A client is admitted to the emergency room with renal colic due to renal lithiasis (stones). What is the nurse's highest priority in managing care for this client?
Prepare the client for lithotripsy to break up the stones.
Order a renal ultrasound to assess for the presence and location of the stones.
Administer pain medication as prescribed.
Initiate intravenous (IV) fluid therapy.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Preparing the client for lithotripsy is important for treatment but is not the immediate highest priority in an emergency setting. Immediate pain management takes precedence.
Choice B rationale
Ordering a renal ultrasound is necessary for assessing the stones but comes after stabilizing the client's acute symptoms, including managing pain.
Choice C rationale
Administering pain medication as prescribed is the highest priority because renal colic causes severe pain. Immediate pain relief is crucial for the client's comfort and to facilitate further diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
Choice D rationale
Initiating IV fluid therapy is important for hydration and possibly aiding stone passage but follows after addressing the acute pain.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice B rationale
Potassium levels should be reviewed before administering furosemide. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause significant potassium loss through increased urine output. Monitoring potassium is crucial to prevent hypokalemia, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and other serious complications.
Choice A rationale
Bicarbonate levels are not directly impacted by furosemide use and are less critical to review in this context. While they are important in assessing acid-base balance, they are not the primary concern when administering furosemide.
Choice C rationale
Phosphate levels are not typically affected by furosemide and are not the main focus before administration. Monitoring phosphate might be important in other scenarios, but it is not directly relevant here.
Choice D rationale
Carbon dioxide levels are more relevant to respiratory function and acid-base balance but are not directly impacted by furosemide. The focus should be on monitoring electrolytes, particularly potassium, to prevent complications from diuretic therapy.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Measuring blood pressure manually is important in assessing the patient's hemodynamic status, but it is not the priority intervention in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The priority is to address dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Choice B rationale
Administering intravenous fluids is the priority intervention for a client with DKA. Rapid, deep respirations (Kussmaul breathing) indicate severe metabolic acidosis and dehydration. IV fluids help to correct fluid deficit, improve perfusion, and decrease blood glucose levels.
Choice C rationale
Oxygen therapy may be beneficial if the client is hypoxic, but it is not the priority intervention for DKA. The primary issue is fluid deficit and metabolic acidosis.
Choice D rationale
Administering subcutaneous insulin is essential for managing hyperglycemia in DKA, but it should be done after initiating IV fluids to avoid rapid shifts in electrolyte balance.
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