The nurse is caring for a client with elevated parathyroid hormone levels. Which safety precaution should the nurse include in the plan of care?

The nurse should:

1. Raise the head of the bed to aid in breathing.
2. Change to a face mask for oxygen delivery to address hypoxia.

The nurse should monitor:

1. Lung sounds to assess the progression of pneumonia.
2. Oxygen saturation to ensure the patient is receiving adequate oxygen.

Choice A reason: Increasing IV fluids is important in the care of pneumonia patients to prevent dehydration, especially if the patient has fever and increased respiratory rate which can lead to fluid loss. However, in this case, the patient’s blood pressure is stable, and there is no indication of dehydration, so this would not be the immediate action.

Choice B reason: Raising the head of the bed can help improve the patient’s breathing by reducing pressure on the chest and aiding in lung expansion. This is a standard care practice for patients with respiratory difficulties and is particularly beneficial for those with pneumonia to facilitate easier breathing.

Choice C reason: Bronchodilator nebulization can help open airways and improve breathing in patients with respiratory conditions. While it may be used in the treatment of pneumonia, it is not the primary intervention for hypoxia.

Choice D reason: Changing to a face mask for oxygen delivery is a critical intervention for a patient experiencing hypoxia. The patient’s oxygen saturation is 88% on 2 L/minute via nasal cannula, which is below the normal range of 95-100%3. A face mask can deliver higher concentrations of oxygen, which is necessary to address the patient’s hypoxia.

Choice E reason: Calling a rapid response team is necessary if the patient’s condition is deteriorating rapidly and requires immediate medical intervention. In this scenario, while the patient is hypoxic, there is no indication of acute decompensation that would necessitate a rapid response team at this moment.

Choice F reason: Pneumothorax, or collapsed lung, would present with sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. The patient’s history and symptoms are more consistent with pneumonia rather than pneumothorax.

Choice G reason: Hypoventilation refers to decreased breathing efficiency, leading to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. While the patient does have difficulty breathing, the primary issue seems to be the impaired oxygen exchange due to pneumonia, rather than hypoventilation.

Choice H reason: Atelectasis is the collapse of part of the lung, which can occur after surgery or with bedridden patients. This patient’s symptoms are more indicative of an infectious process rather than atelectasis.

Choice I reason: Hypoxia is a condition where the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. Given the patient’s low oxygen saturation level and bilateral lower lobe pneumonia, hypoxia is the most likely condition the patient is experiencing.

Choice J reason: Monitoring lung sounds is essential for assessing the effectiveness of treatment and progression of pneumonia. Diminished lung sounds can indicate poor air movement due to the infection.

Choice K reason: Changes in the level of consciousness can indicate worsening hypoxia and should be monitored closely. A decrease in consciousness can be a sign of inadequate brain oxygenation.

Choice L reason: Oxygen saturation is a direct measure of the patient’s respiratory status and should be monitored to assess the effectiveness of oxygen therapy and overall progression.

Choice M reason: While heart rhythm should be monitored in all patients, it is not the most specific parameter for assessing the progression of pneumonia or hypoxia.

Choice N reason: Temperature should be monitored to assess for fever, which can indicate infection or inflammation. However, it is not as directly related to respiratory function as oxygen saturation and lung sounds are in the context of pneumonia.

Choice A Reason: Hypoglycemia refers to low blood sugar levels, typically below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L). The client’s fasting blood glucose level is 122 mg/dL (6.8 mmol/L), which is above the normal range, thus ruling out hypoglycemia.

Choice B Reason: Diabetes mellitus is diagnosed when the fasting blood glucose level is 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher on two separate tests1. The client’s level is slightly below this threshold, suggesting that he does not currently have diabetes mellitus but is at risk.

Choice C Reason: Prediabetes is indicated by a fasting blood glucose level of 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L)1. The client’s level falls within this range, indicating that he has higher than normal blood glucose levels but not high enough to be classified as diabetes, hence prediabetes.

Choice D Reason: Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and is not applicable to this male client.

Option i Reason: Fatty liver disease is not directly indicated by the laboratory results provided and is typically associated with elevated liver enzymes and imaging findings.

Option ii Reason: Occupational factors are not directly related to the fasting blood glucose levels.

Option iii Reason: Lack of insulin production is a characteristic of type 1 diabetes, which is not indicated by the client’s fasting blood glucose level alone.

Option iv Reason: Impaired glucose tolerance is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. It is a characteristic of prediabetes and is indicated by the client’s fasting blood glucose level.