An adolescent who is brought to the emergency department (ED) with a fever and persistent lower right quadrant abdominal pain is anxious, fearful, and hyperventilating.
The nurse anticipates the client developing which acid-base imbalance?

Choice A rationale:

Granulating tissue in a foot ulcer is a positive sign of wound healing, but it may not be directly related to the effectiveness of pregabalin in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The primary goal of pregabalin in this context is to reduce pain and neuropathic symptoms.

Choice B rationale:

A reduced level of pain is the most relevant indicator of the effectiveness of pregabalin in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Pregabalin is an antiepileptic medication used to manage neuropathic pain. A decrease in pain indicates that the medication is effectively managing the client's symptoms.

Choice C rationale:

Improved visual acuity is not directly related to the effectiveness of pregabalin in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Pregabalin primarily targets neuropathic pain and sensory symptoms, not visual function.

Choice D rationale:

A full volume of pedal pulses is a positive sign of adequate circulation in the lower extremities, but it may not be directly related to the effectiveness of pregabalin in treating neuropathy symptoms. The primary goal of pregabalin in this context is pain management.

- A terminally ill client is a client who has a progressive and incurable disease or condition that is expected to result in death within a short period of time, such as months or weeks. A terminally ill client may require palliative care, which is the care that focuses on relieving pain and suffering and improving the quality of life for the client and their family.

- An admission assessment is the process of collecting information about a client's health status, needs, preferences, and goals when they are admited to a health care facility, such as a hospital, nursing home, or hospice. An admission assessment helps to establish a baseline for the client's condition, plan and implement appropriate interventions, and evaluate the outcomes of care.

- A health care proxy is a legal document that allows a client to appoint another person, such as a family member or a friend, to make health care decisions for them if they become unable to do so themselves. A health care proxy may also include specific instructions or preferences about the type and extent of care that the client wishes to receive or refuse, such as life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation, or organ donation.

- Health care proxy documentation is an important information that the practical nurse (PN) should collect during the admission assessment of a terminally ill client to an acute care facility, as it reflects the client's autonomy, dignity, and wishes regarding their end-of-life care. It also helps to ensure that the client's healthcare decisions are respected and followed by the healthcare team and the facility.

- Therefore, option A is the correct answer, while options B, C, and D are incorrect.

Option B is incorrect because the name of the funeral home to contact is not relevant or necessary for the admission assessment of a terminally ill client, as it does not affect their health status or care plan.

Option C is incorrect because the client's wishes regarding organ donation may be included in their health care proxy documentation, but they are not required or essential for the admission assessment of a terminally ill client.

Option D is incorrect because the contact information for the client's next of kin may be useful for communication and support purposes, but it is not as important as the health care proxy documentation for the admission assessment of a terminally ill client.