Cordillera Career Development College

College of Health Education

Nursing Final Exam
Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalance
1. On morning assessment of your patient in room 2502 who has severe burns. You notice that
fluid is starting to accumulate in his abdominal tissue. You note that his weight has not
changed and his intake and output is equal. What do you suspect?
A. Third space fluid shift
B. This is normal and expected in burns
C. Document this as non-pitting edema
D. Intravascular compartment syndrome
2. Which patient is at more risk for an electrolyte imbalance?
A. An 8 month old with a fever of 102.3 'F and diarrhea
B. A 55 year old diabetic with nausea and vomiting
C. A 5 year old with Rheumatic Fever
D. A healthy 87 year old with intermittent episodes of gout
3. A patient is admitted to the ER with the following findings: heart rate of 110 (thready upon
palpation), 80/62 blood pressue, 25 ml/hr urinary output, and Sodium level of 160. What
interventions do you expect the medical doctor to order for this patient?
A. Restrict fluid intake and monitor daily weights
B. Administer hypotonic solution of 0.45% Sodium Chloride and then 5% Dextrose in water
and monitor urinary output
C. Administer hypotonic IV fluid and administer sodium tablets.
D. No interventions are expected
4. After obtaining an EKG on a patient you notice that ST depression is present along with an
inverted T wave and prominent U wave. What lab value would be the cause of this finding?
A. Potassium level of 2.2
B. Potassium level of 5.6
C. Magnesium level of 2
D. Phosphorus level of 2.5
5. Which patient below would have a potassium level of 5.5?
A. A 76 year old who reports taking lasix four times a day
B. A patient with Addison's disease
C. A 55 year old woman who have been vomiting for 3 days consistently
D. A patient with liver failure
6. You are taking a patient's blood pressure manually. As you pump up the cuff above the
systolic pressure for a few minutes you notice that the patient develops a carpal spasm.
Which of the following is true?
A. This is known as Trousseau's Sign and is present in patients with hypocalcemia
B. This is known as Trousseau's Sign and is present in patients with hypercalcemia
C. This is known as Chvostek's Sign
D. The patient is having a normal nervous response to an inflating blood pressure cuff that
is inflated above the systolic pressure
7. Which patient is at most risk for fluid volume deficient?
A. A patient who has been vomiting and having diarrhea for 2 days.
B. A patient with continuous nasogastric suction.
C. A patient with an abdominal wound vac at intermittent suction.
D. All of the above are correct.
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