A nurse is caring for a client who has cancer and is being transferred to hospice care. The client's daughter tells the nurse, "I'm not sure what to say to my mom if she asks me about dying." Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate? (Select all that apply.)

Rationale:

A. Blood pressure: The reading of 162/112 mm Hg meets the criteria for severe hypertension in pregnancy, which increases the risk of complications such as preeclampsia, placental abruption, and stroke.

B. Urine ketones: Ketones are negative, which rules out dehydration or starvation ketosis. Ketones would be more concerning if elevated alongside hyperemesis or gestational diabetes.

C. Fetal activity: Decreased fetal movement at 31 weeks may indicate fetal hypoxia or distress and requires urgent evaluation with nonstress testing or biophysical profiling.

D. Respiratory rate: The client’s respiratory rate of 16/min is within the normal range (12–20/min) and does not indicate respiratory distress or a complication.

E. Report of headache: A severe, persistent headache that is unrelieved by acetaminophen is a classic warning sign of central nervous system involvement in preeclampsia and may precede seizures (eclampsia).

F. Urine protein: The presence of 3+ proteinuria indicates significant renal involvement, supporting a diagnosis of preeclampsia, particularly when paired with hypertension and neurologic symptoms.

G. Gravida/parity: While a history of preterm birth is a known risk factor, her current symptoms point toward preeclampsia rather than complications directly linked to her obstetric history.

Rationale:

A. Anemia: End-stage kidney disease reduces erythropoietin production by the kidneys, which impairs red blood cell formation in the bone marrow. This often leads to normocytic, normochromic anemia in affected clients.

B. Oliguria: As kidney function declines, urine output diminishes. Oliguria, defined as urine output less than 400 mL/day, is a common clinical feature of advanced kidney failure due to decreased glomerular filtration.

C. Hypotension: Clients with end-stage kidney disease more commonly experience hypertension due to fluid overload and impaired renin-angiotensin-aldosterone regulation. Hypotension may occur during dialysis but is not a typical baseline finding.

D. Bradypnea: Respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis in kidney disease typically results in tachypnea, not bradypnea. The body increases respiratory rate to blow off excess CO₂ and correct the acid-base imbalance.

E. Edema: Impaired fluid excretion leads to sodium and water retention, resulting in peripheral, facial, or pulmonary edema. This is a hallmark feature of volume overload in chronic kidney disease.