A client with chronic kidney disease being hemodialyzed suddenly becomes short of breath and complains of chest pain. The client is tachycardic, pale, and anxious, and the nurse suspects air embolism. What are the priority nursing actions? (Select all that apply)

Administer oxygen to the client.

Continue dialysis at a slower rate after checking the lines for air.

Notify the primary health care provider (PHCP) and Rapid Response Team.

Stop dialysis, and turn the client on the left side with head lower than feet.

Bolus the client with 500 mL of normal saline to break up the air embolus.

Answer and Explanation

Correct Answer : A,C,D

Choice A reason: Administering oxygen improves oxygenation in air embolism, addressing hypoxia from chest pain and shortness of breath. This aligns with emergency dialysis protocols, making it a correct priority action the nurse would take to stabilize the client’s condition.

Choice B reason: Continuing dialysis, even slowly, risks worsening air embolism by introducing more air. Stopping dialysis is critical, making this incorrect, as it’s unsafe compared to the nurse’s priority of halting the procedure to prevent further embolism complications.

Choice C reason: Notifying the provider and Rapid Response Team ensures rapid intervention for air embolism, a life-threatening dialysis complication. This aligns with emergency protocols, making it a correct priority action the nurse would take to manage the client’s acute condition.

Choice D reason: Stopping dialysis and positioning the client on the left side with head down traps air in the right atrium, preventing pulmonary embolism. This is a standard intervention, making it a correct priority action for the nurse to address air embolism.

Choice E reason: Bolusing 500 mL saline doesn’t break up air emboli and risks fluid overload in kidney disease. Oxygen administration is appropriate, making this incorrect, as it’s ineffective compared to the nurse’s priority actions for managing air embolism.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Elevated creatinine is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease, reflecting reduced glomerular filtration rate. This aligns with renal function assessment, making it the correct finding the nurse would expect in a client with chronic kidney disease based on laboratory results.

Choice B reason: Decreased hemoglobin may occur in chronic kidney disease due to anemia, but it’s less specific than elevated creatinine, a direct renal marker. This is incorrect, as it’s secondary to the nurse’s primary expectation of creatinine elevation in kidney disease.

Choice C reason: Decreased red blood cell count accompanies anemia in kidney disease but is less direct than creatinine, which measures kidney function. This is incorrect, as it’s not the primary finding the nurse would expect compared to elevated creatinine levels.

Choice D reason: Increased white blood cells in urine suggest infection, not a universal finding in chronic kidney disease. Elevated creatinine is more consistent, making this incorrect, as it’s not the nurse’s primary expected lab result in kidney disease assessment.

A. Administering a cough suppressant as needed. B. Assisting the client to a prone position. C. Obtaining arterial blood gas values immediately after the procedure. D. Applying oxygen via nasal cannula.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Cough suppressants may reduce discomfort but don’t address hypoxia risk during thoracentesis in COPD exacerbation. Oxygen application ensures safety, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t prioritize respiratory support needed for the client undergoing a procedure affecting lung function.

Choice B reason: A prone position is unsafe for thoracentesis, which requires an upright or side-lying position to access pleural fluid. Oxygen supports breathing, making this incorrect, as it risks procedural complications compared to ensuring oxygenation for the COPD client’s safety.

Choice C reason: Arterial blood gases post-procedure assess respiratory status but aren’t the primary safety intervention during thoracentesis. Oxygen prevents hypoxia, making this secondary and incorrect compared to the immediate need for respiratory support in the COPD client undergoing the procedure.

Choice D reason: Applying oxygen via nasal cannula ensures adequate oxygenation during thoracentesis, critical for a COPD client with exacerbation prone to hypoxia. This aligns with procedural safety protocols, making it the correct intervention to maintain client safety during the pleural fluid removal.

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A client with chronic kidney disease being hemodialyzed suddenly becomes short of breath and complains of chest pain. The client is tachycardic, pale, and anxious, and the nurse suspects air embolism. What are the priority nursing actions? (Select all that apply)

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is reviewing a client’s record and notes that the primary health care provider has documented that the client has chronic kidney disease. On review of the laboratory results, the nurse most likely would expect to note which finding?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A client with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is scheduled for a thoracentesis. Which nursing intervention would be appropriate for client safety?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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