The nurse is educating a patient with iron deficiency anemia about food sources high in iron and how to enhance the absorption of iron when eating these foods. What can the nurse inform the client would enhance the absorption?

Choice A reason: Hypercalcemia is not associated with ulcerative colitis, which affects the colon and causes diarrhea. Bloody stools are typical, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s expected findings in a client with ulcerative colitis during assessment.

Choice B reason: Hypernatremia may occur with dehydration but isn’t specific to ulcerative colitis. Frequent bloody stools are hallmark signs, making this incorrect, as it’s not a primary finding compared to the nurse’s expected manifestations in ulcerative colitis diagnosis.

Choice C reason: Frothy, fatty stools indicate malabsorption, typical in Crohn’s or pancreatic issues, not ulcerative colitis. Bloody stools are correct, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t align with the nurse’s anticipated findings in a client with ulcerative colitis.

Choice D reason: Bloody stool is a classic finding in ulcerative colitis due to mucosal inflammation and ulceration. This aligns with gastrointestinal assessment, making it a correct finding the nurse would determine is consistent with the client’s ulcerative colitis diagnosis.

Choice E reason: 10 to 20 liquid stools daily reflect severe diarrhea, a key feature of ulcerative colitis exacerbations. This aligns with clinical manifestations, making it a correct finding the nurse would identify in a client diagnosed with ulcerative colitis during assessment.

Choice F reason: Right lower quadrant pain is more typical of Crohn’s or appendicitis, not ulcerative colitis, which affects the left colon. Left quadrant pain is correct, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t support the nurse’s findings for ulcerative colitis diagnosis.

Choice G reason: Left lower quadrant pain is consistent with ulcerative colitis, as inflammation often affects the sigmoid colon. This aligns with abdominal assessment, making it a correct finding the nurse would expect in a client with ulcerative colitis during evaluation.

Choice A reason: Testing skin turgor assesses dehydration, not severe hyponatremia (118 mEq/L), which affects neurological status. Assessing cognition detects complications, making this incorrect, as it’s less critical than the nurse’s priority of monitoring for hyponatremia’s neurological and fluid effects.

Choice B reason: Assessing cognition is critical with a sodium level of 118 mEq/L, as severe hyponatremia causes confusion or seizures. This aligns with neurological assessment, making it a correct action the nurse should perform to prevent harm in the hyponatremic client.

Choice C reason: Monitoring urine output tracks fluid balance, vital in hyponatremia to assess for SIADH or fluid overload. This aligns with renal assessment, making it a correct action the nurse should perform to prevent harm in the client with severe hyponatremia.

Choice D reason: Checking deep tendon reflexes detects neurological changes from hyponatremia, such as hyporeflexia or seizures. This aligns with neurological monitoring, making it a correct assessment the nurse should perform to prevent harm in the client with a sodium of 118 mEq/L.

Choice E reason: Abdominal pain is unrelated to hyponatremia, which primarily affects the brain and fluid balance. Monitoring urine output is more relevant, making this incorrect, as it’s not a priority assessment for the nurse to prevent harm in the hyponatremic client.

Choice F reason: Fever may indicate infection but isn’t directly linked to hyponatremia’s neurological risks. Assessing cognition is critical, making this incorrect, as it’s less urgent than the nurse’s focus on preventing harm from severe hyponatremia’s neurological complications.