A nurse is planning care for a patient with gout.
What nursing intervention should be included in the plan of care for this patient?
Encourage the patient to consume a diet high in purines.
Administer diuretics to help eliminate excess uric acid.
Provide education on dietary modifications to reduce purine intake.
Instruct the patient to avoid hydration to prevent uric acid buildup.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
"Encourage the patient to consume a diet high in purines." Encouraging a high-purine diet is not appropriate for a patient with gout.
High-purine foods can lead to increased uric acid levels, exacerbating gout symptoms.
The goal is to reduce purine intake.
Choice B rationale:
"Administer diuretics to help eliminate excess uric acid." While diuretics can increase uric acid levels in some cases, they are not typically administered as a primary treatment for gout.
In fact, certain diuretics can exacerbate gout symptoms by raising uric acid levels.
They are usually avoided or used cautiously in gout management.
Choice D rationale:
"Instruct the patient to avoid hydration to prevent uric acid buildup." Instructing the patient to avoid hydration is not appropriate and can be harmful.
Proper hydration is essential for gout management because it helps flush excess uric acid from the body.
Dehydration can lead to increased uric acid concentration in the blood and may worsen gout symptoms.
Questions
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
"Acetaminophen" is the appropriate alternative for pain relief in a client with gout who is allergic to NSAIDs and cannot take corticosteroids.
Acetaminophen is a non-prescription pain reliever that can be used for pain management in gout and is not known to exacerbate gout symptoms.
Choice B rationale:
"Aspirin" is generally not recommended for gout pain relief because it may interfere with uric acid excretion and potentially worsen gout symptoms.
Choice C rationale:
"Ibuprofen" is an NSAID and may not be suitable for a client allergic to NSAIDs.
Choice D rationale:
"Naproxen" is also an NSAID and is not suitable for a client allergic to NSAIDs.
Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
"Chronic gouty arthritis." Chronic gouty arthritis is a potential complication of gout, but it is not the highest priority when discussing potential risks with the client.
Kidney stones and kidney damage (nephrolithiasis) are more concerning complications due to their impact on overall health.
Choice B rationale:
"Tophi formation in joints and soft tissues." Tophi formation is a complication of gout and can lead to joint deformities and limited mobility.
While it is important to address, kidney stones and kidney damage pose a more immediate and severe threat to the client's well-being.
Choice C rationale:
"Joint deformities and limited mobility." This is a valid concern, but kidney stones and kidney damage (nephrolithiasis) should be prioritized when discussing potential complications of gout because they can have more serious systemic consequences.
Choice D rationale:
"Kidney stones or kidney damage (nephrolithiasis)." This is the correct choice.
Kidney stones and kidney damage can result from the deposition of urate crystals in the kidneys, which is a complication of gout.
These complications can lead to significant health issues and should be prioritized in discussions with the client.
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