Daily Nursing Exam Questions #0013-14
Question 0013: A patient is found to have hypocalcemia. Which symptom is the nurse most likely to notice first?
Hypocalcemia means low levels of calcium in the blood.
Calcium deficiency increases neuromuscular excitability.
This causes the patient to first show tetany, muscle jerks, cramps, and numbness.
❌ Bradycardia (a), polyuria (c), and flushing (d) are usually not symptoms directly related to hypocalcemia.
👉 Therefore, the nurse should first look for muscle cramps and tetany.
Calcium deficiency increases neuromuscular excitability.
This causes the patient to first show tetany, muscle jerks, cramps, and numbness.
❌ Bradycardia (a), polyuria (c), and flushing (d) are usually not symptoms directly related to hypocalcemia.
👉 Therefore, the nurse should first look for muscle cramps and tetany.
Question 0014: A 3-year-old child comes in with a high fever, barking cough, and stridor. What would be the nurse's first priority?
Pediatrics • Clinical MCQ
Question:
A 3-year-old child comes in with a high fever, barking cough, and stridor. What would be the nurse’s first priority?
✅ Correct Answer: b) Give the child oxygen
Rationale:
The given symptoms (barking cough + stridor) point to croup, in which the larynx becomes inflamed.
The greatest risk in this situation is airway blockage and lack of oxygen.
Therefore, the nurse’s first priority is to support the child’s respiration by giving oxygen.
Checking the throat (a) is dangerous because it can cause laryngeal spasm and complete airway occlusion.
Giving water (c) or antibiotics (d) is not immediately helpful.
👉 First nursing priority = Give oxygen.
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