chapter 49 Flashcards
The nurse is caring for a client who has had an insertion of an arteriovenous graft (AVG)
in the right forearm and has symptoms of pain and coldness of the right fingers. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Elevate the client’s arm above the level of the heart.
b. Report the client’s symptoms to the health care provider.
c. Remind the client about the need to take a daily low-dose Aspirin tablet.
d. Educate the client about the normal vascular response after AVG insertion.
B
The client’s complaints suggest the development of distal ischemia (steal syndrome) and
may require revision of the AVG. Elevation of the arm above the heart will decrease
perfusion. Pain and coolness are not normal after AVG insertion. Aspirin therapy is not
used to maintain grafts.
The nurse is caring for a client with acute kidney injury (AKI) who has an arterial blood
pH of 7.30. Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse anticipate?
a. Vasodilation
b. Poor skin turgor
c. Bounding pulses
d. Rapid respirations
D
Clients with metabolic acidosis caused by AKI may have Kussmaul’s respirations as the
lungs try to regulate carbon dioxide. Bounding pulses and vasodilation are not associated
with metabolic acidosis. Because the client is likely to have fluid retention, poor skin
turgor would not be a finding in AKI.
The nurse is caring for a client with severe heart failure who develops elevated blood urea
nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels. The nurse will plan care to meet which of the
following goals of treatment?
a. Replace fluid volume
b. Prevent hypertension
c. Maintain cardiac output
d. Dilute nephrotoxic substances
C
The primary goal of treatment for acute kidney injury (AKI) is to eliminate the cause and
provide supportive care while the kidneys recover. Because this client’s heart failure is
causing AKI, the care will be directed toward treatment of the heart failure. For renal
failure caused by hypertension, hypovolemia, or nephrotoxins, the other responses would
be correct.
The nurse is caring for a client with acute glomerulonephritis, acute kidney injury (AKI),
and hyperkalemia who is prescribed calcium gluconate IV. Which of the following
parameters should the nurse assess to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication?
a. Urine output
b. Calcium level
c. Cardiac rhythm
d. Neurological status
C
The calcium gluconate helps prevent dysrhythmias that might be caused by the
hyperkalemia. The nurse will monitor the other data as well, but these will not be helpful
in determining the effectiveness of the calcium gluconate.
The nurse is caring for a client with stage 2 chronic kidney disease (CKD) who is
scheduled for an intravenous pyelogram (IVP). Which of the following prescriptions for
the client should the nurse question?
a. NPO for 6 hours before IVP procedure
b. Normal saline 500 mL IV before procedure
c. Ibuprofen 400 mg PO PRN for pain
d. Dulcolax suppository 4 hours before IVP procedure
C
The contrast dye used in IVPs is potentially nephrotoxic, and concurrent use of other
nephrotoxic medications such as the NSAIDs should be avoided. The suppository and
NPO status are necessary to ensure adequate visualization during the IVP. IV fluids are
used to ensure adequate hydration, which helps reduce the risk for contrast-induced renal
failure.
The nurse is teaching a client with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) about
management of CKD. Which of the following client statements indicate that the teaching
was effective?
a. “I need to try to get more protein from dairy products.”
b. “I will try to increase my intake of fruits and vegetables.”
c. “I will measure my urinary output each day to help calculate the amount I can
drink.”
d. “I need to take the erythropoietin to boost my immune system and help prevent
infection.”
C
The client with end-stage renal disease is taught to measure urine output as a means of
determining an appropriate oral fluid intake. Erythropoietin is given to increase the red
blood cell count and will not offer any benefit for immune function. Dairy products are
restricted because of the high phosphate level. Many fruits and vegetables are high in
potassium and should be restricted in the client with CKD.
The nurse is caring for a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who is prescribed
calcium carbonate. Which of the following parameters should the nurse assess in order to
determine the effectiveness of the treatment?
a. Blood pressure
b. Phosphate level
c. Neurological status
d. Creatinine clearance
B
Calcium carbonate is prescribed to bind phosphorus and prevent mineral and bone disease
in clients with CKD. The other data will not be helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of
calcium carbonate.
Which of the following assessments should the nurse complete before administering
sodium polystyrene sulphonate to a client with hyperkalemia?
a. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine
b. Blood glucose level
c. Client’s bowel sounds
d. Level of consciousness (LOC)
C
Sodium polystyrene sulphonate should not be given to a client who does not have normal
bowel function because bowel necrosis can occur. The BUN and creatinine, blood glucose,
and LOC would not affect the nurse’s decision to give the medication.
The nurse is teaching a client who is receiving hemodialysis about appropriate dietary
choices. Which of the following menu choices by the client indicates that the teaching has
been effective?
a. Scrambled eggs, English muffin, and apple juice
b. Oatmeal with cream, half a banana, and herbal tea
c. Split-pea soup, whole-wheat toast, and nonfat milk
d. Cheese sandwich, tomato soup, and cranberry juice
A
Scrambled eggs would provide high-quality protein, and apple juice is low in potassium.
Cheese is high in salt and phosphate, and tomato soup would be high in potassium.
Split-pea soup is high in potassium, and dairy products are high in phosphate. Bananas are
high in potassium, and the cream would be high in phosphate.
The nurse is preparing to administer calcium carbonate to a client with chronic kidney
disease (CKD). Which of the following laboratory results should the nurse check prior to
administration?
a. Creatinine
b. Potassium
c. Total cholesterol
d. Serum phosphate
D
If serum phosphate is elevated, the calcium and phosphate can cause soft tissue
calcification. The calcium carbonate should not be given until the phosphate level is
lowered. Total cholesterol, creatinine, and potassium values do not affect whether calcium
carbonate should be administered.
Which of the following information is most useful to the nurse in evaluating improvement
in kidney function for a client who is hospitalized with acute kidney injury (AKI)?
a. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level
b. Urine output
c. Creatinine level
d. Calculated glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
D
GFR is the preferred method for evaluating kidney function. BUN levels can fluctuate
based on factors such as fluid volume status. Urine output can be normal or high in clients
with AKI and does not accurately reflect kidney function. Creatinine alone is not an
accurate reflection of renal function.
The nurse is caring for a client who requires vascular access for hemodialysis and asks the
nurse what the differences are between an arteriovenous (AV) fistula and a graft. Which of
the following information should the nurse explain is an advantage of the fistula?
a. Is much less likely to clot
b. Increases client mobility
c. Accommodates larger needles.
d. Can be used sooner after surgery.
A
AV fistulas are much less likely to clot than grafts although it takes longer for them to
mature to the point where they can be used for dialysis. The choice of an AV fistula or a
graft does not have an impact on needle size or client mobility.
The nurse is caring for a client with a left arm arteriovenous fistula. Which of the
following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care to maintain the patency of
the fistula?
a. Check the fistula site for a bruit and thrill.
b. Assess the rate and quality of the left radial pulse.
c. Compare blood pressures in the left and right arms.
d. Irrigate the fistula site with saline every 8–12 hours.
A
The presence of a thrill and bruit indicates adequate blood flow through the fistula. Pulse
rate and quality are not good indicators of fistula patency. Blood pressures should never be
obtained on the arm with a fistula. Irrigation of the fistula might damage the fistula, and
typically only dialysis staff would access the fistula.
The nurse is caring for a client who has had progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) for
several years and is starting hemodialysis. Which of the following information about diet
should the nurse include in client teaching?
a. Increased calories are needed because glucose is lost during hemodialysis.
b. Unlimited fluids are allowed since retained fluid is removed during dialysis.
c. More protein will be allowed because of the removal of urea and creatinine by
dialysis.
d. Dietary sodium and potassium are unrestricted because these levels are normalized
by dialysis.
C
Once the client is started on dialysis and nitrogenous wastes are removed, there is less
protein lost; therefore more protein in the diet is encouraged. Fluids are still restricted to
avoid excessive weight gain and complications such as shortness of breath. Glucose is not
lost during hemodialysis. Sodium and potassium intake continues to be restricted to avoid
the complications associated with high levels of these electrolytes.
Which of the following actions by a client who is using peritoneal dialysis (PD) indicates
that the nurse should provide more teaching about PD?
a. The client slows the inflow rate when experiencing pain.
b. The client leaves the catheter exit site without a dressing.
c. The client plans 30–60 minutes for a dialysate exchange.
d. The client cleans the catheter while taking a bath every day.
D
Clients are taught to avoid insertion site infection and should be encouraged to take
showers rather than baths to avoid infections at the catheter insertion side. The other client
actions indicate good understanding of peritoneal dialysis.