A patient identified with elevated calcium levels on a routine health visit has an intact parathyroid hormone (PTH)level of 145 pg/mL.When planning care, a nurse should initially plan to:
A)Assess for tetany.
B)Ensure adequate hydration.
C)Monitor for heart failure.
D)Prevent pathological fracture.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Elevated calcium levels can be caused by various factors, including hyperparathyroidism, kidney dysfunction, and cancer. In this scenario, the intact PTH level is also elevated, which suggests primary hyperparathyroidism as the likely cause. Adequate hydration has been shown to help decrease calcium levels in individuals with hypercalcemia. Therefore, the nurse should initially plan to ensure adequate hydration as a part of care. Assessing for tetany, monitoring for heart failure, and preventing pathological fractures may be needed as a part of the patient's care plan but are not the priority in this scenario.

A Patient Identified with Elevated Calcium Levels on a Routine