A client diagnosed with ulcerative colitis is scheduled for a terminal ileostomy.
The nurse is aware the stoma will be in what area of the client's abdomen?

Choice A rationale

Notifying the healthcare provider is necessary, but assessing the client's condition comes first to provide relevant information.

Choice B rationale

Assessing the client's vital signs and telemetry monitor is the first step to determine the cause of chest pain and ensure it is not due to a life-threatening issue such as myocardial infarction.

Choice C rationale

Encouraging the client to take deep breaths can be helpful but is not the first priority. It addresses pain related to breathing but not the underlying cause.

Choice D rationale

Administering pain medication is important, but only after determining the cause of the chest pain and ruling out serious complications.

Choice A rationale

A complete blood count (CBC) can provide information about the client's overall health and presence of infection, but it does not specifically address the potential underlying cause related to the urinary system.

Choice B rationale

Urinalysis with culture is the most relevant diagnostic test for evaluating the underlying cause of fever, chills, and severe left costovertebral pain. These symptoms suggest a possible urinary tract infection or pyelonephritis, which can be confirmed with urinalysis and culture.

Choice C rationale

A chest X-ray would not be the priority in this scenario as the symptoms suggest a urinary tract issue rather than a respiratory problem. A chest X-ray is more useful for assessing lung conditions.

Choice D rationale

A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis can be helpful in evaluating the extent of a urinary tract infection or identifying other causes of abdominal pain, but it is typically not the first-line diagnostic test. Urinalysis with culture is more specific for identifying urinary infections. .