A caregiver brings a client with end-stage Alzheimer’s disease to the clinic for an appointment with the healthcare provider.

The caregiver confides in the nurse about experiencing sleepless nights and frequent bouts of crying.

What action should the nurse take?

Choice A rationale

Monitoring the patient’s cardiac activity via telemetry is the most important intervention for a patient with acute renal failure (ARF), uncontrolled type 1 diabetes mellitus, and hyperkalemia who is receiving an IV dose of regular insulin. Hyperkalemia can cause cardiac arrhythmias and other cardiac complications. Therefore, continuous cardiac monitoring is crucial to detect any changes in heart rhythm or rate that could indicate worsening hyperkalemia.
Choice B rationale
While assessing glucose via fingerstick every 4 to 6 hours is important for a patient with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes mellitus, it is not the most important intervention in this scenario. The patient’s hyperkalemia and ARF pose more immediate risks.
Choice C rationale
Evaluating hourly urine output for return of normal renal function is an important part of monitoring a patient with ARF34. However, in the context of hyperkalemia and the administration of insulin, cardiac monitoring is more critical.
Choice D rationale
Maintaining venous access with an infusion of normal saline is a standard nursing intervention for most hospitalized patients, but it is not the most important intervention in this scenario.

Choice A rationale
While the sensitivity of genetic markers can influence the choice of treatment, it is not the primary pathophysiological process involved in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing. The main purpose of these tests is to identify genetic mutations that increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Choice B rationale
BRCA1 and BRCA2 do play a role in protecting mature, functioning breast and ovarian cells. However, this is not the primary reason for conducting BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing. The main purpose of these tests is to identify mutations that increase cancer risk.
Choice C rationale

This is the correct answer. Mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 can significantly increase a person’s risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer. Therefore, identifying these mutations through genetic testing can help determine a person’s cancer risk.
Choice D rationale
While inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 can influence the prognosis of breast cancer, the primary purpose of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing is to identify mutations that increase cancer risk, not to determine prognosis.