The nurse is continuing to care for the client. 

Exhibits

The nurse is reviewing the assessment findings.

For each assessment finding, click to specify if the finding is consistent with preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome. Each finding may support more than one disease process.

Rationale:

A. Sore throat: A sore throat may indicate agranulocytosis, a serious adverse effect of clozapine that results in dangerously low white blood cell counts. Early signs include fever, sore throat, and malaise. This requires immediate reporting and evaluation with a complete blood count.

B. Tinnitus: Tinnitus is not a known or common adverse effect of clozapine. While bothersome, it is not typically associated with the hematologic or metabolic risks posed by this antipsychotic medication.

C. Rhinitis: Although rhinitis can occur with many medications, it is not a serious or expected side effect of clozapine requiring urgent attention. Mild nasal symptoms are usually self-limiting and not indicative of life-threatening complications.

D. Headache: Headaches are common and nonspecific symptoms that may result from various causes. Unless severe or persistent, they do not typically indicate a dangerous reaction to clozapine and are not prioritized over signs of infection.

Rationale:

A. Administer diuretics: The client's symptoms, moist lung sounds, bounding pulse, elevated blood pressure, and pitting edema indicate fluid volume overload. Administering prescribed diuretics is the priority intervention to rapidly reduce intravascular and interstitial fluid volume and relieve pulmonary congestion.

B. Limit the client's fluid intake: Fluid restriction helps manage ongoing fluid retention but does not address the immediate concern of volume overload. It is a supportive measure rather than the initial priority in acute decompensated heart failure.

C. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter: While catheterization may help monitor output, it does not treat the underlying fluid excess. Inserting a catheter without addressing the fluid accumulation first does not provide immediate symptom relief.

D. Place the client on a low-sodium diet: A low-sodium diet is important for long-term management of heart failure, but it does not provide the prompt fluid removal needed in this acute situation. Immediate diuresis is necessary to reduce cardiac workload and respiratory distress.