Exhibits
Click to highlight the assessment findings that require IMMEDIATE follow-up by the nurse.
The client is a 68-year-old with a history of diabetes, hypertension (HTN), coronary artery disease (CAD), and recently diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ERSD). She has been on hemodialysis three times a week for one month and presents to the emergency department (ED) with:
- Fatigue
- Generalized weakness
- Muscle cramps
- Tingling sensation in her arms and legs
- Lightheadedness
She also reports having missed her scheduled dialysis for the past 2 days, coupled with complaints of nausea, poor appetite, and an inability to attend the dialysis sessions.
Initial Vital Signs:
- Blood Pressure: 146/82 mmHg
- Heart Rate: 114 bpm
- Respiratory Rate: 18 bpm
- SpO₂: 98% on room air
- Temperature: 98.2 °F (36.8 °C) orally
Muscle cramps
Tingling sensation in her arms and legs
Lightheadedness
Fatigue
68-year-old with a history of diabetes, hypertension
Blood Pressure: 146/82 mmHg
Heart Rate: 114 bpm
Temperature: 98.2 °F
The Correct Answer is ["A","B","C"]
The assessment findings that require immediate follow-up by the nurse are: muscle cramps, tingling sensation in arms and legs, and lightheadedness.
These are signs of electrolyte imbalance, which can be caused by missed dialysis sessions, dehydration, or infection. Electrolyte imbalance can lead to serious complications such as cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, or coma.
The nurse should monitor the client's vital signs, neurological status, and cardiac rhythm, and notify the physician for further orders. The nurse should also assess the client's fluid status, hydration, and nutritional intake, and provide education on the importance of adhering to the dialysis schedule and dietary restrictions.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Requesting backup from the staff may be necessary if the situation escalates further, but it is not the initial action to take. Providing for personal space and attempting to de-escalate the situation should come first.
Choice B rationale:
Standing in the doorway may not be the most effective approach because it doesn't actively address the client's agitation or attempt to de-escalate the situation.
Choice C rationale:
Providing personal space is an important initial intervention when dealing with an agitated client. This approach helps maintain safety for both the nurse and the client and can reduce the perception of threat or intrusion.
Choice D rationale:
Encouraging the client to sit down may be a helpful de-escalation technique, but it should come after providing for personal space to ensure safety and reduce tension.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Postponing the interview until the next day may not be necessary and could delay necessary assessment and care.
Choice B rationale:
Documenting the client's paranoid behavior is important but should be done after the nurse attempts to engage with the client.
Choice C rationale:
Attempting to ask the client simple questions is a non-threatening approach that allows the nurse to start the assessment and establish some rapport. It respects the client's need for space while initiating communication.
Choice D rationale:
Asking another nurse to talk with the client may be an option later if the client remains uncooperative, but the nurse should first attempt to engage with the client directly.
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