Question

A nurse caring for a manic patient observes that the patient has persistent gastrointestinal upset. The nurse assumes that the patient is showing advanced signs of lithium toxicity and tests the serum levels of lithium in the patient. What concentration of lithium does the nurse expect to find in the patient's blood serum?

a.0.5 mEq/L
b.1.8 mEq/L
c.2.5 mEq/L
d.3.4 mEq/L

Answer 1

The nurse would expect to find a concentration of 0.5 mEq/L of lithium in the patient's blood serum.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse would expect to find a concentration of 0.5 mEq/L of lithium in the patient's blood serum. This is because a blood serum lithium concentration of 0.5-1.2 mEq/L is considered the therapeutic range for treating manic episodes. If the concentration exceeds 1.5 mEq/L, it is considered to be toxic and can lead to gastrointestinal upset and other symptoms.