CEN Practice Exam (Certified Emergency Nurse)

Answer: A - Of the above listed conditions, the patient with alcoholism would be most likely to have a phosphorus level of 2.0 mg/dL. A normal phosphorus level is 2.7 to 4.5 mg/dL. Malnutrition or starvation and the use of aluminum hydroxide-based antacids can also be causes of low phosphorus levels. The other three conditions are more likely to cause hyperphosphatemia.