A nurse is preparing to administer warfarin to a client who has chronic atrial fibrillation. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor prior to administering the medication?

Choice A Reason:

Measuring the client's intake and output every 8 hours is a general nursing intervention but might not be specifically pertinent to managing viral meningitis.

Choice B Reason:

Dim the lighting in the client's room is correct. Meningitis often causes sensitivity to light (photophobia) due to the inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Dimming the lighting in the client's room helps reduce discomfort and sensitivity to light, which is a common symptom of meningitis.

Choice C Reason:

Monitoring the client's temperature every 6 hours is a routine nursing practice, but in viral meningitis, more frequent temperature monitoring might be necessary, especially if the client shows signs of fever or instability.

Choice D Reason:

Initiating contact precautions for viral meningitis is not typically necessary because it's usually transmitted through respiratory secretions. Standard precautions for infection control, including proper hand hygiene, are usually sufficient.

Choice A Reason:
Polyuria is incorrect. Peritonitis doesn’t directly influence urine output. Polyuria (increased urine production) is more commonly associated with conditions affecting the kidneys or diabetes mellitus rather than peritonitis.
Choice B Reason:
Peripheral edema is incorrect. Peritonitis typically involves abdominal symptoms and signs rather than peripheral issues like edema. Edema can be related to heart, kidney, or circulatory system problems, but it's not a typical manifestation of peritonitis.
Choice C Reason:
Decreased respirations is incorrect. Peritonitis can cause pain and discomfort, which might affect the depth of breathing or result in shallow breathing due to guarding against abdominal pain. However, decreased respirations as a specific finding wouldn't commonly be expected in peritonitis. Pain might cause shallow breathing, but it wouldn't lead to a consistent decrease in respiratory rate.
Choice D Reason:
Absent bowel sounds is correct. Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity. This condition often leads to the loss or significant reduction of bowel sounds due to the irritation and inflammation of the abdominal structures.