Page 252 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

1. Insufficient magnesium intake
a. Malnutrition and starvation
b. Vomiting or diarrhea
c. Malabsorption syndrome
d. Celiac disease
e. Crohn’s disease
2. Increased magnesium excretion
a. Medications such as diuretics
b. Chronic alcoholism
3. Intracellular movement of magnesium
a. Hyperglycemia
b. Insulin administration
c. Sepsis

C. Assessment (Table 8-6; also see Table 8-3)

D. Interventions
1. Because hypocalcemia frequently accompanies
hypomagnesemia, interventions also aim to restore
normal serum calcium levels.

2. Oral preparations of magnesium may cause

diarrhea and increase magnesium loss.
3. Magnesium sulfate by the IV route may be prescribed
in ill clients when the magnesium level is low
(intramuscular injections cause pain and tissue
damage); initiate seizure precautions, monitor serum
magnesium levels frequently, and monitor for
diminished deep tendon reflexes, suggesting
hypermagnesemia, during the administration of
magnesium.
4. Instruct the client to increase the intake of foods that
contain magnesium (see Box 11-2).
XII. Hypermagnesemia
A. Description: Hypermagnesemia is a serum magnesium level that
exceeds 2.6 mEq/L (1.07 mmol/L).

B. Causes

1. Increased magnesium intake
a. Magnesium-containing antacids and
laxatives
b. Excessive administration of magnesium
intravenously
2. Decreased renal excretion of magnesium as a result of
renal insufficiency

C. Assessment (see Tables 8-3 and 8-6)

D. Interventions

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