A nurse is collecting data on a patient who has chronic kidney disease.
Which finding is a sign of hyperkalemia?

Choice A rationale:

Urinary retention is a condition where the bladder doesn’t empty all the way or at all when you urinate. This can lead to leakage of urine, as the bladder is overfilled and may result in small amounts of urine escaping. This symptom is often associated with urinary retention and is therefore a likely finding in a client with this condition.

Choice B rationale:

Dark-colored urine is not typically a direct symptom of urinary retention. It can be a sign of dehydration, certain dietary factors, or a side effect of some medications. While it’s possible for a person with urinary retention to have dark-colored urine, it’s not a specific or direct symptom of the condition.

Cloudy urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI), which can occur as a complication of urinary retention. However, it’s not a direct symptom of urinary retention itself. A nurse would not necessarily expect to see cloudy urine in a client with urinary retention unless a UTI or another complication was present.

Choice D rationale:

Blood in the urine, or hematuria, is not a typical symptom of urinary retention. It can be a sign of various conditions, including UTIs, kidney stones, or more serious conditions like bladder or kidney disease. While it’s possible for a person with urinary retention to have blood in their urine, it’s not a direct symptom of the condition.

Choice A rationale:

The stool guaiac test does not check for bacteria in the feces. This test is used to detect hidden (occult) blood in a stool sample. It is the most common type of fecal occult blood test (FOBT)1.

Choice B rationale:

The stool guaiac test does not check for fat in the feces. The presence of fat in the feces is usually checked by a different test called a fecal fat test. The stool guaiac test is specifically designed to detect the presence of hidden blood in the stool.

Choice C rationale:

The stool guaiac test does not check for parasites in the feces. Parasites are typically detected using a stool ova and parasites (O&P) test. The stool guaiac test is used to detect hidden blood in the stool, which could be an indication of various conditions, including colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum.

Choice D rationale:

The stool guaiac test checks for hidden blood in the feces. This is the correct answer. The test can find blood even if you cannot see it yourself. Occult blood in the stool may indicate colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum, though not all cancers or polyps bleed. If blood is detected through a fecal occult blood test, additional tests may be needed to determine the source of the bleeding. The stool guaiac test can only detect the presence or absence of blood — it can’t determine what’s causing the bleeding.