The nurse is assessing a newly admitted client diagnosed with left ventricular failure.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect during the assessment?

Choice A rationale

Right-sided heart failure with thickened heart muscle refers specifically to the impaired filling capacity due to diastolic dysfunction. Diastolic dysfunction affects the filling phase, not the pumping phase. It may involve one side or both sides but is not explicitly described as right and left-sided diastolic in this context.

Choice B rationale

Right-sided systolic heart failure affects the pumping ability, while diastolic affects filling. Both conditions together do not explain the thickened myocardium impairing filling. A combination of systolic and diastolic failure typically includes both pumping and filling abnormalities rather than isolated thickening with poor filling.

Choice C rationale

Right-sided diastolic failure results from impaired ventricular relaxation and thickened myocardium, leading to reduced filling capacity. This type of failure involves the heart's inability to accommodate blood during diastole, consistent with the description of thickened heart muscle and poor filling on the right side.

Choice D rationale

Right-sided systolic failure involves impaired contractility and pumping of blood to the lungs, not poor filling caused by thickened muscle. Systolic dysfunction decreases the heart's output rather than affecting the filling phase described in this scenario.

Choice A rationale

Teaching preventive measures is important for reducing recurrence of urinary tract infections (UTIs). These measures may include proper hydration, perineal hygiene, and urinating after intercourse. However, addressing preventive strategies is a long-term consideration and not the immediate priority for managing the active infection or preventing acute complications.

Choice B rationale

Preventing progression to complications is the priority in lower UTIs to avoid upper urinary tract involvement, such as pyelonephritis. This involves timely antibiotic administration and monitoring for signs like fever, flank pain, or worsening urinary symptoms. Pyelonephritis can lead to systemic complications like sepsis, making prevention critical to client safety.

Choice C rationale

Educating about treatment, such as the prescribed antibiotics and their potential side effects, ensures adherence and understanding. While valuable, it does not take precedence over immediate measures to halt disease progression or complications. Education supports long-term management but follows urgent clinical priorities.

Choice D rationale

Pain management is essential for comfort, addressing dysuria or pelvic pain associated with UTIs. Methods include analgesics like phenazopyridine. However, it is a supportive measure rather than a critical intervention for preventing complications, making it secondary to stopping the progression of the infection.