A 65-year-old female patient tells a nurse that she has begun taking calcium supplements. The nurse learns that the patient consumes two servings of dairy products and takes 1200 mg in calcium supplements each day. The patient's serum calcium level is 11.1 mg/dL. What will the nurse tell this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Women older than 50 years need 1200 mg of calcium per day. Patients should take only enough supplemental calcium to make up for the difference between what the diet provides and the RDA. This patient is getting 1800 mg/day. Excess supplemental calcium can increase risks for vascular calcification, MI, stroke, and kidney stones. She does not need to increase calcium intake. Supplementing with 10,000 units of vitamin D is indicated for documented vitamin D deficiency, which is not evident in this case.

A 65-Year-Old Female Patient Tells a Nurse That She Has