The nurse is caring for a patient with severe pancreatitis and who is orally intubated and on mechanical ventilation.The patient's calcium level this morning was 5.5 mg/dL.The nurse notifies the provider and:

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Patients with severe hypocalcemia (serum calcium level less than 6 mg/dL)should be placed on seizure precaution status,and respiratory support equipment should be available (e.g.,oral airway,suction).In this case,the patient is already intubated so an oral airway is not needed.This value is critically low and replacement of calcium is expected.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Severe Pancreatitis