Question

A nurse is caring for a patient with malignant lung cancer who experiences weakness, lethargy, depressed reflexes, and bone pain. which changes in the electrocardiogram evaluated by the nurse may indicate suspected hypercalcemia?

Answer 1

The changes in the electrocardiogram evaluated by the nurse are Shortened ST segment and Shortened QT interval. Hypercalcemia rarely occurs as a result of calcium intake, the patient's phosphorus falling to 2.1 mg/dL (normal 2.4-4.4 mg/dL) may be a result of the phosphate-binding effect of calcium carbonate.