Exam 2 Flashcards
A 73-year-old male patient admitted for total knee replacement states during the health history interview that he has no problems with urinary elimination except that the “stream is less than it used to be.” The nurse should give the patient anticipatory guidance that what condition may be developing?
A. A tumor of the prostate
B. Benign prostatic hyperplasia
C. Bladder atony because of age
D. Age-related altered innervation of the bladder
B. Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an enlarged prostate gland because of an increased number of epithelial cells and stromal tissue. It occurs in about 50% of men over age 50 and 80% of men over age 80. Only about 16% of men develop prostate cancer. Bladder atony and age-related altered innervations of the bladder do not lead to a weakened stream.
To accurately monitor progression of a symptom of decreased urinary stream, the nurse should encourage the patient to have which primary screening measure done on a regular basis?
A. Uroflowmetry
B. Transrectal ultrasound
C. Digital rectal examination (DRE)
D. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) monitoring
C. Digital rectal examination (DRE)
Digital rectal examination is part of a regular physical examination and is a primary means of assessing symptoms of decreased urinary stream, which is often caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia in men over 50 years of age. The uroflowmetry helps determine the extent of urethral blockage and the type of treatment needed but is not done on a regular basis. Transrectal ultrasound is indicated with an abnormal DRE and elevated PSA to differentiate between BPH and prostate cancer. The PSA monitoring is done to rule out prostate cancer, although levels may be slightly elevated in patients with BPH.
The patient has had cardiovascular disease for some time and has now developed erectile dysfunction. He is frustrated because he cannot take erectogenic medications because he takes nitrates for his cardiac disease. What should the nurse do first to help this patient?
A. Give the patient choices for penile implant surgery.
B. Recommend counseling for the patient and his partner.
C. Obtain a thorough sexual, health, and psychosocial history.
D. Assess levels of testosterone, prolactin, LH, and thyroid hormones.
C. Obtain a thorough sexual, health, and psychosocial history.
The nurse’s first action to help this patient is to obtain a thorough sexual, health, and psychosocial history. Alternative treatments for the cardiac disease would then be explored if that had not already been done. Further examination or diagnostic testing would be based on the history and physical assessment, including hormone levels, counseling, or penile implant options.
After a vasectomy, what teaching should be included in the discharge teaching?
A. “You will want to use an alternative form of contraception for 6 weeks.”
B. “You may lose some secondary sexual characteristics after this surgery.”
C. “You may have erectile dysfunction for several months after this surgery.”
D. “You will be uncomfortable, but you may safely have sexual intercourse today.”
A. “You will want to use an alternative form of contraception for 6 weeks.”
As vasectomies are usually done for sterilization purposes, to safely have sexual intercourse, the patient will need to use an alternative form of contraception until semen examination reveals no sperm, usually at least 10 ejaculations or 6 weeks to evacuate sperm distal to the surgical site. Hormones are not affected, so there is no loss of secondary sexual characteristics or erectile function. Most men experience too much pain to have sexual intercourse on the day of their surgery, so this is not an appropriate comment by the nurse.
A male patient complains of fever, dysuria, and cloudy urine. What additional information may indicate that these manifestations may be something other than a urinary tract infection (UTI)?
A. E. coli bacteria in his urine
B. A very tender prostate gland
C. Complaints of chills and rectal pain
D. Complaints of urgency and frequency
B. A very tender prostate gland
A tender and swollen prostate is indicative of prostatis, which is a more serious male reproductive problem because an acute episode can result in chronic prostatis and lead to epididymitis or cystitis. E. coli in his urine, chills and rectal pain, and urgency and frequency are all present with a UTI and not specifically indicative of prostatis.
A 33-year-old patient noticed a painless lump in his scrotum on self-examination of his testicles and a feeling of heaviness. The nurse should first teach him about what diagnostic test?
A. Ultrasound
B. Cremasteric reflex
C. Doppler ultrasound
D. Transillumination with a flashlight
A. Ultrasound
When the scrotum has a painless lump, scrotal swelling, and a feeling of heaviness, testicular cancer is suspected, and an ultrasound of the testes is indicated. Blood tests will also be done. The cremasteric reflex and Doppler ultrasound are done to diagnose testicular torsion. Transillumination with a flashlight is done to diagnose a hydrocele.
The patient has a low-grade carcinoma on the left lateral aspect of the prostate gland and has been on “watchful waiting” status for 5 years. Six months ago his last prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 5 ng/mL. Which manifestations now indicate that the prostate cancer may be growing and he needs a change in his care (select all that apply)?
A. Casts in his urine B. Presence of α-fetoprotein C. Serum PSA level 10 ng/mL D. Onset of erectile dysfunction E. Nodularity of the prostate gland
C. Serum PSA level 10 ng/mL Correct
E. Nodularity of the prostate gland Correct
The manifestations of increased PSA level along with the new nodularity of the prostate gland potentially indicate that the tumor may be growing. Casts in the urine, presence of α-fetoprotein, and new onset of erectile dysfunction do not indicate prostate cancer growth.
Which task can the nurse delegate to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in the care of a patient who has recently undergone prostatectomy?
A. Assessing the patient’s incision
B. Irrigating the patient’s Foley catheter
C. Assessing the patient’s pain and selecting analgesia
D. Performing cleansing of the meatus and perineal region
D. Performing cleansing of the meatus and perineal region
Performing perineal care is an appropriate task for delegation. Selecting analgesia, irrigating the patient’s catheter, and assessing his incision are not appropriate skills or tasks for unlicensed personnel.
A 71-year-old patient with a diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has been scheduled for a contact laser technique. What is the primary goal of this intervention?
A. Resumption of normal urinary drainage Correct
B. Maintenance of normal sexual functioning
C. Prevention of acute or chronic renal failure Incorrect
D. Prevention of fluid and electrolyte imbalances
A. Resumption of normal urinary drainage
The most significant signs and symptoms of BPH relate to the disruption of normal urinary drainage and consequent urine retention, incontinence, and pain. A laser technique vaporizes prostate tissue and cauterizes blood vessels and is used as an effective alternative to a TURP to resolve these problems. Fluid imbalances, sexual functioning, and kidney disease may result from uncontrolled BPH, but the central focus remains urinary drainage.
A patient is one day postoperative following a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Which event is not an expected normal finding in the care of this patient?
A. The patient requires two tablets of Tylenol #3 during the night.
B. The patient complains of fatigue and claims to have minimal appetite.
C. The patient has continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) infusing, but output has decreased.
D. The patient has expressed anxiety about his planned discharge home the following day.
C. The patient has continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) infusing, but output has decreased.
A decrease or cessation of output in a patient with CBI requires immediate intervention. The nurse should temporarily stop the CBI and attempt to resume output by repositioning the patient or irrigating the catheter. Complaints of pain, fatigue, and low appetite at this early postoperative stage are not unexpected. Discharge planning should be addressed, but this should not precede management of the patient’s CBI.
A 72-year-old male is in the emergency
department because he has been unable to void for
the past 12 hours. The best method for the nurse to
use when assessing for bladder distention in a male
client is to check for:
■ 1. A rounded swelling above the pubis.
■ 2. Dullness in the lower left quadrant.
■ 3. Rebound tenderness below the symphysis.
■ 4. Urine discharge from the urethral meatus.
.
- The best way to assess for a distended bladder in either a male or female client is to check for a rounded swelling above the pubis. This swelling represents the distended bladder rising above the pubis into the abdominal cavity. Dullness does not indicate a distended bladder. The client might experience tenderness or pressure above the symphysis. No urine discharge is expected; the urine flow is blocked by the enlarged prostate.
During a client’s urinary bladder catheterization,
the nurse ensures that the bladder is emptied
gradually. The best rationale for the nurse’s action is
that completely emptying an overdistended bladder
at one time tends to cause:
■ 1. Renal failure.
■ 2. Abdominal cramping.
■ 3. Possible shock.
■ 4. Atrophy of bladder musculature.
- Rapid emptying of an overdistended bladder may cause hypotension and shock due to the sudden change of pressure within the abdominal viscera. Previously, removing no more than 1000 mL at one time was the standard of practice, but this is no longer thought to be necessary as long as the overdistended bladder is emptied slowly.
The primary reason for lubricating the urinary
catheter generously before inserting it into a
male client is that this technique helps reduce:
■ 1. Spasms at the orifi ce of the bladder.
■ 2. Friction along the urethra when the catheter
is being inserted.
■ 3. The number of organisms gaining entrance to
the bladder.
■ 4. The formation of encrustations that may
occur at the end of the catheter.
- Liberal lubrication of the catheter before catheterization of a male reduces friction along the urethra and irritation and trauma to urethral tissues. Because the male urethra is tortuous, a liberal amount of lubication is advised to ease catheter passage. Lubrication of the catheter will not decrease spasms. The nurse should use sterile technique to prevent introducing organisms. Crusts will not form immediately. Irrigating the catheter as needed will prevent clot and crust formation.
The primary reason for taping an indwelling
catheter laterally to the thigh of a male client
is to:
■ 1. Eliminate pressure at the penoscrotal angle.
■ 2. Prevent the catheter from kinking in the urethra.
■ 3. Prevent accidental catheter removal.
■ 4. Allow the client to turn without kinking the
catheter.
- The primary reason for taping an indwelling catheter to a male client so that the penis is held in a lateral position is to prevent pressure at the penoscrotal angle. Prolonged pressure at the penoscrotal angle can cause a ureterocutaneous fistula.
Many older men with prostatic hypertrophy
do not seek medical attention until urinary obstruction
is almost complete. One reason for this delay in
seeking attention is that these men may:
■ 1. Feel too self-conscious to seek help when
reproductive organs are involved.
■ 2. Expect that it is normal to have to live
with some urinary problems as they grow
older.
■ 3. Fear that sexual indiscretions in earlier life
may be the cause of their problem.
■ 4. Have little discomfort in relation to the
amount of pathology because responses to
pain stimuli fade with age
- Research shows that older men tend to believe it is normal to live with some urinary problems. As a result these men often overlook symptoms and simply attribute them to aging. As part of preventative care for men older than 40, the yearly physical examination should include palpation of the prostate via rectal examination. Prostate specific antigen screening is also done annually to determine elevations or increasing trends in elevations. The nurse should teach male clients the value of early detection and adequate follow up for the prostate.
When caring for a client with a history of
benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), the nurse
should do which of the following? Select all that
apply.
■ 1. Provide privacy and time for the client to void.
■ 2. Monitor intake and output.
■ 3. Catheterize the client for post void residual
urine.
■ 4. Ask the client if he has urinary retention.
■ 5. Test the urine for hematuria.
1.2.4.5. Because of the history of benign prostatic hypertrophy, the nurse should provide privacy and time for the client to void. The nurse should also monitor intake and output, assess the client for urinary retention, and test the urine for hematuria. It is not necessary to catheterize the client.
The nurse should specifically assess a client
with prostatic hypertrophy for which of the following ?
■ 1. Voiding at less frequent intervals.
■ 2. Diffi culty starting the fl ow of urine.
■ 3. Painful urination.
■ 4. Increased force of the urine stream.
- Signs and symptoms of prostatic hypertrophy
include diffi culty starting the fl ow of urine, urinary
frequency and hesitancy, decreased force of the
urine stream, interruptions in the urine stream when
voiding, and nocturia. The prostate gland surrounds
the urethra, and these symptoms are all attributed
to obstruction of the urethra resulting from prostatic
hypertrophy. Nocturia from incomplete emptying
of the bladder is common. Straining and urine
retention are usually the symptoms that prompt the
client to seek care. Painful urination is generally not
a symptom of prostatic hypertrophy.
- The nurse is reviewing the medication history
of a client with benign prostatic hypertrophy
(BPH). Which medication will likely aggravate BPH?
■ 1. Metformin (Glucophage).
■ 2. Buspirone (BuSpar).
■ 3. Inhaled ipratropium (Atrovent).
■ 4. Ophthalmic timolol (Timoptic).
- Ipratropium is a bronchodilator, and its
anticholinergic effects can aggravate urine retention.
Metformin and buspirone do not affect the urinary
system; timolol does not have a systemic effect.
A client is scheduled to undergo transurethral
resection of the prostate. The procedure is to
be done under spinal anesthesia. Postoperatively,
the nurse should assess the client for:
■ 1. Seizures.
■ 2. Cardiac arrest.
■ 3. Renal shutdown.
■ 4. Respiratory paralysis.
- If paralysis of vasomotor nerves in the
upper spinal cord occurs when spinal anesthesia
is used, the client is likely to develop respiratory
paralysis. Artifi cial ventilation is required until the
effects of the anesthesia subside. Seizures, cardiac
arrest, and renal shutdown are not likely results of
spinal anesthesia.
A client with benign prostatic hypertrophy
(BPH) is being treated with terazosin (Hytrin) 2 mg
at bedtime. The nurse should monitor the client’s:
■ 1. Urine nitrites.
■ 2. White blood cell count.
■ 3. Blood pressure.
■ 4. Pulse.
- Terazosin is an antihypertensive drug that
is also used in the treatment of BPH. Blood pressure
must be monitored to ensure that the client does
not develop hypotension, syncope, or orthostatic
hypotension. The client should be instructed to
change positions slowly. Urine nitrates, white blood
cell count, and pulse rate are not affected by terazosin
A client underwent transurethral resection of
the prostate (TURP), and a large three-way indwelling
urinary catheter was inserted in the bladder
with continuous bladder irrigation. In which of the
following circumstances should the nurse increase
the flow rate of the continuous bladder irrigation?
■ 1. When drainage is continuous but slow.
■ 2. When drainage appears cloudy and dark yellow.
■ 3. When drainage becomes bright red.
■ 4. When there is no drainage of urine and irrigating
solution.
- The decision by the surgeon to insert a
catheter after TURP or prostatectomy depends on
the amount of bleeding that is expected after the
procedure. During continuous bladder irrigation
after a TURP or prostatectomy, the rate at which
the solution enters the bladder should be increased
when the drainage becomes brighter red. The color
indicates the presence of blood. Increasing the flow
of irrigating solution helps flush the catheter well so
that clots do not plug it. There would be no reason
to increase the fl ow rate when the return is continuous
or when the return appears cloudy and dark
yellow. Increasing the fl ow would be contraindicated
when there is no return of urine and irrigating
solution.
A client is to receive belladonna and opium
suppositories, as needed, postoperatively after
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The
nurse should give the client these drugs when he
demonstrates signs of:
■ 1. A urinary tract infection.
■ 2. Urine retention.
■ 3. Frequent urination.
■ 4. Pain from bladder spasms.
- Belladonna and opium suppositories are
prescribed and administered to reduce bladder
spasms that cause pain after TURP. Bladder spasms
frequently accompany urologic procedures. Antispasmodics offer relief by eliminating or reducing
spasms. Antimicrobial drugs are used to treat an
infection. Belladonna and opium do not relieve
urine retention or urinary frequency.
A nursing assistant tells the nurse, “I think
the client is confused. He keeps telling me he has to
void, but that isn’t possible because he has a catheter
in place that is draining well.” Which of the
following responses would be most appropriate for
the nurse to make?
■ 1. “His catheter is probably plugged. I’ll irrigate
it in a few minutes.”
■ 2. “That’s a common complaint after prostate
surgery. The client only imagines the urge to
void.”
■ 3. “The urge to void is usually created by the
large catheter, and he may be having some
bladder spasms.”
■ 4. “I think he may be somewhat confused.”
- The indwelling urinary catheter creates the
urge to void and can also cause bladder spasms. The
nurse should ensure adequate bladder emptying by
monitoring urine output and characteristics. Urine
output should be at least 50 mL/hour. A plugged
catheter, imagining the urge to void, and confusion
are less likely reasons for the client’s complaint.
A physician has ordered amoxicillin 100
P.O. BID (Ampicillin). The nurse should teach the
client to: Select all that apply.
■ 1. Drink 2,500 mL of fl uids daily.
■ 2. Void frequently, at least every 2 to 3 hours.
■ 3. Take time to empty the bladder completely.
■ 4. Take the last dose of the antibiotic for the day
at bedtime.
■ 5. Take the antibiotic with food.
1, 2, 3, 4. Ampicillin may be given with or
without food, but the nurse should instruct the client
to obtain an adequate fl uid intake (2,500 mL)
to promote urinary output and to fl ush out bacteria
from the urinary tract. The nurse should also
encourage the client to void frequently (every 2 to
3 hours) and empty the bladder completely. Taking
the antibiotic at bedtime, after emptying the bladder,
helps to ensure an adequate concentration of the
drug during the overnight period.