A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving furosemide to treat heart failure. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor for this client?

a. Position the client flat in bed: This position may increase pressure on the abdomen and exacerbate ascites. The head of the bed should be elevated to enhance respiratory function.

b. Weigh the client weekly: Weighing the client daily is more appropriate to monitor fluid retention and assess the effectiveness of interventions.

c. Medicate the client with acetaminophen for discomfort: While acetaminophen can be used for pain relief, its use should be monitored closely due to the potential for liver toxicity in clients with cirrhosis.

d. Measure the client’s abdominal girth every 8 hours: Monitoring abdominal girth is crucial for assessing the degree of ascites and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.

b. Paralytic ileus: Absence of bowel sounds, abdominal distention, and no passage of flatus are characteristic signs of paralytic ileus, which is a temporary impairment of bowel motility following surgery.

c. Health care-associated Clostridium difficile: Clostridium difficile infection is associated with diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. The absence of bowel sounds and abdominal distention is not consistent with C. difficile infection.

d. Fecal impaction: Fecal impaction is characterized by a blockage of hardened stool in the

rectum or colon, leading to difficulty passing stool. It may cause abdominal discomfort, but it does not typically present with the absence of bowel sounds and abdominal distention seen in paralytic ileus.