A nurse is assessing a client who has advanced cirrhosis. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect to find?

Choice A: Determine the client’s calcium level. This is the priority action for the nurse to take because the client might have hypocalcemia, which is a low level of calcium in the blood. Hypocalcemia can occur after a thyroidectomy due to accidental removal or damage of the parathyroid glands, which regulate calcium levels. Hypocalcemia can cause muscle spasms, tetany, paresthesia, and seizures.

Choice B: Give the client an oral potassium supplement. This is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take because the client might have hyperkalemia, which is a high level of potassium in the blood. Hyperkalemia can also occur after a thyroidectomy due to damage to the adrenal glands, which regulate potassium levels. Hyperkalemia can cause muscle weakness, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest.

Choice C: Administer intravenous normal saline solution. This is not a necessary action for the nurse to take because the client does not have signs of dehydration or fluid imbalance. Normal saline solution does not affect calcium or potassium levels.

Choice D: Monitor the client’s peripheral pulses. This is an important action for the nurse to take, but not the priority. The nurse should monitor the client’s peripheral pulses for signs of decreased perfusion or ischemia, which can result from hypocalcemia or hyperkalemia affecting the cardiac function. However, this should be done after determining the client’s calcium level and correcting it if needed.

Choice A: Docusate. This is not a treatment that the nurse should expect to administer to a client with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Docusate is a stool softener that can prevent constipation and straining, but it is not indicated for ulcerative colitis.

Choice B: A corticosteroid medication. This is a treatment that the nurse should expect to administer to a client with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis, which is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers and inflammation in the colon and rectum. A corticosteroid medication, such as prednisone, can reduce inflammation, suppress the immune system, and relieve symptoms such as diarrhea, bleeding, and pain.

Choice C: Aspirin. This is not a treatment that the nurse should expect to administer to a client with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can relieve pain and inflammation, but it can also irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa and worsen ulcerative colitis.

Choice D: A bowel cathartic medication. This is not a treatment that the nurse should expect to administer to a client with an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. A bowel cathartic medication, such as bisacodyl, can stimulate bowel movements and cleanse the colon, but it can also cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and aggravate ulcerative colitis.