Diagnostic Criteria and Investigations
Diagnostic Criteria and Investigations ( 16 Questions)
A nurse is assessing a client who has eclampsia and is receiving magnesium sulfate IV.
Which of the following findings should alert the nurse to suspect magnesium toxicity?
This indicates that the client has respiratory depression, which is a sign of magnesium toxicity. Magnesium sulfate is given to prevent and treat seizures in clients with eclampsia, but it can also cause adverse effects such as hypotension, decreased urine output, absent or diminished reflexes, and cardiac arrest.
Urine output of 50 mL/hr is within the normal range and does not indicate magnesium toxicity. The nurse should monitor the client’s urine output closely and report any decrease below 30 mL/hr.
Serum magnesium level of 6 mg/dL is within the therapeutic range of 4 to 7 mg/dL for clients receiving magnesium sulfate. The nurse should monitor the client’s serum magnesium level regularly and report any increase above 8 mg/dL, which indicates toxicity.
Patellar reflex of 2+ is normal and does not indicate magnesium toxicity. The nurse should assess the client’s deep tendon reflexes frequently and report any decrease or absence of reflexes, which indicates toxicity.
This indicates that the client has respiratory depression, which is a sign of magnesium toxicity. Magnesium sulfate is given to prevent and treat seizures in clients with eclampsia, but it can also cause adverse effects such as hypotension, decreased urine output, absent or diminished reflexes, and cardiac arrest.
Choice B is wrong because urine output of 50 mL/hr is within the normal range and does not indicate magnesium toxicity. The nurse should monitor the client’s urine output closely and report any decrease below 30 mL/hr.
Choice C is wrong because serum magnesium level of 6 mg/dL is within the therapeutic range of 4 to 7 mg/dL for clients receiving magnesium sulfate. The nurse should monitor the client’s serum magnesium level regularly and report any increase above 8 mg/dL, which indicates toxicity.
Choice D is wrong because patellar reflex of 2+ is normal and does not indicate magnesium toxicity. The nurse should assess the client’s deep tendon reflexes frequently and report any decrease or absence of reflexes, which indicates toxicity.