A client with hepatic failure has an electrolyte imbalance, elevated blood pressure, and a weight gain of 4.4 lbs (2 kg) in 24 hours.
What intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?

Use a cushion when sitting.

Offer a high protein diet.

Provide only distilled water.

Document abdominal girth.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A rationale
Using a cushion when sitting can provide comfort but does not directly address the client’s electrolyte imbalance, elevated blood pressure, or weight gain.
Choice B rationale

Offering a high protein diet can be beneficial for clients with hepatic failure to support liver regeneration and prevent malnutrition. However, it does not directly address the client’s immediate issues.
Choice C rationale
Providing only distilled water does not address the client’s electrolyte imbalance, elevated blood pressure, or weight gain. In fact, it could potentially exacerbate electrolyte imbalances.
Choice D rationale
Documenting abdominal girth can help monitor for fluid accumulation (ascites), a common complication of hepatic failure that can contribute to weight gain and elevated blood pressure.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A rationale
Administering the medication at 1000, 1600, 2200, and 0400 would not be the best schedule because it does not evenly distribute the doses throughout the day. This could lead to periods of subtherapeutic medication levels and periods of potential toxicity.
Choice B rationale
Administering the medication with meals and a bedtime snack is not the best schedule for this medication. While some medications need to be administered with food, there is no indication

that this medication needs to be. Furthermore, this schedule could lead to uneven distribution of the medication throughout the day.
Choice C rationale
Giving the medication in equally divided doses during waking hours is not the best schedule because it does not take into account the half-life of the medication or the patient’s sleep schedule. This could lead to subtherapeutic levels of the medication during the night.
Choice D rationale
Administering the medication at 0800, 1200, 1600, and 2000 is the best schedule for this medication. It evenly distributes the doses throughout the day, which can help maintain a therapeutic level of the medication and reduce the risk of toxicity.

A. Observe for bleeding side effects related to heparin therapy. B. Encourage mobilization to prevent pulmonary embolism. C. Assess blood pressure and heart rate at least every 4 hours. D. Measure each calf’s girth to evaluate edema in the affected leg.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Heparin is an anticoagulant medication that prevents the formation of blood clots. One of the most common and serious side effects of heparin therapy is bleeding. Therefore, it is crucial for the nurse to observe for signs of bleeding, such as bruising, petechiae, hematomas, black tarry stools, hematuria, and changes in mental status. Regular laboratory monitoring of the client’s coagulation status, specifically the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), is also necessary to ensure therapeutic levels of heparin without causing excessive bleeding.

Choice B rationale

While mobilization can help prevent the formation of new clots, it is not the most important intervention for a client who is already on a heparin protocol for DVT. Mobilization can potentially dislodge the existing clot, leading to a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

Choice C rationale

Although it is important to monitor vital signs in all clients, assessing blood pressure and heart rate every 4 hours is not the most important intervention for a client on a heparin protocol.

Changes in blood pressure and heart rate are not specific to heparin therapy and do not provide direct information about the effectiveness or side effects of the medication.

Choice D rationale

Measuring each calf’s girth can help evaluate the progression of edema in the affected leg, but it is not the most important intervention for a client on a heparin protocol. While it can provide information about the local effects of the DVT, it does not address the systemic anticoagulation effects of heparin therapy.

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A client with hepatic failure has an electrolyte imbalance, elevated blood pressure, and a weight gain of 4.4 lbs (2 kg) in 24 hours.
What intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?