"My doctor said I have an autoimmune disease. What does that mean?" asks a client. How should the nurse respond?

A. Respiratory Function: Monitoring respiratory function is important for conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It involves assessing lung sounds, oxygen saturation levels, and breathing patterns. This monitoring is essential to detect any signs of respiratory distress.

B. Cardiac Function: Monitoring cardiac function includes assessing heart rate, blood pressure, and rhythm. It's crucial for patients with heart conditions like heart failure or arrhythmias. This monitoring helps in identifying irregularities in heart function and provides insights into the overall cardiovascular health of the patient.

C. Renal Function: Monitoring renal function involves assessing kidney health, which includes tests like serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This is vital for patients with kidney diseases or those taking medications that can impact kidney function. Monitoring renal function helps in detecting any signs of kidney impairment or failure.

D. Liver Function: Monitoring liver function involves tests like liver enzymes (AST, ALT), bilirubin levels, and albumin levels. This is essential for patients taking medications that can affect the liver, such as certain antifungals, statins, or pain relievers. Monitoring liver function helps in identifying liver damage or dysfunction early on.

A. "You have developed urticaria in response to something in your environment."
This statement is incorrect. Urticaria refers to hives, a skin rash usually caused by an allergic reaction, infection, or stress. It's not necessarily indicative of an autoimmune disease.

B. "Your immune system is creating antibodies that are destroying your own cells."
This statement is correct. Autoimmune diseases involve the immune system mistakenly attacking the body's own cells and tissues, leading to various health issues.

C. "Your immune system is not able to create antibodies to help you fight infection."
This statement is incorrect. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system is overactive, producing antibodies that target the body's own cells, not that it can't create antibodies.

D. "You have developed an infection that is destroying your immune cells."
This statement is incorrect. Infections don't typically destroy immune cells; instead, infections often stimulate the immune system to respond and fight against invading pathogens.