The client is a 29-year-old with a history of type 1 diabetes from the age of 6. She controls her blood glucose with an insulin pump and uses a continuous glucose monitor.

The client was out of town, and her insulin pump was damaged.

She had forgotten her back-up long-acting insulin at home, so she took the 6-hour drive home.

By the time she arrived at home, she was having nausea and vomiting.

Her blood glucose meter read over 500 mg/dL (27.8 mmol/L). She took a dose of insulin glargine and took herself to the emergency room.

The nurse is drawing an arterial blood gas to evaluate the client post treatment.

Complete the following sentence by choosing from the lists of options.

A pH level of

dropdown

and HCO3- level of

dropdown

indicate a resolution of ketoacidosis.

Choice A rationale:

Encouraging the client to face their fear gradually is an appropriate nursing intervention for a client with a phobia. This approach is consistent with exposure therapy, which is a widely recognized and effective treatment for phobias. Exposure therapy involves gradually exposing the client to the feared object or situation in a controlled and supportive environment. By doing so, the client can learn to confront and manage their fear over time. This approach is evidence-based and helps the client build resilience and reduce anxiety.

Choice B rationale:

Administering benzodiazepines as needed for acute anxiety (Choice B) is not the first-line treatment for phobias. While benzodiazepines can provide temporary relief from anxiety symptoms, they do not address the underlying phobia and can lead to dependence and tolerance with prolonged use. Moreover, they are generally reserved for acute anxiety episodes and not considered a primary treatment for phobias.

Choice C rationale:

Providing psychoeducation about the causes and effects of phobias (Choice C) is a valuable component of treatment, but it alone may not be sufficient. Psychoeducation can help clients understand the nature of their phobia and reduce stigma, but it should be combined with evidence-based therapies like exposure therapy for comprehensive care.

Choice D rationale:

Teaching the client relaxation techniques to manage anxiety (Choice D) can be a helpful adjunct to treatment, but it is not the primary intervention for phobias. Relaxation techniques can be part of a broader strategy to reduce anxiety, but the client also needs exposure therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy to address the phobia directly.

Choice A rationale:

Tenderness is not considered a normal finding during percussion of the abdomen. Tenderness suggests an underlying issue or inflammation in the abdominal area, which requires further evaluation and investigation.

Choice B rationale:

Musical and drumlike sounds are considered normal findings during percussion of the abdomen. These sounds indicate the presence of air-filled structures like the stomach or intestines. Normal abdominal percussion sounds are tympanic, and they are characterized by a hollow, drum-like quality when the abdomen is tapped lightly. This finding suggests that there are no significant abnormalities in the abdominal area.

Choice C rationale:

Absent sounds during abdominal percussion are not considered normal and may indicate a potential problem. Absent sounds could be due to factors such as bowel obstruction or severe constipation, which require further assessment and intervention.

Choice D rationale:

Pain during abdominal percussion is not considered a normal finding. It indicates discomfort or tenderness in the abdominal area, which requires further evaluation to determine the underlying cause.