A client with pancreatic cancer develops ascites, and 2 liters of fluid are removed via paracentesis. Which schedule should the nurse implement to assess the client's blood pressure after this procedure?

Actions to Take:

A. Educate on disease process and management: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic

autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation of the synovial membrane, leading to joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Educating the client about RA helps them understand the disease, its

progression, treatment options, and the importance of adherence to prescribed medications and lifestyle modifications. This empowers the client to actively participate in managing their condition and improve outcomes.

B. Turn every two hours to offload bony prominences to prevent pressure injuries: Rheumatoid arthritis predisposes individuals to joint deformities and immobility due to joint inflammation and pain. Immobility increases the risk of pressure injuries, especially over bony prominences. Turning the client every two hours helps redistribute pressure, reduces the risk of pressure ulcers, and maintains skin integrity.

Potential Condition:

D. Rheumatoid arthritis: The client's clinical presentation, including bilateral joint pain and stiffness, positive rheumatoid factor, positive antinuclear antibody test, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and soft tissue swelling with marginal erosions on hand X-rays, is consistent with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the synovial joints, leading to joint damage, pain, and functional impairment.

Parameters to Monitor:

C. Pain: Monitoring pain is essential in rheumatoid arthritis management to assess the effectiveness of pain management interventions and adjust treatment accordingly. Pain assessment tools, such as numerical rating scales or visual analog scales, help quantify pain intensity and guide pain management strategies.

D. Skin breakdown: Rheumatoid arthritis can limit mobility and predispose individuals to prolonged immobility, increasing the risk of pressure injuries. Monitoring for signs of skin breakdown, such as erythema, blanchable or non-blanchable skin changes, and skin integrity over bony prominences, helps prevent pressure ulcers and facilitates early intervention if skin breakdown occurs. Regularly turning the client, maintaining proper positioning, and providing adequate support surfaces are essential to prevent pressure injuries.

A. Begin abdominal girth measurements.
Abdominal girth measurements may be important for assessing fluid status in clients with liver disease and ascites, but in this case, the elevated polymorphonuclear leukocyte count indicates a possible infection, requiring immediate intervention.

B. Review serum protein levels.
While monitoring serum protein levels is important in clients with liver disease, the priority in this situation is to address the potential infection indicated by the elevated leukocyte count.

C. Assess neurological status.
Neurological assessment may be relevant in some cases, but it is not the priority in a client with suspected infection after a paracentesis.

D. Initiate antibiotic therapy.
Given the client's symptoms and the elevated polymorphonuclear leukocyte count in the ascitic fluid, indicating possible infection (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis), initiating antibiotic therapy is the priority action to address the infection and prevent further complications.