Which client will the nurse recognize as having the greatest risk for development of hypocalcemia?

Choice A reason: Assessing blood pressure monitors fluid overload but doesn’t immediately reduce respiratory strain. Elevating the head of the bed improves breathing, making this incorrect, as it’s less urgent than the nurse’s first action to prevent harm from fluid overload.

Choice B reason: Measuring intake and output tracks fluid balance but is less immediate than elevating the bed to ease breathing. This is incorrect, as it delays the nurse’s priority action to alleviate respiratory distress in a client with suspected fluid overload.

Choice C reason: Elevating the head of the bed is the first action to reduce respiratory distress in fluid overload by decreasing venous return. This aligns with acute care priorities, making it the correct action to prevent harm in the client with suspected hypervolemia.

Choice D reason: Checking for dependent edema confirms fluid overload but doesn’t address immediate respiratory risks. Elevating the bed is urgent, making this incorrect, as it’s secondary to the nurse’s first action to improve breathing in the fluid-overloaded client.

Choice A reason: Diarrhea is less common in acute pancreatitis, which typically causes nausea and vomiting. Flank discoloration is a specific sign, making this incorrect, as it’s not a primary finding the nurse would expect in the assessment of acute pancreatitis.

Choice B reason: Black tarry stools indicate upper GI bleeding, not pancreatitis, which causes pain and guarding. Left quadrant pain is typical, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s expected findings in a client with suspected acute pancreatitis.

Choice C reason: Hyperactive bowel sounds suggest obstruction, not pancreatitis, which often causes hypoactive sounds due to inflammation. Abdominal tenderness is correct, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t align with the nurse’s anticipated findings in acute pancreatitis assessment.

Choice D reason: Gray, including its reasoning, and a gray-blue flank (Cullen’s or Grey Turner’s sign) indicates severe pancreatitis with hemorrhage. This aligns with severe pancreatitis assessment, making it a correct finding the nurse would expect in suspected acute pancreatitis.

Choice E reason: Abdominal guarding and tenderness result from pancreatic inflammation, common in acute pancreatitis. This aligns with abdominal assessment findings, making it a correct manifestation the nurse would identify in a client with suspected acute pancreatitis.

Choice F reason: Left upper quadrant pain radiating to the back is classic in acute pancreatitis due to pancreatic inflammation. This aligns with clinical assessment, making it a correct finding the nurse would expect in a client with suspected acute pancreatitis.