A nurse is assisting in the care of an adolescent who reports abdominal pain.
Complete the following sentence by using the list of options.
The nurse should first address the client's
The Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"A","dropdown-group-2":"C"}
i. Pain:
Priority: Pain is a critical factor that needs immediate attention, especially since the adolescent reports a high pain level of 9/10, which indicates severe discomfort. Unmanaged pain can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and potentially worsen the patient’s condition. The adolescent is guarding the abdomen, which indicates severe pain possibly due to an underlying issue such as appendicitis or another serious abdominal pathology. The right lower quadrant pain and positive obturator sign suggest an acute abdomen, which could be life-threatening and requires urgent attention.
ii. Heart rate:
Priority: After addressing pain, the nurse should focus on the heart rate, which is elevated at 124 beats per minute (tachycardia). Tachycardia in this context could be a response to pain or an indication of infection, dehydration, or another serious underlying condition. Given that the temperature is slightly elevated (38°C or 100.4°F), there is a possibility of an infectious process, which could be contributing to both pain and the elevated heart rate.
Other Considerations:
- Nausea: Addressing nausea is important but secondary to the more urgent need to manage severe pain and evaluate cardiovascular stability.
- Bowel Movement: The last bowel movement was yesterday, and the patient does not report significant changes in bowel habits, making this less urgent than the acute symptoms.
- WBC Count: While it’s important to assess WBC count to check for infection, it’s part of a broader diagnostic workup that follows after addressing immediate symptoms.
- Decreased Appetite: This is a symptom of the underlying condition but is not as immediate a concern as pain and heart rate in the acute setting.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["B","C","E"]
Explanation
A. Measure the infant's head circumference. Measuring head circumference is a standard part of routine well-child exams and growth monitoring, but it is not directly relevant to the current diagnosis of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. The immediate clinical focus is on the gastrointestinal symptoms and associated dehydration.
B. Weigh the infant. Weighing the infant is crucial for monitoring weight loss and assessing hydration status. Infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis are at risk of dehydration and malnutrition due to frequent, forceful vomiting. Regular weight checks help in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment and the nutritional status of the infant.
C. Monitor intake and output. Monitoring intake and output is vital in this scenario to assess the infant's hydration status and kidney function. Given the forceful vomiting, there's a high risk of dehydration, as indicated by the dry mucous membranes, depressed fontanel, and reduced urine output. Accurate measurement helps guide fluid replacement therapy.
D. Offer small frequent feedings of thickened liquids. Offering feedings, even of thickened liquids, is inappropriate in this situation because the infant requires surgical intervention for pyloric stenosis. Continued feeding may exacerbate vomiting and dehydration. Instead, the infant should be kept NPO (nothing by mouth) to prepare for surgery and prevent further complications.
E. Evaluate serum electrolyte levels: Infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis often develop electrolyte imbalances such as hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and metabolic alkalosis due to prolonged vomiting. Evaluating serum electrolytes is essential to identify and correct these imbalances, which are critical to stabilizing the infant before surgical intervention.
F. Plan to administer a plain water enema. A plain water enema is not indicated and is inappropriate for treating hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. The issue is not related to bowel movements or lower gastrointestinal obstruction, but rather to the pyloric sphincter in the stomach, which requires surgical correction.
G. Implement contact precautions. Contact precautions are typically used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is not an infectious condition but a structural anomaly. Thus, there is no need for contact precautions in this context.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Test the urine for ketones. While testing for ketones can be part of illness management in diabetes, it is not as immediate an action as contacting a healthcare provider when blood glucose levels are very high.
B. Withhold insulin dose if feeling nauseous. Insulin should not be withheld due to nausea. It is important to maintain insulin to control blood glucose levels even when feeling unwell. Adjustments to insulin may be necessary based on blood glucose levels and food intake.
C. Notify the provider if blood glucose levels are over 350 mg/dL. Blood glucose levels over 350 mg/dL are concerning and may indicate the need for medical intervention to prevent complications like diabetic ketoacidosis. The healthcare provider should be notified.
D. Limit fluid intake during meal time. Adequate fluid intake is important, especially when blood glucose levels are high, to help prevent dehydration and facilitate glucose clearance. Limiting fluids is not appropriate.
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