The patient is complaining of severe flank pain when he tries to urinate. His urinalysis shows sediment and crystals along with a few bacteria. Using this information along with the clinical picture, the nurse realizes that the patient’s condition is
- A. prerenal.
- B. postrenal.
- C. intrarenal.
- D. not renal related.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: intrarenal. The presence of sediment, crystals, and bacteria in the urinalysis indicates an issue originating within the kidney itself. This suggests a problem like a urinary tract infection or kidney stone causing the severe flank pain. Prerenal and postrenal conditions usually involve issues outside the kidney such as dehydration or urinary tract obstruction, which are not supported by the urinalysis findings. Choice D, not renal related, is incorrect as the symptoms and urinalysis results clearly point towards a renal issue.
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What nursing strategies help families cope with the stress of critical illness? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Asking the family to leave during the morning bath to promote the patient’s privacy.
- B. Encouraging family members to make notes of questio ns they have for the physician during family rounds.
- C. When possible, providing continuity of nursing care.
- D. Providing a daily update of the patient’s condition to the family spokesperson.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Encouraging family members to make notes of questions they have for the physician during family rounds. This strategy helps families cope with the stress of critical illness by empowering them to stay informed and actively participate in the patient's care. By encouraging them to make notes, it promotes effective communication with the healthcare team and ensures that their concerns and questions are addressed promptly.
Other choices are incorrect:
A: Asking the family to leave during the morning bath to promote the patient’s privacy is not a helpful strategy for coping with stress as it may lead to feelings of isolation and lack of involvement in the patient's care.
C: Providing continuity of nursing care is important but may not directly address the family's coping mechanisms during a critical illness.
D: Providing a daily update of the patient’s condition to the family spokesperson is valuable but may not fully address the family's need for active participation and communication with the healthcare team.
What must the patient must be able of in order to provide informed consent?
- A. Be capable of independent breathing.
- B. Have knowledge and competence to make the decision .
- C. Nod head to agree to the procedure.
- D. Both read and write in English.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because informed consent requires the patient to have knowledge and competence to make a decision. This involves understanding the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the proposed treatment. Choice A is incorrect as it pertains to a physical ability unrelated to decision-making. Choice C is incorrect as consent must be verbal or written, not just nodding. Choice D is incorrect as consent can be obtained in various ways, not specifically through reading and writing in English.
The critical care unit environment is very stressful for patients, families, and staff. What nursing action is directed at reducing environmental stress?
- A. Constant evaluation of patient status
- B. Limiting visits to immediate family
- C. Bathing all patients during hours of sleep
- D. Maintaining quiet during hours of sleep
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Maintaining quiet during hours of sleep. This action is essential in reducing environmental stress in the critical care unit as it promotes a restful environment for patients and allows for better sleep quality. Noise can disrupt sleep patterns and increase stress levels. Constant evaluation of patient status (A) is important but does not directly address environmental stress. Limiting visits to immediate family (B) can be beneficial in some cases but may not always reduce environmental stress. Bathing all patients during hours of sleep (C) may actually increase stress as it can be disruptive and uncomfortable for patients. Overall, maintaining a quiet environment during sleep hours is the most effective nursing action to reduce environmental stress in the critical care unit.
What is the nurse’s priority intervention when a terminally ill patient reports severe breakthrough pain?
- A. Offer a warm compress to the painful area.
- B. Administer a prescribed PRN opioid analgesic.
- C. Reassess pain level after 2 hours.
- D. Provide distraction techniques to the patient.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Administer a prescribed PRN opioid analgesic. This is the priority intervention because severe breakthrough pain requires immediate relief, and opioids are the most effective for managing severe pain in terminally ill patients. Warm compresses (A) may provide some comfort but do not address the underlying pain. Reassessing pain after 2 hours (C) delays necessary relief. Distraction techniques (D) are not appropriate for severe breakthrough pain as they do not directly address the pain itself. Administering the prescribed opioid analgesic promptly is crucial for providing timely and effective pain management in this situation.
When assessing the patient for hypoxemia, the nurse recognizes what as an early sign of the effect of hypoxemia on the cardiovascular system?
- A. Heart block
- B. Restlessness
- C. Tachycardia
- D. Tachypnea
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Tachycardia. Hypoxemia results in decreased oxygen levels in the blood, stimulating the body to increase heart rate to improve oxygen delivery. Tachycardia is an early sign of the cardiovascular system compensating for hypoxemia. Heart block (A) is a disruption in the electrical conduction within the heart and is not directly related to hypoxemia. Restlessness (B) is a non-specific sign and can be caused by various factors. Tachypnea (D) is an increased respiratory rate, which is a response to hypoxemia but not a direct effect on the cardiovascular system.