A client with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been on hemodialysis for 3 years. The client chooses to discontinue dialysis, and to begin receiving hospice services at home with day-to-day care provided by family members. The hospice nurse performs an assessment on the client 7 days after the client last received a dialysis treatment. Which assessment finding would not be expected for this client?
Pruritis
Lethargy
Polyuria
Uremic frost
The Correct Answer is C
A. This is a common symptom of uremia, which is the buildup of waste products in the blood due to kidney failure. It is expected in a patient with ESRD who has discontinued dialysis.
B. As the body accumulates waste products, fatigue and lethargy are common symptoms of uremia. This is expected in a patient with ESRD who has discontinued dialysis.
C. Polyuria is excessive urination. With kidney failure, the kidneys are unable to concentrate urine, leading to oliguria or anuria, not polyuria. Therefore, polyuria would not be expected in this patient.
D. This is a white, crystalline deposit on the skin caused by the accumulation of urea and uric acid. It is a sign of severe uremia and would be expected in a patient with ESRD who has discontinued dialysis.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. While this medication is used to treat hyperkalemia, it is a slower acting treatment. Given the patient's critical condition with altered mental status, hyperkalemia, and elevated BUN, a more rapid intervention is needed.
B. Fluid resuscitation is important in some cases of AKI but it is not the priority in this patient. The patient is already showing signs of fluid overload (crackles in the lungs) and the primary issue is the inability of the kidneys to remove waste products and excess fluids.
C. This is the most appropriate treatment for this patient. RRT, such as hemodialysis or continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), can rapidly remove waste products, excess fluid, and electrolytes from the blood, correcting the imbalances and improving the patient's condition.
D. This medication is used for long-term management of hyperkalemia, but it is not effective in an acute setting like this.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. This method is the most reliable for measuring fluid retention. Weight changes are a direct indicator of fluid balance because fluid retention or loss affects body weight. By comparing the client's current weight to their post-dialysis weight, you can determine the amount of fluid they have retained.
B. Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels are indicators of kidney function rather than fluid volume status. Elevated levels can indicate worsening kidney function but do not directly measure fluid retention or overload.
C. While assessing skin turgor and peripheral edema can provide some clues about fluid overload, these signs are less precise and subjective compared to weight measurements. Skin turgor changes and edema can be influenced by various factors, including skin elasticity and other conditions, making them less reliable for accurately measuring fluid volume changes since the last dialysis.
D. Crackles in lung sounds can indicate pulmonary congestion due to fluid overload, but this method is not as precise for quantifying the amount of fluid retained. Crackles suggest fluid accumulation in the lungs, which is a sign of more severe fluid overload but does not provide a specific measurement of fluid volume compared to changes in body weight.
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