A client is receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis since the arteriovenous (AV) graft in the right arm is no longer available for use for hemodialysis. The client has lost weight, has increasing peripheral edema, and has a serum albumin level of 1.5 g/dL (15 g/L). Which intervention is the priority for the nurse to implement?
Serum Albumin Reference Range: 3.5 to 5.5 g/dL (35 to 55 g/L)
Recommend the use of support stockings to enhance venous return
Ensure the client receives frequent small meals containing complete proteins
Evaluate patency of the AV graft for resumption of hemodialysis
Instruct the client to continue to follow the prescribed rigid fluid restriction amounts
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Support stockings may help with peripheral edema, but they are not the priority intervention for this client. The client's low serum albumin level indicates malnutrition and increased risk of infection and poor wound healing.
Choice B reason: This is the correct answer because the client needs adequate protein intake to maintain serum albumin levels and prevent further complications. Complete proteins contain all nine essential amino acids that the body cannot synthesize and are found in animal sources such as meat, eggs, and dairy products.
Choice C reason: Evaluating patency of the AV graft is not the priority intervention for this client because the client is receiving peritoneal dialysis, not hemodialysis. The AV graft may be used in the future if peritoneal dialysis fails, but it is not an immediate concern.
Choice D reason: Instructing the client to follow fluid restriction amounts is important for peritoneal dialysis patients, but it is not the priority intervention for this client. The client's low serum albumin level indicates that fluid restriction alone is not sufficient to manage fluid balance and prevent edema.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Yellow-tinged sputum is not a critical finding for the nurse to report, as this is a common sign of pneumonia and does not indicate an adverse reaction to meropenem. This is a distractor choice.
Choice B reason: Nausea and headache are not urgent findings for the nurse to report, as these are mild side effects of meropenem and can be managed with supportive measures. This is another distractor choice.
Choice C reason: Watery diarrhea is an important finding for the nurse to report, as this can indicate a serious complication of meropenem, such as Clostridioides difficile infection, which can cause severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and sepsis. Therefore, this is the correct choice.
Choice D reason: Increased fatigue is not a significant finding for the nurse to report, as this can be related to the client's underlying condition and does not suggest a problem with meropenem. This is another distractor choice.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Keeping the bed in the lowest position and initiating seizure and fall precautions is not an immediate action for the nurse to take. Seizure and fall precautions are measures that prevent injury or harm to the client in case of a seizure or a fall. Seizure and fall precautions include lowering the bed, padding the side rails, removing any objects that may cause injury, and having suction and oxygen equipment ready. However, these precautions are not specific to the client's condition and do not address the underlying cause.
Choice B reason: Placing an indwelling urinary catheter and measuring strict intake and output is not an urgent action for the nurse to take. An indwelling urinary catheter is a tube that drains urine from the bladder into a collection bag. Measuring intake and output is a way of monitoring fluid balance and kidney function. However, these interventions are not essential for the client's condition and may increase the risk of infection or trauma.
Choice C reason: Maintaining elevated positioning of the dependent joints on affected side is not a relevant action for the nurse to take. Dependent joints are joints that are below the level of the heart, such as the ankles or wrists. Elevating dependent joints can help reduce swelling or pain by improving blood flow and drainage. However, this intervention is not related to the client's condition and does not improve neurological function.
Choice D reason: This is the correct answer because starting two large bore IV catheters and reviewing inclusion criteria for IV fibrinolytic therapy is a critical action for the nurse to take. IV catheters are devices that allow access to the bloodstream for fluid or medication administration. Fibrinolytic therapy is a treatment that dissolves blood clots that may block blood flow to vital organs, such as the brain or heart. The client's symptoms suggest a possible stroke, which is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted, causing brain tissue damage or death. The nurse should start two large bore IV catheters in case one fails or becomes occluded, and review inclusion criteria for IV fibrinolytic therapy, such as onset of symptoms, blood pressure, blood glucose, coagulation status, and history of bleeding or trauma, to determine if the client is eligible for this potentially life-saving treatment.
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