Prescribed: Potassium chloride 40 mEq PO every 12 hours.

Available: Potassium chloride elixir 6.7 mEq/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round and record the answer to the nearest whole number.

Choice A rationale

Bright red blood in the urine, especially in large amounts or clots, after a cystoscopy is an abnormal finding. While some pink-tinged urine is expected, significant bright red bleeding can indicate hemorrhage or bladder wall injury requiring immediate medical intervention to prevent complications.

Choice B rationale

Urinary frequency is a common and expected finding after a cystoscopy due to irritation of the bladder mucosa from the procedure. This typically resolves within a day or two as the bladder recovers from instrumentation.

Choice C rationale

Pink-tinged urine is considered a normal and expected finding after a cystoscopy. The procedure involves instrumentation of the urethra and bladder, which can cause minor trauma to the mucosal lining, leading to a small amount of blood in the urine.

Choice D rationale

Burning on urination, also known as dysuria, is a common and expected sensation after a cystoscopy due to irritation and inflammation of the urethra and bladder from the scope. This discomfort usually subsides within 24 to 48 hours.

Choice A rationale

While fluid intake influences kidney function, directly stating creatinine levels become more stable yet unpredictably useful is not the primary benefit related to UTI. Creatinine levels reflect kidney function and are typically stable within a normal range (0.6-1.2 mg/dL) but are not directly stabilized by hydration in the context of UTI prevention.

Choice B rationale

Increased fluid intake does not make kidneys less irritable; rather, it helps to dilute the urine. Allowing bacteria to colonize and multiply is the opposite effect of adequate hydration in a UTI context. Hydration actively works to prevent bacterial stasis and proliferation, not encourage it.

Choice C rationale

Stating hydration status is not beneficial is scientifically incorrect in the context of urinary tract health and UTIs. Hydration is a cornerstone of UTI management and prevention. High caloric intake is unrelated to the primary benefit of fluid intake for UTIs and does not enhance the flushing mechanism.

Choice D rationale

Adequate fluid intake increases urine production, which in turn dilutes the concentration of bacteria and their adherence factors in the bladder. This increased urine volume promotes frequent voiding, mechanically flushing out bacteria from the urinary tract before they can adhere to the bladder wall and establish a significant infection.