An older adult client, who is insulin-dependent, arrives at the diabetic clinic with concerns of thick, crusty, and long toenails that are piercing the adjacent toes. Which action should the nurse take?
Cut the nails straight across, then soak the feet for 10 minutes in an antibiotic solution.
Check the client’s feet for cuts or injury, then refer to a foot specialist for nail trimming.
Soak the feet in warm water for 5 minutes, then cut the nails straight across.
Advise the client to soften the nails with lotion prior to cutting them.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Cutting nails and soaking in antibiotic solution risks infection in insulin-dependent diabetes, where neuropathy impairs sensation and healing. Thick nails may be fungal, needing specialist care. Checking for injuries and referring to a podiatrist ensures safe management, preventing ulcers in high-risk diabetic feet.
Choice B reason: Checking for cuts assesses diabetic foot risk, as neuropathy and poor glycemic control impair healing. Thick nails piercing toes require podiatrist trimming to prevent trauma or infection. Referral ensures expert care, addressing pathophysiological risks of neuropathy and vascular impairment, preventing serious complications like ulcers.
Choice C reason: Soaking and cutting nails is risky in diabetes, as neuropathy increases injury risk, and warm water may introduce infection in unnoticed wounds. Fungal nails need specialist care. Referral to a podiatrist ensures safe trimming, preventing infection in compromised feet, making this action unsafe.
Choice D reason: Advising lotion to soften nails does not mitigate injury risk from trimming thick nails in diabetes. Neuropathy and poor healing increase infection risk from errors. Specialist referral ensures safe nail management, preventing trauma or ulceration, critical in diabetic foot care due to vascular deficits.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Going to the ER for glucose is unnecessary unless hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis is confirmed. Type 1 diabetes with nausea risks hyperglycemia from stress hormones like cortisol. Monitoring glucose and fluids manages the condition at home, preventing escalation unless severe symptoms arise, making this instruction premature.
Choice B reason: Drinking regular cola introduces high sugar, risking hyperglycemia in type 1 diabetes, where insulin deficiency impairs glucose uptake. Stress from illness elevates glucose via glucagon. Monitoring with non-sugar fluids prevents dehydration and ketoacidosis, making this advice dangerous and ineffective for diabetes management.
Choice C reason: Monitoring blood glucose and drinking fluids is critical in type 1 diabetes during illness. Nausea reduces intake, and stress hormones raise glucose, risking ketoacidosis. Frequent checks guide insulin adjustments, and fluids prevent dehydration, maintaining metabolic stability, addressing the physiological needs of insulin deficiency and infection.
Choice D reason: Avoiding insulin risks diabetic ketoacidosis, as type 1 diabetes requires basal insulin despite nausea. Illness increases glucose via stress hormones, even without food. Monitoring allows tailored dosing, preventing hyperglycemia, making this instruction harmful, as it ignores ongoing insulin needs for metabolic control.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Positioning the sterile field at hip level maintains sterility but is not specific to uncircumcised clients. Cleaning the meatus before retracting the foreskin prevents infection by removing bacteria first. This is secondary, per infection control and catheterization procedure standards in nursing practice.
Choice B reason: Cleaning the meatus before retracting the foreskin removes bacteria, reducing infection risk in uncircumcised clients. This sequence ensures sterility before exposing sensitive areas, critical for preventing urinary tract infections, per evidence-based catheterization and infection control protocols in urological nursing care.
Choice C reason: Wiping the meatus in backward strokes is incorrect, as circular strokes from meatus outward are standard to avoid contamination. Cleaning before retracting the foreskin is critical for infection prevention. This violates sterile technique, per catheterization and infection control standards in nursing.
Choice D reason: Advancing the catheter before inflating the balloon is standard but not specific to uncircumcised clients. Cleaning the meatus first addresses foreskin-related infection risks. Balloon inflation timing is universal, per indwelling catheter insertion and urological care protocols in nursing practice.
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