After an older client receives treatment for drug toxicity, the healthcare provider prescribes a 24-hour creatinine clearance test. Prior to starting the urine collection, the nurse notes that the client's serum creatinine is 0.3 mg/dL (22.9 μmol/L). Which action should the nurse implement?
Creatinine [Reference Range: 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL (44 to 97 μmol/L)]
Initiate the urine collection as prescribed.
Evaluate the client's serum BUN level.
Notify the healthcare provider of the results.
Assess the client for signs of hypokalemia.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale: Initiating the urine collection without reporting the low serum creatinine is inappropriate. A value of 0.3 mg/dL is below the reference range and may indicate significant muscle wasting or severe malnutrition.
Choice B rationale: Evaluating the BUN level provides information about hydration and renal perfusion, but it does not address the immediate clinical significance of an abnormally low creatinine level in an older adult client.
Choice C rationale: The nurse must notify the provider because a creatinine level of 0.3 mg/dL is abnormally low. In older adults, this often reflects low muscle mass, which significantly impacts how drug dosages are calculated.
Choice D rationale: Assessing for hypokalemia is not directly indicated by a low creatinine level. While electrolyte monitoring is important in drug toxicity, it is not the priority action linked to this specific lab finding.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The client's history of lung cancer, persistent hoarseness, chronic cough, and labored respirations when speaking indicate potential respiratory complications. Coarse breath sounds may suggest the presence of airway obstruction or fluid accumulation in the lungs, which can be indicative of a worsening condition.
The nurse should intervene promptly by assessing the client's respiratory status further, providing appropriate respiratory support, and notifying the healthcare provider for further evaluation and intervention.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Tertiary prevention programs focus on minimizing the impact of an existing disease or condition and preventing further complications or disability. In the context of cardiovascular disease, one of the goals of tertiary prevention is to provide prompt rehabilitation for clients who have incurred disease complications.
By ensuring that clients who experience complications promptly receive rehabilitation services, the program is effectively addressing the needs of these clients and providing appropriate interventions to minimize the long-term impact of the disease. This outcome indicates that the program is successful in providing the necessary care and support to clients with cardiovascular disease.
Client relapse rate of 30% in a 5-year community-wide anti-smoking campaign focuses on primary prevention rather than tertiary prevention.
At-risk clients receiving an increased number of routine health screenings may be an indicator of improved secondary prevention efforts, but it does not specifically measure the effectiveness of the tertiary prevention program for clients with cardiovascular disease.
Clients reporting new confidence in making healthy food choices is a positive outcome but does not directly reflect the effectiveness of the tertiary prevention program for cardiovascular disease.
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