Question 1

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:

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.

Question 2

A patient is admitted to a hospital with a diagnosis of confusion.The patient has a serum digoxin level of 3.2 ng/mL.Which additional laboratory data should the nurse monitor?

Accepted Answer

Confusion can be a sign of digoxin toxicity. One of the common side effects of digoxin is hypokalemia, which can lead to toxicity. Therefore, monitoring serum potassium levels is important in patients with digoxin toxicity.

Question 3

A patient has orders for serial troponin levels on admission and then every 6 hours times 3.The initial troponin level is 8 ng/mL, and 6 hours later the troponin level is 168 ng/mL.The nurse should plan care for the patient based on the possible diagnosis of:

Accepted Answer

The significant elevation in troponin levels indicates myocyte damage, which is most commonly seen in acute myocardial infarction. Pulmonary embolism, COPD, and DVT are not typically associated with such a significant troponin elevation.

Question 4

A patient's laboratory test results show an increased level of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).This finding is most indicative of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Increased levels of ACE are most commonly associated with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body. ACE levels may also be elevated in other conditions like Gaucher's disease, leprosy, and lymphoma, but sarcoidosis remains the most common cause. Elevated ACE levels are not indicative of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or advanced pulmonary carcinoma.

Question 5

A postoperative patient, who has not had oral intake for several days and is receiving D5W at 125 mL/hr, complains of nausea and new onset of a persistent headache.Which laboratory value should a nurse relate to this clinical presentation?

Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms are consistent with hyponatremia, which is an electrolyte disturbance characterized by low serum sodium levels. The normal range for serum sodium is 135-145 mEq/L, so a level of 125 mEq/L is indicative of hyponatremia. Symptoms can include nausea, headaches, and altered mental status. This could be due to the patient's lack of oral intake and receiving only D5W, which is a hypotonic solution that can cause dilution of serum sodium levels.

Question 6

A patient is suspected of having Graves' disease.Which of the following antibody tests should the nurse expect to conduct on this patient to confirm this suspicion?

Accepted Answer

Antithyroglobulin antibodies are present in the majority of patients with Graves' disease and are used to confirm the diagnosis. Antinuclear antibodies are associated with autoimmune disorders such as lupus, but not specific to Graves' disease. Antisperm antibodies are used in infertility testing, and antistreptolysin O (ASO) antibodies are used to diagnose a streptococcal infection.

Question 7

A patient's laboratory results indicate elevated levels of insulin antibodies, though the person does not currently have diabetes.This finding is most associated with development of which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Elevated levels of insulin antibodies are most associated with the development of type 1 diabetes, as this autoimmune disease involves the immune system attacking and destroying pancreatic beta cells, which produce insulin. Elevated insulin antibodies can be detected before the onset of symptoms and clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Diabetes insipidus is a condition affecting the kidneys and has no relation to insulin antibodies. Type 2 diabetes is not an autoimmune disease and is not typically associated with elevated insulin antibodies. Gestational diabetes mellitus involves high blood sugar levels during pregnancy and is not directly related to insulin antibodies.

Question 8

A patient is found to have toxic levels of haloperidol in her blood.This patient is at risk for impairment of which of the following organs associated with this type of toxicity?

Accepted Answer

Haloperidol toxicity can lead to liver impairment due to the liver's role in metabolizing the drug. High levels of haloperidol can cause hepatotoxicity, affecting the liver's function.

Question 9

A nurse is preparing to draw a plasma sample for an antidiuretic hormone (ADH)test.Which color of tube top should the nurse use for this test?

Accepted Answer

Lavender-top tubes contain EDTA, an anticoagulant that is suitable for plasma tests, including hormone assays like ADH.

Question 10

Which change in laboratory values should indicate to a nurse that therapy for a patient who is receiving fluid replacement for hypertonic dehydration has been effective?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which change in laboratory values should indicate...

Question 11

The nurse is caring for a woman at 35 weeks gestation with pre-eclampsia.An amniocentesis is performed.Which of the following laboratory values indicates lung maturity is sufficient for delivery?

Accepted Answer

The L/S (lecithin-sphingomyelin) ratio is used to assess lung maturity. A ratio of 2:1 or greater indicates sufficient surfactant production for neonatal lung function, making option A the correct choice. White blood cells and leukocyte esterase are not indicative of lung maturity. Lamellar bodies, while an indirect measure of lung maturity, do not provide a specific threshold for sufficient lung function.

Question 12

A patient is diagnosed with gout and is started on allopurinol.Which laboratory result should the nurse monitor to determine the effectiveness of this treatment?

Accepted Answer

Allopurinol is used to decrease the amount of uric acid produced in the body, so monitoring uric acid levels would be the best way to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. Albumin and potassium levels may be affected in some cases of gout, but they are not directly related to the effectiveness of allopurinol. Creatinine levels are important to monitor when taking allopurinol, but they are more related to the drug's potential for causing kidney damage.

Question 13

The nurse should assess for hypomagnesemia in the patient with:

Accepted Answer

A history of chronic alcoholism is a risk factor for hypomagnesemia as alcoholism can cause decreased intake and absorption of magnesium, as well as increased renal excretion of magnesium.

Question 14

A nurse notes that the initial preliminary report on one of three blood cultures for a patient with idiopathic fever is positive for coagulase-negative staphylococci.The nurse should relate this finding to the:

Accepted Answer

Coagulase-negative staphylococci are commonly found on the skin and can contaminate blood cultures during specimen collection. Therefore, a positive blood culture for these organisms may not necessarily indicate a true infection. Further testing and evaluation should be done before determining the patient's treatment plan. Isolation, presence of a resistant infection, and use of a chlorhexidine scrub are not relevant to this finding.

Question 15

A nurse is drawing a plasma specimen from an infant for an amino acid screen.How many milliliters should the nurse collect?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A nurse is drawing a plasma specimen...

Question 16

When reviewing a patient's laboratory results, a nurse notes that the patient's erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)is more than 100 mm/hr.Which condition is this patient most likely to be experiencing?

Accepted Answer

An ESR higher than 100 mm/hr is commonly seen in temporal arteritis, which is an inflammatory condition that affects the blood vessels in the head and neck. Sickle cell anemia, polycythemia, and spherocytosis are not typically associated with a significantly elevated ESR.

Question 17

A patient with a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus has a fasting whole blood specimen drawn as part of a pre-employment physical.The patient's blood glucose level is 86 mg/dL.Which intervention by the nurse is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

As a patient with a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus, it is important to assess the timing and amount of the last dose of insulin. This will provide important information about the patient's current glucose levels and help guide further interventions if needed. Eating a bedtime snack or providing a glass of orange juice would not be necessary with a fasting blood glucose level of 86 mg/dL. Assessing for signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia may be important, but it would not be the most appropriate initial intervention.

Question 18

A patient is undergoing venipuncture for collection of a blood sample for $\alpha$₁-antitrypsin testing.Which condition is this type of testing most useful in identifying?

Accepted Answer

F1F1F1S1F1F1F10₁-antitrypsin testing is most useful in identifying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a known risk factor for the development of COPD. It is not useful for identifying coronary artery disease, joint disease, or hepatitis.

Question 19

A patient being evaluated for abdominal pain of unknown origin has a blood test for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).The result is 5 ng/mL.Which question should the nurse ask in order to assess the significance of this result?

Accepted Answer

CEA is a tumor marker that is often used to screen for colorectal cancer, but it can be elevated in other types of cancer and non-cancerous conditions. Smoking is a known risk factor for cancer and can also cause elevated CEA levels. Therefore, asking about smoking history can help assess the significance of the CEA result. The other options are unrelated to CEA levels.

Question 20

A lethargic neonate has a blood glucose level of 45 mg/dL.Which intervention by a nurse is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A lethargic neonate has a blood glucose...

Quiz 1: About This Book

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 patient is admitted to a hospital with a diagnosis of confusion.The patient has a serum digoxin level of 3.2 ng/mL.Which additional laboratory data should the nurse monitor?

A patient has orders for serial troponin levels on admission and then every 6 hours times 3.The initial troponin level is 8 ng/mL, and 6 hours later the troponin level is 168 ng/mL.The nurse should plan care for the patient based on the possible diagnosis of:

A patient's laboratory test results show an increased level of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) .This finding is most indicative of which of the following?

A postoperative patient, who has not had oral intake for several days and is receiving D5W at 125 mL/hr, complains of nausea and new onset of a persistent headache.Which laboratory value should a nurse relate to this clinical presentation?

A patient is suspected of having Graves' disease.Which of the following antibody tests should the nurse expect to conduct on this patient to confirm this suspicion?

A patient's laboratory results indicate elevated levels of insulin antibodies, though the person does not currently have diabetes.This finding is most associated with development of which of the following conditions?

A patient is found to have toxic levels of haloperidol in her blood.This patient is at risk for impairment of which of the following organs associated with this type of toxicity?

A nurse is preparing to draw a plasma sample for an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) test.Which color of tube top should the nurse use for this test?

Which change in laboratory values should indicate to a nurse that therapy for a patient who is receiving fluid replacement for hypertonic dehydration has been effective?

The nurse is caring for a woman at 35 weeks gestation with pre-eclampsia.An amniocentesis is performed.Which of the following laboratory values indicates lung maturity is sufficient for delivery?

A patient is diagnosed with gout and is started on allopurinol.Which laboratory result should the nurse monitor to determine the effectiveness of this treatment?

The nurse should assess for hypomagnesemia in the patient with:

A nurse notes that the initial preliminary report on one of three blood cultures for a patient with idiopathic fever is positive for coagulase-negative staphylococci.The nurse should relate this finding to the:

A nurse is drawing a plasma specimen from an infant for an amino acid screen.How many milliliters should the nurse collect?

When reviewing a patient's laboratory results, a nurse notes that the patient's erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is more than 100 mm/hr.Which condition is this patient most likely to be experiencing?

A patient with a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus has a fasting whole blood specimen drawn as part of a pre-employment physical.The patient's blood glucose level is 86 mg/dL.Which intervention by the nurse is most appropriate?

A patient is undergoing venipuncture for collection of a blood sample for $\alpha$ ₁-antitrypsin testing.Which condition is this type of testing most useful in identifying?

A patient being evaluated for abdominal pain of unknown origin has a blood test for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) .The result is 5 ng/mL.Which question should the nurse ask in order to assess the significance of this result?

A lethargic neonate has a blood glucose level of 45 mg/dL.Which intervention by a nurse is most appropriate?

Quiz 1: About This Book

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 patient is admitted to a hospital with a diagnosis of confusion.The patient has a serum digoxin level of 3.2 ng/mL.Which additional laboratory data should the nurse monitor?

A patient has orders for serial troponin levels on admission and then every 6 hours times 3.The initial troponin level is 8 ng/mL, and 6 hours later the troponin level is 168 ng/mL.The nurse should plan care for the patient based on the possible diagnosis of:

A patient's laboratory test results show an increased level of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) .This finding is most indicative of which of the following?

A postoperative patient, who has not had oral intake for several days and is receiving D5W at 125 mL/hr, complains of nausea and new onset of a persistent headache.Which laboratory value should a nurse relate to this clinical presentation?

A patient is suspected of having Graves' disease.Which of the following antibody tests should the nurse expect to conduct on this patient to confirm this suspicion?

A patient's laboratory results indicate elevated levels of insulin antibodies, though the person does not currently have diabetes.This finding is most associated with development of which of the following conditions?

A patient is found to have toxic levels of haloperidol in her blood.This patient is at risk for impairment of which of the following organs associated with this type of toxicity?

A nurse is preparing to draw a plasma sample for an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) test.Which color of tube top should the nurse use for this test?

Which change in laboratory values should indicate to a nurse that therapy for a patient who is receiving fluid replacement for hypertonic dehydration has been effective?

The nurse is caring for a woman at 35 weeks gestation with pre-eclampsia.An amniocentesis is performed.Which of the following laboratory values indicates lung maturity is sufficient for delivery?

A patient is diagnosed with gout and is started on allopurinol.Which laboratory result should the nurse monitor to determine the effectiveness of this treatment?

The nurse should assess for hypomagnesemia in the patient with:

A nurse notes that the initial preliminary report on one of three blood cultures for a patient with idiopathic fever is positive for coagulase-negative staphylococci.The nurse should relate this finding to the:

A nurse is drawing a plasma specimen from an infant for an amino acid screen.How many milliliters should the nurse collect?

When reviewing a patient's laboratory results, a nurse notes that the patient's erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is more than 100 mm/hr.Which condition is this patient most likely to be experiencing?

A patient with a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus has a fasting whole blood specimen drawn as part of a pre-employment physical.The patient's blood glucose level is 86 mg/dL.Which intervention by the nurse is most appropriate?

A patient is undergoing venipuncture for collection of a blood sample for α\alphaα 1-antitrypsin testing.Which condition is this type of testing most useful in identifying?

A patient being evaluated for abdominal pain of unknown origin has a blood test for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) .The result is 5 ng/mL.Which question should the nurse ask in order to assess the significance of this result?

A lethargic neonate has a blood glucose level of 45 mg/dL.Which intervention by a nurse is most appropriate?

A patient is undergoing venipuncture for collection of a blood sample for $\alpha$ ₁-antitrypsin testing.Which condition is this type of testing most useful in identifying?