Fluid and Electrolyte Practice Questions

1. The client at the highest risk for fluid volume deficit is a:

1.
2.
3.
4.

36-year-old client with the flu.

4-month-old client with diarrhea.
Healthy 80-year-old client with a fractured wrist.
26-year-old pregnant client with nausea and vomiting.

2. A 32-year-old client has a nursing diagnosis of fluid volume excess

(FVE). A nurse examining the client would expect to find:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Postural hypotension.
Cool extremities.
Moist mucous membranes.
Weak, rapid pulse.

3. A client presents to the emergency department (ED) with tachycardia,

elevated blood pressure, and seizures. Further assessment reveals a history
of chronic alcoholism, causing the nurse to suspect:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Magnesium deficit.
Sodium deficit.
Potassium excess.
Calcium excess.

4. A clients calcium level is 9.8 mg /dL. An appropriate nursing intervention

is:
1. Notify the physician immediately.
2. Administer oral calcium supplements as ordered.
3. Limit intake of foods rich in calcium.
4. No intervention required at this time.
5. The nurse expects the client with hypophosphatemia to also experience:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Hyperalbuminemia.
Hypercalcemia.
Hypernatremia.
Hyperkalemia.

6. Why does excessive administration of D5W cause hyponatremia?

1.
2.
3.
4.

The kidneys excrete the excess potassium.

The lungs exhale the excess vapor.
Water in the solution dilutes the serum sodium level.
Dextrose is the solution concentrates the sodium level.

7. When reviewing a clients laboratory results, the nurse recognizes

which is a normal value for potassium?
1.
2.
3.
4.

4.3
2.8
8.7
6.5

mEq/L
mEq/L
mEq/L
mEq/L

8. A client presents to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain

after completing an hour of vigorous exercise. The nurse knows he
should expect which laboratory result?
1.
2.
3.
4.

Decreased hematocrit.
Increased osmolality.
Decreased urine specific gravity.
Increased hemoglobin.

9. The nurse knows that when caring for the client on a telemetry unit,
an elevated U-wave seen on an EKG is specific to which electrolyte
imbalance?
1.
2.
3.
4.

Hypomagnesemia.
Hypermagnesemia.
Hyperkalemia.
Hypokalemia.

10. A client is being discharged from the hospital after being treated for a
decreased potassium level. In order for the client to maintain an
appropriate potassium level, the nurse suggests which food when providing
discharge teaching?
1.
2.
3.
4.

Baked potatoes.
Peas.
Fowl.
Nuts.