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A nurse is caring for a client who has Addison's disease and is at risk for Addisonian crisis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A.

Administer oral corticosteroids.

B.

Weigh the client daily.

C.

Provide a low-carbohydrate diet.

D.

Restrict fluid intake

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A. Administering corticosteroids is crucial during an Addisonian crisis but typically involves intravenous corticosteroids (not oral) during the crisis to quickly restore hormone levels. Oral corticosteroids are part of regular maintenance therapy but not an immediate intervention in the crisis.

B. Weighing the client daily is important to monitor for potential fluid loss, dehydration, or weight changes related to Addison's disease and Addisonian crisis. Clients with Addison’s disease may experience fluid and electrolyte imbalances, so daily weight tracking helps detect early signs of fluid shifts, which are critical in crisis prevention and management.

C. A low-carbohydrate diet is not recommended for clients with Addison’s disease, as they may need a balanced diet with sufficient carbohydrates to prevent hypoglycemia.

D. Fluid intake should not be restricted; rather, maintaining adequate hydration is vital. Clients in Addisonian crisis are often at risk for dehydration due to fluid losses and low aldosterone levels, making fluid replacement essential.


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Infusing hypotonic fluids such as 0.45% sodium chloride can exacerbate hyponatremia in a client with SIADH by further diluting serum sodium levels.
B. Desmopressin acetate is a synthetic form of ADH and would exacerbate the symptoms of SIADH by increasing water reabsorption and further diluting serum sodium levels.
C. Increasing dietary sodium intake would not be appropriate for a client with SIADH, as it would contribute to further fluid retention and exacerbate hyponatremia.
D. Fluid restriction is a key component of managing SIADH to prevent further water retention and dilutional hyponatremia. Restricting fluid intake helps to normalize serum sodium levels by allowing excess water to be excreted.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Metabolic Alkalosis, Partially Compensated, is incorrect because there is no evidence of respiratory compensation (normal PaCO2).
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated, is incorrect because the pH is high, not low as would be expected in acidosis, and the PaCO2 is normal, not high.
C. Respiratory Alkalosis, Uncompensated, is incorrect because the primary problem is metabolic (high HCO3), not respiratory, and the PaCO2 is normal, not low as would be seen in respiratory alkalosis.
D. Metabolic alkalosis is characterized by elevated pH and bicarbonate levels. In this scenario, the pH is elevated (7.5) and the bicarbonate (HCO3) level is high (34 mmol/L), indicating alkalosis. Vomiting leads to loss of gastric acid (hydrochloric acid), causing metabolic alkalosis. The respiratory system has not yet compensated fully for the alkalosis, as indicated by the normal PaCO2 (40 mm Hg).

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