Question

question 16 of 20
a nurse is caring for a client who had a thyroidectomy and is at risk for hypocalcemia. what should the nurse do?

observe for muscle twitching and numbness or tingling of the lips, fingers, and toes.

observe for swelling of the neck, tracheal deviation, and severe pain.

monitor laboratory values daily for elevated thyroidstimulating hormone.

evaluate the quality of the clients voice postoperatively, noting any drastic changes.

Explanation:

To determine the correct action for a nurse caring for a client at risk for hypocalcemia after a thyroidectomy, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: Hypocalcemia causes neuromuscular irritability, leading to muscle twitching and paresthesia (numbness/tingling) in lips, fingers, toes. This is a key sign of hypocalcemia.
• Option 2: Swelling, tracheal deviation, and severe pain suggest hemorrhage or airway obstruction, not hypocalcemia.
• Option 3: Elevated thyroid - stimulating hormone (TSH) relates to thyroid function, not hypocalcemia.
• Option 4: Voice changes post - thyroidectomy may indicate laryngeal nerve damage, not hypocalcemia.

Answer:

A. Observe for muscle twitching and numbness or tingling of the lips, fingers, and toes.