A client receiving thyroid replacement therapy following a thyroidectomy is seen in the dinic for a 6 weeks postoperative check-up. Which assessment is most important for the nurse to obtain?
Report of bowel functioning since surgery.
Heart rate and body weight.
Number of any missed doses of medication.
Daily caloric intake.
The Correct Answer is B
A. While bowel function can be affected by medication, it's not a primary indicator of thyroid hormone replacement effectiveness.
B. These are the most important assessments to determine the effectiveness of thyroid replacement therapy. Thyroid hormones influence metabolic rate, which directly affects heart rate and body weight. Changes in these parameters can indicate under- or over-replacement of thyroid hormones.
C. While medication adherence is important, it doesn't directly assess the medication's effectiveness.
D. Dietary intake is important for overall health but is not directly related to thyroid hormone replacement therapy effectiveness.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Inserting an indwelling urinary catheter may be considered if the client is unable to urinate or if precise measurement of urine output is crucial for assessing fluid status. However, in this context, the immediate concern is more likely related to the client's cardiovascular status and respiratory symptoms rather than urinary output.
B. Serum cardiac enzymes (such as troponin, CK-MB) are important for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction or myocardial injury. While this is relevant for assessing cardiac damage, the elevated BNP level and current symptoms suggest that heart failure or fluid overload might be more pressing concerns.
C. Emotional support is important for any patient, especially those dealing with significant health issues. However, in this situation, the priority should be on addressing the immediate physiological concerns related to the client's symptoms and laboratory findings. Emotional support can be provided alongside other clinical interventions but should not be the primary action in this acute setting.
D. Fine rales (or crackles) in the lung fields are often associated with pulmonary congestion or fluid
overload, which are common in heart failure. Given the elevated BNP level and the client’s symptoms of
shortness of breath and fatigue, assessing the lung fields for rales is crucial.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. While pain assessment is important, it's not the priority in this situation. Pain can be present in various conditions, and it doesn't necessarily indicate DVT.
B. Elevating the leg can help reduce swelling but is not the initial action. The nurse needs to rule out a serious condition like DVT first.
C. Applying ice and an elastic bandage might be appropriate for some types of swelling but is not the correct initial action for a sudden, unilateral leg swelling.
D. The client presents with sudden, unilateral leg swelling, which is a red flag for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a serious condition that can lead to pulmonary embolism. Therefore, the nurse's priority is to assess for signs of inflammation, which are warmth and erythema.
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