Lab values & electrolytes worksheet with answers

What is the effect of insulin on serum potassium?

1. AIt moves potassium out of cells, raising the serum level
2. BIt makes the kidneys keep more potassium in the blood
3. CIt moves potassium into cells, lowering the serum level
4. DIt has no effect on potassium in any amount

Why is glucose normally absent from the urine?

1. AThe bladder lining breaks down any glucose that reaches the urine
2. BGlucose is changed into ketones before it reaches the urine
3. CThe tubules reabsorb all filtered glucose at normal blood levels
4. DThe glomeruli do not filter glucose out of the blood at any level

Using American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria, which HbA1c range is classed as prediabetes?

1. A5.7–6.4% (39–47 mmol/mol)
2. B4.0–5.6% (20–38 mmol/mol)
3. C8.0–9.0% (64–75 mmol/mol)
4. D6.5–7.5% (48–58 mmol/mol)

A healthy woman at 28 weeks of pregnancy has a mildly lower hemoglobin than before pregnancy, with a normal MCV and ferritin. What is the most likely explanation?

1. AThe fetus is destroying the mother's red cells in the circulation
2. BPregnancy hormones stop the bone marrow from making red cells
3. CIron is being lost through the kidneys during the pregnancy
4. DPlasma volume rises more than red cell mass, diluting the blood

A patient is scheduled for a liver biopsy. Which laboratory results should the nurse check before the procedure?

1. ATSH and free T₄
2. BPlatelet count and PT/INR
3. CHbA1c and lipid panel
4. DSerum sodium and chloride

A patient on warfarin for atrial fibrillation has an INR of 1.4. What does this mean?

1. AAnticoagulation is below target, so clots and stroke are more likely
2. BThe patient no longer needs to take warfarin
3. CThe patient is at a high risk of bleeding and needs vitamin K at once
4. DThe dose is exactly right and needs no change

A patient on digoxin has a calcium of 12.1 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) and new nausea and a slow pulse. Why is the calcium result important?

1. AHigh calcium blocks digoxin, so the drug stops working
2. BHigh calcium only matters if the potassium is also high
3. CHigh calcium makes the kidneys clear digoxin faster
4. DHigh calcium increases the risk of digoxin toxicity

A patient using an insulin pump has a glucose of 300 mg/dL (16.7 mmol/L) that has not fallen 2 hours after a correction bolus through the pump. Blood ketones are 1.8 mmol/L. What is the most likely problem and action?

1. AInsulin overdose from the pump; suspend the pump and stop all insulin for a day
2. BInsulin delivery failure; inject a correction dose by pen and change the set
3. CNormal pump function; wait for the next mealtime bolus to lower the glucose
4. DRebound after a hypo; give fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck in 15 minutes