) Osmotic forces
B) Plasma oncotic pressure
C) Antidiuretic hormone
D) Buffer systems

Question 15

When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse remembers that the principle of water balance is closely related to the balance of:

A) potassium.
B) chloride.
C) bicarbonate.
D) sodium.

Question 16

Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for decreased oncotic pressure in the capillaries?

A) A patient on a high-protein diet
B) A patient with liver failure
C) A patient with low blood pressure
D) A patient with low blood glucose

Question 17

Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for hyperkalemia?

A) Excess aldosterone
B) Acute acidosis
C) Insulin usage
D) Metabolic alkalosis

Question 18

A 35-year-old male weighs 70 kg. Approximately how much of this weight is considered the total volume of body water?

A) 5 L
B) 10 L
C) 28 L
D) 42 L

Question 19

A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic hormones. When the patient asks the nurse what these hormones do, how should the nurse respond? Natriuretic hormones affect the balance of:

A) calcium.
B) sodium.
C) magnesium.
D) potassium.

Question 20

A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which information should the nurse include?

A) The secretion of ADH is increased serum potassium.
B) ADH secretion results in increased plasma osmolality.
C) There is a decreased renal blood flow when ADH is secreted.
D) ADH secretion results in generalized edema.

Question 21

A 60-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting lung tumour. Further testing indicates that the tumour secretes ADH. Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.)

A) Confusion
B) Weakness
C) Nausea
D) Muscle twitching
E) Increased reflexes

Question 22

Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis?

A) The patient with diabetes insipidus
B) A patient with a pulmonary disorder
C) A patient with Cushing's syndrome
D) The patient with kidney failure

Question 23

Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma buffering system?

A) Protein/fat
B) Carbonic acid/bicarbonate
C) Sodium/potassium
D) Amylase/albumin

Question 24

For a patient with respiratory acidosis, chronic compensation by the body will include:

A) kidney excretion of H⁺.
B) kidney excretion of HCO₃.
C) prolonged exhalations to blow off CO₂.
D) protein buffering.

Question 25

Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis?

A) A patient retaining metabolic acids
B) The patient with hypoaldosteronism
C) The patient with excessive loss of chloride (Cl) through vomiting
D) A patient experiencing hyperventilation

Question 26

A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of excessive tiredness, shortness of breath, and overall ill feelings. Lab results reveal decreased pH, increased CO₂, and normal bicarbonate ion. These findings help to confirm the diagnosis of:

A) respiratory alkalosis.
B) metabolic acidosis.
C) respiratory acidosis.
D) metabolic alkalosis.

Question 27

A nurse recalls that regulation of acid-base balance through removal or retention of volatile acids is accomplished by the:

A) buffer systems.
B) skin.
C) lungs.
D) liver.

Question 28

A 55-year-old female presents to her primary care provider and reports dizziness, confusion, and tingling in the extremities. Blood tests reveal an elevated pH, decreased PCO₂, and slightly decreased HCO₃. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A) Respiratory alkalosis with renal compensation
B) Respiratory acidosis with renal compensation
C) Metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensation
D) Metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation

Question 29

For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate by:

A) excreting H⁺ through the kidneys.
B) hyperventilating.
C) retaining CO₂ in the lungs.
D) secreting aldosterone.

Question 30

Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis?

A) Vomiting
B) Hyperventilation
C) Pneumonia
D) An increase in noncarbonic acids