Medical-surgical Nursing Demystified

(^436) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
TREATMENT

• Administer magnesium sulfate intravenously to increase levels.


• Monitor deep tendon reflexes.


• Monitor cardiac rhythm.


• Increase magnesium in the patient’s diet.


• May need to correct calcium and potassium concurrently.

NURSING DIAGNOSES

• Impaired gas exchange


• Risk for injury


• Decreased cardiac output

NURSING INTERVENTION

• Monitor intake and output.


• Monitor vital signs for changes.


• Monitor cardiovascular status for changes in heart rhythm, pulse deficit.


• Explain to the patient:
  
  
  • Eat whole grains, legumes, fish, and dark green leafy vegetables that are
    high in magnesium.
  
  
  • No laxatives.
  
  
  
  

Hypermagnesemia

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Hypermagnesemia is a greater-than-normal amount of magnesium in the blood.

Patients with poor renal function or long-term abuse of magnesium-containing

compounds have difficulty excreting magnesium. The excess of magnesium in the

blood causes the cell membranes to become less excitable than normal, requiring

a greater stimuli than would normally be needed to cause a required effect. As the

magnesium level continues to rise, the cell membrane becomes more resistant to

its natural stimuli.

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