Final answer:
A client will display tetany when they have hypocalcemia, a condition of low serum calcium levels leading to muscle spasms due to factors like increased blood pH or poor calcium absorption.
Step-by-step explanation:
A client will display tetany when there is an electrolyte imbalance characterized by a decreased ionized fraction of serum calcium. Tetany is typically caused by hypocalcemia, which can occur due to various reasons including an increase in blood pH, poor absorption of calcium from the intestine, or deficient levels of vitamin D3 that affect calcium and phosphate balance.
When the ionized calcium in the blood is decreased, muscle spasms of the extremities can result. These involuntary contractions, known as tetanic spasms, can be quite painful. Conditions such as metabolic alkalosis, which might be induced by loss of hydrochloric acid from vomiting or use of certain diuretics, can contribute to hypocalcemia by increasing the pH level of blood, hence potentially leading to tetany.
In the context of hypokalemia (low potassium levels), a different kind of electrolyte imbalance, the therapeutic approach often involves intravenous administration of potassium, as illustrated by the physician ordering an IV delivery of KCl solution for such a patient in an emergency setting.