An older male client reports nocturia with difficulty starting his urine stream. Which additional assessment should the nurse perform to obtain further data related to this information?

Choice A reason: Keeping pressure on the abdomen and coughing is incorrect for diaphragmatic breathing, which enhances lung expansion, not airway clearance. Coughing is for post-drainage. The client’s incorrect technique (abdominal expansion on exhalation) requires correction, as this reverses mechanics, reducing ventilation efficiency in conditions like COPD.

Choice B reason: The client’s technique is incorrect, expanding the abdomen on exhalation, not inhalation, reducing diaphragmatic efficacy. Confirming it as correct is wrong, as it impairs lung expansion. Demonstrating proper technique corrects the error, ensuring effective breathing to improve oxygenation, addressing the physiological need for ventilation.

Choice C reason: Documenting success is inaccurate, as the client’s technique is reversed, expanding the abdomen on exhalation. Diaphragmatic breathing requires inhalation expansion to lower the diaphragm, increasing lung capacity. Correcting the technique via demonstration ensures proper mechanics, not documenting an ineffective method that hinders ventilation.

Choice D reason: Demonstrating proper diaphragmatic breathing corrects the client’s error of exhalation expansion. Inhaling expands the abdomen via diaphragmatic descent, increasing tidal volume; exhaling relaxes it. This optimizes ventilation, addressing the need for effective breathing in conditions requiring enhanced lung function, ensuring the client learns the correct technique.

Choice A reason: A red blood cell count of 3.5 x 10⁶/µL indicates anemia from myelosuppression, reducing oxygen transport. RBCs do not fight infection, so this does not support “risk for infection.” Low WBCs impair immune defense, increasing infection susceptibility, making WBC count more relevant to the nursing problem in this context.

Choice B reason: A WBC count of 1,500/mm³ indicates severe leukopenia from myelosuppression, reducing neutrophil production. This impairs immune response, significantly raising infection risk, as pathogens overwhelm the body’s defenses. This lab value directly supports “risk for infection,” necessitating precautions like isolation or antibiotics to prevent opportunistic infections.

Choice C reason: Hematocrit of 33% reflects anemia in myelosuppression, lowering oxygen delivery. This causes fatigue but does not increase infection risk, as RBCs are not immune cells. WBCs, particularly neutrophils, are critical for infection defense, making low WBC count more relevant to the nursing problem than hematocrit.

Choice D reason: Hemoglobin of 10 g/dL indicates anemia, reducing oxygen-carrying capacity in myelosuppression. This does not directly increase infection risk, as hemoglobin is not involved in immunity. Low WBCs compromise pathogen defense, making WBC count the key value supporting “risk for infection” in this client’s care plan.