How will the nurse assess for flank tenderness in a patient with suspected pyelonephritis?

Percuss between the iliac crest and ribs at the midaxillary line.

Push fingers upward into the two lowest intercostal spaces.

Palpate along both sides of the lumbar vertebral column.

Strike a flat hand covering the costovertebral angle (CVA).

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A rationale
Percussion between the iliac crest and ribs at the midaxillary line is not the standard method for assessing flank tenderness associated with pyelonephritis. This technique may not elicit the characteristic pain of kidney inflammation.

Choice B rationale
Pushing fingers upward into the two lowest intercostal spaces is not a specific test for flank tenderness and may not accurately assess for pyelonephritis. This action is more related to assessing the integrity of the rib cage and intercostal muscles.

Choice C rationale
Palpating along both sides of the lumbar vertebral column is not the correct method for assessing flank tenderness due to pyelonephritis. This approach is more suited for assessing the musculoskeletal structure rather than the kidneys.

Choice D rationale
Striking a flat hand over the costovertebral angle is the correct method for assessing flank tenderness in cases of suspected pyelonephritis. This technique, known as costovertebral angle tenderness, elicits pain when the kidneys are inflamed, which is a common sign of pyelonephritis.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale
The red blood cell (RBC) count is not typically affected by hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is a process that primarily targets the removal of waste products and excess fluid from the blood, not red blood cells.

Choice B rationale
Potassium levels are often elevated in clients with renal failure due to the kidneys' inability to excrete potassium. Hemodialysis helps to remove excess potassium from the bloodstream, thereby decreasing its levels.

Choice C rationale
Calcium levels can be affected by hemodialysis; however, they are more often managed with medication and diet rather than being directly targeted by the dialysis process itself.

Choice D rationale
Protein levels should not decrease significantly as a result of hemodialysis. The dialysis membrane is designed to allow small waste products to pass through while retaining larger molecules like proteins.

A. Calcium level B. Neurologic status C. Cardiac rhythm D. Urine volume

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A rationale
Monitoring calcium levels is important after administering calcium gluconate IV, but it is not the primary indicator of the medication's effectiveness in treating hyperkalemia. Calcium gluconate is used in hyperkalemia to stabilize the heart muscle, not to correct calcium levels.

Choice B rationale
Neurologic status may be affected by hyperkalemia, but changes in neurologic status are not the most direct measure of calcium gluconate's effectiveness. The medication's primary role is to address cardiac risks associated with high potassium levels.

Choice C rationale
Cardiac rhythm is the most critical aspect to monitor after administering calcium gluconate for hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias, and calcium gluconate works by stabilizing the cardiac membrane, thus the effectiveness of the treatment is directly reflected in the stabilization of the cardiac rhythm.

Choice D rationale
While urine volume can indicate kidney function and might indirectly reflect changes in potassium levels, it is not the direct measure of calcium gluconate's effectiveness in the emergency treatment of hyperkalemia.

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How will the nurse assess for flank tenderness in a patient with suspected pyelonephritis?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory data of a client following a hemodialysis treatment. The nurse should expect to find a decrease in which of the following laboratory values?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A patient who has is hospitalized with hyperkalemia. Which information will the nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of the acute glomerulonephritis prescribed calcium gluconate IV?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

How will the nurse assess for flank tenderness in a patient with suspected pyelonephritis?

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