Question

The nurse monitors clients at the end of a marathon. Which client behavior would cause the nurse greatest concern?

A. The client reports nausea and vomiting.
B. The client reports headache and irritability.
C. The client reports fatigue and cramps.
D. The client reports muscle cramps and weakness.

Answer 1

The client behavior causing the most concern would be muscle cramps and weakness, indicating a possibility of an electrolyte imbalance or dehydration, potentially leading to severe consequences if not treated quickly.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse monitoring clients at the end of a marathon would have the greatest concern for a client who reports muscle cramps and weakness. This could indicate a serious electrolyte imbalance or dehydration, both of which can be exacerbated by excessive sweating and inadequate fluid and electrolyte replacement. Conditions such as hyponatremia (low blood sodium) can occur and have the potential to be life-threatening if not addressed promptly.

Other symptoms mentioned, like nausea and vomiting, headache and irritability, or fatigue and cramps, while concerning, do not immediately suggest as severe an issue as a combination of muscle cramps and weakness might. These latter symptoms could indicate exertional rhabdomyolysis, where muscle breakdown leads to myoglobin being released into the bloodstream, potentially causing kidney damage.