01
True or false
1 point
True or false: In an unstable patient with a suspected severe electrolyte emergency, initial stabilization and cardiac monitoring should not be delayed while awaiting confirmatory laboratory results.
Free Practice Quiz Question List
1 Emergency Assessment of Severe Electrolyte Disorders Online Quiz Questions
Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 1 Emergency Assessment of Severe Electrolyte Disorders, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.
20 questions
02
Written response
1 point
A patient with hyperkalemia has peaked T waves and a widening QRS. What immediate cardiac effect does IV calcium provide?
03
Fill in the blank
1 point
An adult with severe hyponatremia has a generalized seizure. The immediate sodium-directed treatment is .
04
Choose one
1 point
An adult with prolonged vomiting has potassium 2.4 mmol/L, weakness, flattened T waves, and prominent U waves. Which action is safest?
- A
Give IV potassium as a rapid push to correct the level immediately.
- B
Begin monitored potassium replacement according to protocol and assess magnesium and renal function.
- C
Give calcium gluconate because U waves indicate hypocalcemia.
- D
Discharge if the patient denies palpitations.
05
True or false
1 point
True or false: Severe hypercalcemia can be associated with a shortened QT interval on ECG.
- A
True
- B
False
06
Written response
1 point
A patient with hypomagnesemia develops torsades de pointes. What electrolyte intervention should be given?
07
Choose all
1 point
A patient with advanced kidney disease develops hypotension, bradycardia, respiratory depression, and diminished reflexes while taking magnesium-containing laxatives. Select all appropriate measures for suspected severe hypermagnesemia.
- A
Stop magnesium exposure.
- B
Support airway and circulation.
- C
Give additional magnesium to prevent torsades.
- D
Administer IV calcium as an antagonist.
- E
Consider dialysis for severe toxicity or renal failure.
08
Fill in the blank
1 point
When treating severe hyponatremia, overly rapid sodium correction must be avoided because it can cause .
09
Choose one
1 point
Several hours after thyroid surgery, an adult develops perioral tingling, carpopedal spasm, and stridor; the ECG shows QT prolongation. What is the priority electrolyte intervention?
- A
Give IV calcium gluconate with ECG monitoring and check magnesium as indicated.
- B
Give oral calcium only and reassess the next day.
- C
Give IV potassium because QT prolongation indicates hypokalemia.
- D
Restrict fluids and defer electrolyte treatment.
10
Choose all
1 point
An adult with cancer presents with severe hypercalcemia, dehydration, and confusion. Select all appropriate elements of the initial management approach.
- A
Assess volume status.
- B
Begin IV isotonic saline when appropriate.
- C
Monitor cardiac and renal status.
- D
Arrange cause-directed treatment.
11
Choose one
1 point
An adult with potassium 6.8 mmol/L has no symptoms and a normal initial ECG. Which plan is safest?
- A
A normal ECG rules out dangerous hyperkalemia, so no further assessment is needed.
- B
Wait for symptoms to develop before repeating the potassium level.
- C
Place the patient on cardiac monitoring, promptly confirm the potassium, and assess the need for urgent treatment.
- D
Treat the potassium result as harmless unless the QRS is already widened.
12
Open ended
1 point
An adult with severe hyponatremia has a seizure. Describe the sodium-directed emergency treatment and its initial correction goal, and explain how to reduce the major treatment hazard.
13
Choose one
1 point
Which option correctly matches these findings, in order: peaked T waves followed by PR prolongation and QRS widening; prominent U waves with flattened T waves; prolonged QT with tetany or paresthesias; shortened QT with severe hypercalcemia?
- A
Hyperkalemia; hypokalemia; hypocalcemia; hypercalcemia
- B
Hypokalemia; hyperkalemia; hypercalcemia; hypocalcemia
- C
Hypercalcemia; hypocalcemia; hyperkalemia; hypokalemia
- D
Hypomagnesemia; hypercalcemia; hyperkalemia; hypocalcemia
14
Choose one
1 point
An adult with severe hyponatremia has a seizure and receives monitored 3% saline boluses. What is the approximate initial serum sodium rise sought to reduce cerebral edema and improve symptoms?
- A
Normalize the sodium concentration within several hours.
- B
Raise the sodium by about 4–6 mmol/L initially.
- C
Raise the sodium by at least 15 mmol/L immediately.
- D
Avoid hypertonic saline until the seizure has ended.
15
Choose one
1 point
An adult with cancer has dehydration, confusion, markedly elevated calcium, and a shortened QT interval. Which initial approach is most appropriate?
- A
Give IV calcium to stabilize the shortened QT interval.
- B
Restrict fluids and give a loop diuretic routinely.
- C
Assess volume status and begin IV isotonic saline when appropriate, with cardiac and renal monitoring.
- D
Treat the ECG finding alone because hypercalcemia does not require urgent assessment.
16
Choose one
1 point
An adult with low magnesium develops polymorphic ventricular tachycardia with twisting QRS complexes around the baseline. What is the best response?
- A
Give IV calcium and wait for magnesium results.
- B
Give IV magnesium, manage the rhythm urgently, and address contributing factors.
- C
Give a potassium bolus during cardiac arrest.
- D
Observe because this rhythm is usually self-limiting.
17
Choose one
1 point
An adult with advanced kidney disease who has taken magnesium-containing laxatives develops hypotension, lethargy, bradycardia, respiratory depression, and diminished reflexes. Which intervention best addresses the immediate toxicity?
- A
Give additional magnesium to prevent torsades.
- B
Give potassium and discharge once the pulse improves.
- C
Stop magnesium exposure, support airway and circulation, give IV calcium, and consider dialysis for severe toxicity or renal failure.
- D
Restrict oxygen and fluids.
18
Written response
1 point
Several hours after thyroid surgery, an adult develops stridor, carpopedal spasm, and QT prolongation from suspected severe hypocalcemia. What medication and route are used for initial electrolyte treatment?
19
Written response
1 point
An adult with severe hypercalcemia is dehydrated and confused. What fluid is commonly used initially to restore volume when appropriate?
20
True or false
1 point
True or false: A normal initial ECG reliably rules out a dangerous potassium elevation in an adult with suspected hyperkalemia.
- A
True
- B
False
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