Which focused assessment technique should the nurse use for a client admitted with possible dehydration?

Measure the circumference of the calf.

Grasp skin fold of the posterior forearm.

Check hands for parchment-like appearance.

Press skin over a bony prominence.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Rationale:
A. Measure the circumference of the calf: Measuring calf circumference is used primarily to assess for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or edema, not dehydration. It evaluates for swelling but does not give information about the client’s hydration status.

B. Grasp skin fold of the posterior forearm: Checking skin turgor by grasping and gently pulling a fold of skin on the posterior forearm is a standard method to assess for dehydration. Poor turgor, where the skin remains tented, suggests fluid volume deficit and supports a diagnosis of dehydration.

C. Check hands for parchment-like appearance: A parchment-like appearance of the hands is more related to normal aging changes rather than acute dehydration. It reflects thinning of the skin rather than fluid status, and could lead to misinterpretation if used for hydration assessment.

D. Press skin over a bony prominence: Pressing over bony prominences checks for edema or pitting rather than skin elasticity. While edema can coexist with dehydration in complex cases, evaluating turgor is a more direct and sensitive technique for diagnosing dehydration.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Rationale:
A. Assess the elasticity of the client's skin: Skin elasticity, or turgor, is useful for evaluating hydration status, especially in older adults. However, it does not address the client’s immediate complaints of nocturnal dyspnea, sweating, and tachycardia, which are potentially life-threatening signs of worsening heart failure.

B. Auscultate the client's breath sounds: Awakening with dyspnea, sweating, and a racing heartbeat are classic symptoms of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, often seen in decompensated heart failure. Auscultating the lungs can quickly detect crackles or pulmonary congestion, providing critical information needed to prioritize urgent interventions.

C. Ask about any environmental allergies: Environmental allergies can cause nighttime breathing issues like nasal congestion, but the combination of cold sweats and tachycardia points more toward a cardiovascular cause rather than an allergic reaction, making this a less urgent assessment initially.

D. Measure the client's core temperature: While fever can indicate infection, it is less likely to explain the sudden onset of dyspnea and palpitations in a client with known heart failure. Addressing possible pulmonary congestion through breath sound assessment takes precedence to prevent further cardiac compromise.

A. An overactive bladder B. A cloudy discharge. C. A weak urinary stream. D. Black tarry stools.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Rationale:
A. An overactive bladder: Overactive bladder typically presents with urgency, frequency, and sometimes incontinence, but it does not usually cause suprapubic tenderness or the sensation of incomplete bladder emptying. These symptoms are more consistent with urinary retention or bladder outlet obstruction.

B. A cloudy discharge: Cloudy urinary discharge is more indicative of a urinary tract infection (UTI) rather than urinary retention. While infections can cause some bladder discomfort, the client’s description points more specifically to mechanical urinary issues rather than infection.

C. A weak urinary stream: A weak urinary stream is commonly associated with bladder outlet obstruction, often due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in older males. The combination of suprapubic tenderness and the feeling of incomplete emptying aligns with urinary retention caused by obstruction, making this the expected additional finding.

D. Black tarry stools: Black tarry stools are usually a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly from the upper GI tract. They are unrelated to urinary symptoms and would not explain suprapubic tenderness or voiding difficulties described by the client.

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Which focused assessment technique should the nurse use for a client admitted with possible dehydration?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

An older adult client with a history of heart failure (HF) comes to the clinic troubled by awakening during the night in a cold sweat, accompanied by difficulty breathing, and a racing heart beat. Which assessment should the nurse complete first?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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