Question

a nurse is collecting data from a client who has an ng tube set to low intermittent suction. which of the following findings indicates hypomagnesemia?

• bone pain
• drowsiness
• bowel hypomotility
• positive chvostek’s sign

Explanation:

1. Analyze each option:

• Bone pain: Associated with hypocalcemia or conditions like osteoporosis, not hypomagnesemia.
• Drowsiness: Not a typical sign of hypomagnesemia; hypomagnesemia often causes neuromuscular irritability.
• Bowel hypomotility: Hypomagnesemia usually causes increased bowel motility (diarrhea), not hypomotility.
• Positive Chvostek’s sign: Hypomagnesemia can cause neuromuscular excitability, and Chvostek’s sign (facial muscle twitch with facial nerve stimulation) is a sign of increased neuromuscular irritability, which is seen in hypomagnesemia (and hypocalcemia).

Answer:

D. Positive Chvostek’s sign