A nurse is planning care for a client who has long-term liver cirrhosis and a new diagnosis of abdominal ascites. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care to prevent complications?

Administer furosemide.

Weigh the client weekly.

Offer the client a high-sodium diet.

Administer heparin.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Answer: A. Administer furosemide.

Rationales

A. Administer furosemide.
Furosemide, a loop diuretic, helps reduce fluid overload by promoting urinary excretion of sodium and water. In a client with cirrhosis and ascites, it decreases abdominal distention, eases breathing by reducing pressure on the diaphragm, and prevents complications related to severe fluid accumulation.

B. Weigh the client weekly.
Weekly weights would not provide sufficient monitoring for a client with ascites, since fluid retention can change rapidly within hours or days. Daily weights are necessary to detect subtle increases in fluid status and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

C. Offer the client a high-sodium diet.
A high-sodium diet would worsen fluid retention and ascites, as sodium promotes water retention. Instead, a low-sodium diet is indicated to limit further fluid buildup in the peritoneal cavity.

D. Administer heparin.
Heparin is not a standard intervention for cirrhosis with ascites. Because the diseased liver produces fewer clotting factors, clients are already at risk for bleeding, and anticoagulant therapy would heighten this risk without addressing the underlying problem of fluid accumulation.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

A decrease in NG tube drainage indicates that the client's stomach contents are not being aspirated excessively, which suggests that the IV fluids are effectively maintaining fluid volume balance. This finding is positive because it shows that the client is retaining the fluids they need, and it may also indicate improved gastrointestinal function and decreased risk of dehydration.

Choice B rationale:

The potassium level of 3.3 mEq/L (milliequivalents per liter) is low. The normal range for potassium is typically between 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. Hypokalemia (low potassium) can result from various factors and may cause muscle weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and other complications. It is not a finding that indicates the effectiveness of fluid volume balance therapy.

Choice C rationale:

An increased heart rate may suggest that the client is experiencing fluid volume deficit or other physiological stress. It is not a finding that indicates the effectiveness of fluid volume balance therapy.

Choice D rationale:

A hematocrit level of 46% is within the normal range for adult males (typically around 38.8% to 50%) and indicates the proportion of red blood cells in the blood. While it can provide information about blood viscosity and hydration status, it does not directly indicate the effectiveness of fluid volume balance therapy.

A. A defined area of cool, boggy skin. B. A shallow crater involving the epidermis. C. Reddened area that does not blanch. D. Undermining or tunneling of the skin.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

A defined area of cool, boggy skin is not indicative of a stage 2 pressure injury. Stage 2 pressure injuries involve partial-thickness skin loss, usually appearing as a shallow open ulcer with a red-pink wound bed, without slough or bruising.

Choice B rationale:

A shallow crater involving the epidermis is characteristic of a stage 2 pressure injury. It presents as a partial-thickness skin loss with the loss of the epidermis, and the wound may be superficial and appear as an abrasion, blister, or shallow ulcer.

Choice C rationale:

The reddened area that does not blanch is more indicative of an early-stage pressure injury (Stage 1). In Stage 1, the skin remains intact, but there is non-blanch-able erythema indicating damage to the skin and underlying tissue.

Choice D rationale:

Undermining or tunneling of the skin is not specific to stage 2 pressure injuries. These features may be observed in more advanced stages of pressure injuries, such as stages 3 and 4, where there is full-thickness skin loss with damage to the subcutaneous tissue and underlying structures.

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A nurse is planning care for a client who has long-term liver cirrhosis and a new diagnosis of abdominal ascites. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care to prevent complications?

Answer: A. Administer furosemide.

Rationales

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a client who has an NG tube to suction and is receiving IV fluids to maintain fluid volume balance. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that this therapy is effective?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is completing an admission assessment of a client. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a stage 2 pressure injury?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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