Hypocalcemia and Hypercalcemia
Hypocalcemia
Symptoms: Numbness and tingling. Hyperactive reflexes, Tetany, Chvostek sign, andTrousseau sign
Nursing Priorities: Promote foods high in calcium such as milk. Administer Calcium gluconate IV
Hypercalcemia
Symptoms: Anorexia, Nausea, Abdominal pain.
Nursing Priorities: Avoid Vitamin D. Move client carefully- bone may fracture
Chvostek Sign in hypocalcemia
Ipsilateral twitching of the facial muscles when touched
Trousseau Sign in hypocalcemia
Involuntary contraction of the muscles in the hand and wrist that happens with compression of the upper arm with a blood pressure cuff.
Critical Thinking Exercises
Critical Thinking Exercise 1
What is the nursing priority?
Yes! Especially calcium.
No! This is the trousseau’ sign which occurs with hypocalcemia. If the blood pressure cuff did not fit well do change it. But the problem is not an incorrectly sized BP cuff.
