A nurse is caring for a 45-year-old male client on a medical-surgical unit.
Select 1 condition and 1 client finding to fill in each blank in the following sentence: The client is at highest risk for developing
The Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"C","dropdown-group-2":"E"}
The client is at highest risk for developing Pneumocystis pneumonia due to their CD4 T-cell count.
- Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic infection commonly seen in clients with AIDS, especially when the CD4 T-cell count drops below 200/mm³.
- This client’s CD4 count is around 198–200/mm³, placing them at high risk for PCP.
- Respiratory findings and oxygen saturation may help identify existing pneumonia but do not explain the risk as directly as CD4 count.
- Diarrhea and potassium level relate more to hydration and electrolyte balance, not directly to the risk of PCP.
- Impaired gas exchange or cardiac dysrhythmias are possible complications but secondary to infection risk from low immunity.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["B","C","D","E"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Assessing for increased calcium levels is not directly related to malnutrition in cancer patients. Malnutrition in cancer often involves deficits in various nutrients, and while electrolyte imbalances can occur, increased calcium is not a primary or universal indicator of malnutrition itself. It might be related to cancer processes like bone metastasis, but not the malnutrition specifically.
Choice B rationale
Encouraging mouth care before and after meals is crucial because it promotes oral hygiene and can improve the client's appetite and taste perception. Malnutrition often leads to oral discomfort, stomatitis, or altered taste, making food unappealing. Proper mouth care can alleviate these issues, thereby enhancing the client's willingness to eat and improving nutrient intake.
Choice C rationale
Advising the client to keep a food diary helps in accurately assessing their dietary intake. This objective record allows the nurse and other healthcare providers to identify patterns of consumption, quantify caloric and nutrient deficits, and tailor nutritional interventions more effectively. It provides valuable data for personalized care planning to address malnutrition.
Choice D rationale
Monitoring the client for changes in mental status is important because severe malnutrition, particularly deficiencies in certain vitamins (e.g., thiamine, B12) or significant electrolyte imbalances, can lead to neurological impairments. Altered mental status could indicate worsening nutritional status or complications requiring immediate intervention to prevent further deterioration.
Choice E rationale
Instructing the client to drink extra fluids between meals helps prevent early satiety that can occur if fluids are consumed with meals, which can reduce food intake. By consuming fluids between meals, the client can maintain hydration without compromising their ability to consume sufficient solid food, thus maximizing caloric and nutrient intake for malnutrition.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
While social distancing can help prevent transmission of various pathogens, for active tuberculosis, the primary focus for discharge teaching is adherence to the medication regimen. Social distancing alone is not sufficient to eradicate the mycobacterium from the individual, which requires comprehensive antimicrobial therapy.
Choice B rationale
Adherence to the medication regimen is paramount for clients with active tuberculosis. This ensures the complete eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, preventing drug resistance and recurrence. Non-adherence can lead to treatment failure, prolonged infectivity, and the development of multi-drug resistant strains, making future treatment more challenging.
Choice C rationale
Wearing a mask around family members is a crucial measure to prevent the airborne transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the home environment. The mask acts as a physical barrier, containing respiratory droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, or talking, thus reducing the risk of infection for close contacts.
Choice D rationale
While adequate hydration is generally beneficial for overall health, it is not a specific priority for discharge teaching in clients with active tuberculosis compared to medication adherence. Hydration does not directly impact the elimination of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the body or prevent its transmission.
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