A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who is using a diaphragm to prevent pregnancy. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

Rationale:

A. Arterial blood gases: While ABGs assess respiratory and metabolic balance, they are not routinely monitored for clients on furosemide. This test is more relevant for clients with severe respiratory or acid-base disorders, not as a direct indicator of diuretic therapy effects.

B. Blood urea nitrogen: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can affect kidney function by reducing circulating blood volume. Monitoring BUN helps assess renal perfusion and detect early signs of dehydration or nephrotoxicity associated with diuretic use.

C. Prothrombin time: PT evaluates coagulation status, typically in clients taking anticoagulants like warfarin. Furosemide does not affect clotting pathways, so PT monitoring is unnecessary in this context unless the client is on anticoagulants for another condition.

D. Thyroid stimulating hormone: TSH measures thyroid function but is not influenced by furosemide. There is no established link between furosemide and thyroid activity that would necessitate routine TSH monitoring for clients taking this medication.

Rationale:

A. Urinary retention: Urinary retention is a potential side effect of epidural anesthesia due to blockade of sacral nerves, not necessarily a sign of unrelieved pain. It may occur even if pain is well managed, especially with regional anesthetics affecting bladder function.

B. Restlessness: Restlessness is a common behavioral indicator of unrelieved pain. When verbal reporting is limited or unreliable, restlessness may reflect discomfort, agitation, or anxiety related to inadequate pain control following procedures such as epidural administration.

C. Difficulty swallowing: Difficulty swallowing is not associated with pain from a herniated disc or the effects of an epidural. It may instead suggest upper airway or neurologic issues and should prompt assessment for complications unrelated to pain control.

D. Constipation: Constipation is more commonly linked to opioid use or immobility rather than unrelieved pain. While discomfort may contribute, constipation alone does not reliably indicate the adequacy of pain relief in clients receiving an epidural.