A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new colostomy.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take when demonstrating how to change the ostomy appliance?

Choice A rationale:

Acetone breath is a symptom of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a complication of diabetes mellitus. It occurs due to the presence of ketones in the breath and is not specific to hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is characterized by low blood sugar levels, not elevated ketone levels.

Choice B rationale:

Confusion is a common symptom of hypoglycemia. When blood sugar levels drop significantly, the brain may not receive enough glucose to function properly, leading to confusion, dizziness, and other neurological symptoms.

Choice C rationale:

Polydipsia refers to excessive thirst and is a symptom of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), not hypoglycemia. In hyperglycemic states, the body tries to eliminate excess glucose through urine, leading to increased thirst.

Choice D rationale:

Hot, dry skin is not a typical symptom of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can cause diaphoresis (excessive sweating) and cool, clammy skin due to the body's stress response.

The correct answer is D.

Choice A reason: “A. Using this machine increases my risk of overdose.” This statement is incorrect because PCA pumps are designed with safety mechanisms to prevent overdose. The pump is programmed to deliver a specific dose of medication at set intervals, and it will not dispense more medication than what is prescribed by the healthcare provider.

Choice B reason: “B. I can get pain medication any time as long as I press the button.” While it is true that the patient can self-administer medication, PCA pumps have a lockout interval that prevents the machine from delivering another dose until a certain amount of time has passed, ensuring that the patient cannot receive medication too frequently.

Choice C reason: “C. My partner can press my pain medication button for me if I am sleeping.” This statement is incorrect. Only the patient should press the button on the PCA pump to ensure that the medication is administered safely and according to the patient’s current level of pain. Allowing someone else to press the button could lead to unsafe dosing.

Choice D reason: “D. I will receive a limited amount of pain medication when I press the button.” This is the correct statement. The PCA pump allows the patient to administer a controlled amount of pain medication within safe limits set by the healthcare provider. The pump is programmed to deliver a specific dose of medication, and there is a limit to the number of doses that can be administered per hour.