Chapter 24: Alterations in Genitourinary Function

A nurse is assessing a child who may have peritonitis. Which of the following would be signs of this problem? A. Increased white blood cell count of dialysate outflow B. Diarrhea C. Increased red blood cell count of dialysate outflow D. Syncope

ANS: A Rationale: Increased white blood cell count of dialysate outflow is one of the signs of peritonitis. Vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain are also signs of peritonitis.

The nurse is caring for a child diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. The caregiver asks the nurse why it is so important for the child to have so much fluid. What is the most important reason the child needs increased fluids? A. To dilute the urine and flush the bladder B. To fill the bladder so a specimen can be obtained C. To prevent the child from developing a fever D. To decrease the pain of urination

ANS: A Rationale: Increasing the child's fluid intake is necessary to help dilute the urine and flush the bladder.

A nurse is developing a teaching plan for the parents of an 8-year-old experiencing nocturnal enuresis. The nurse determines that additional teaching is needed when the parents identify what as an appropriate measure? A. Encouraging fluid intake after dinner B. Practicing bladder-stretching exercises C. Giving desmopressin intranasally D. Engaging the child in stress reduction measures

ANS: A Rationale: In many children, limiting fluids after dinner can be helpful for nocturnal enuresis. Bladder-stretching exercises also can be helpful. If these measures are ineffective, desmopressin may be prescribed. Stress factors may be contributing to the child's problem. Therefore, measures to address stress and promote coping would be appropriate.

The nurse is caring for a female preschool-aged patient with a urinary tract infection. What measures should the nurse teach the mother to prevent future infections? A. Suggest the child drink less fluid daily to concentrate urine. B. Encourage the child to be more active to increase urine output. C. Teach the child to wipe the perineum front to back after voiding. D. Teach the child to take frequent tub baths to clean the perineal area.

ANS: C Rationale: Urinary tract infections occur more often in girls than boys because the urethra is shorter in girls and, because it is located close to the vagina and anus, vulvovaginitis or rectal bacteria can easily spread to the urethra. Girls should be taught early to wipe themselves from front to back after voiding and defecating to avoid contaminating the urethra. The child should be encouraged to drink more fluid to prevent concentrated urine. Activity level does not influence the development of urinary tract infections. There is a suggested correlation between the use of hot tubs and urinary tract infections in girls so use of these should be discouraged or minimized.

A nurse is performing an assessment on a child. What would be indicative of a potential for a urinary tract infection? A. Washing the genital area with water daily B. Not using cleansing towelettes routinely C. Not using soap when cleaning the urethral area D. Holding urine while at school

ANS: D Rationale: UTIs are often caused by children who do not urinate frequently at school. It is important for a child to avoid using towelettes and soap in the genital area because this can increase the chance of a UTI. Washing the genital area with water daily does not increase the chance of a UTI.

The nurse is working with a child with altered genitourinary status. The child demonstrates excess fluid volume. Which of the following would the nurse most likely do? A. Weigh the child 2 times a day on the same scale. B. Hold all medication until the fluid retention improves. C. Avoid administering IV fluids. D. Measure the amount of nitrates present in the urine.

ANS: A Rationale: A child with altered genitourinary status with excess fluid volume needs to be weighed twice daily always with the same scale, wearing the same amount of clothing at the same time each day. A weight gain of greater than 0.5 kg can indicate fluid retention. Withholding all medication and avoiding IV fluids would be inappropriate. IV fluid administration should be monitored closely and given at the prescribed rate. The nurse should also monitor laboratory values such as BUN and creatinine, urine and serum sodium, serum potassium, hemoglobin and hematocrit for changes.

The nurse is working with a child with altered genitourinary status. Which intervention would be included in the plan of care for the client with excess fluid volume? A. Weigh the child daily on the same scale. B. Hold all medication until the fluid retention is improving. C. Avoid administering IV therapies. D. Measure the amount of nitrates present in the urine.

ANS: A Rationale: A child with edema and fluid overload should be weighed daily, on the same scale, at the same time, with the same amount of clothing. This gives the most accurate picture of fluid gain or loss. The nurse also should assess the blood pressure and pulse rate regularly to determine if hypovolemia is occurring. This can occur from fluid shifts occurring if fluid is lost too quickly. Medications need to be administered, especially diuretics to help reduce the edema. The child should be on fluid restriction. This includes PO and IV. If IV fluids are necessary the volume should be calculated into the daily amount

A voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is prescribed for a child. What education should be provided to the parents? A. The VCUG will rule out vesicoureteral reflux. B. The VCUG will detect if the infection is gone. C. The VCUG will rule out kidney stones. D. The VCUG will prevent further complications of the urinary tract infection (UTI).

ANS: A Rationale: A voiding cystogram (VCUG) is performed by having the bladder filled with a contrast medium via catheterization. Under fluoroscopy the bladder is visualized filling and emptying. A VCUG is used to rule out reflux in the urinary tract, causes of hematuria, UTI, and structural anomalies. Reflux may cause frequent infections and scarring in the urinary tract if not diagnosed and treated. A VCUG will not diagnose renal stones. Renal stones would be detected by a CT scan. A VCUG would not be performed to detect if infections of the UTI have cleared. This would be done by assessing a urinalysis.

The nurse is teaching the parent of a child with chronic renal failure on high-potassium foods that should be restricted. Which foods will the nurse include in this teaching? Select all that apply. A. Bananas, carrots, nuts, and milk B. Peaches, broccoli, and red meat C. Oranges, potatoes, wheat, and bran D. Spinach, chicken, fish, and green beans

ANS: A Rationale: Foods that are high in potassium include bananas, carrots, nuts, and milk. Broccoli, wheat, bran, chicken, fish, and green beans are not high in potassium and do not need to be restricted.

The nurse instructs a school-age patient and the parents on continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis. Which statement indicates that teaching has been effective? A. "The solution should be infused cold." B. "Redness and warmth around the tube insertion site is expected." C. "We should notify the health care provider if the drainage is cloudy." D. "Weight gain and a productive cough are expected with the treatments."

ANS: C Rationale: Cloudy drainage could indicate an infection such as peritonitis and should be reported to the health care provider. The solution should be infused at body temperature. Redness and warmth around the tube insertion site could indicate an infection and should be reported to the health care provider. Weight gain and a productive cough could indicate fluid retention and should be reported to the health care provider.

An 8-year-old boy and his father visit the pediatrician's office with reports of a sudden onset of abdominal pain and reddish-brown urine. A urinalysis shows 4+ protein. On taking the boy's health history, the nurse learns that he had strep throat a little over a week ago. Which condition should the nurse suspect? A. Acute glomerulonephritis B. Kidney agenesis C. Polycystic kidney D. Nephrosis

ANS: A Rationale: Glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney, is most common in children between the ages of 5 and 10 years. The child typically has a history of a recent streptococcal respiratory infection (within 7 to 14 days). Symptoms are as described above. Kidney agenesis (absence of kidneys) and polycystic kidneys (formation of large, fluid-filled cysts in the place of normal kidney tissue) are serious congenital conditions that would likely be discovered either in utero or shortly after birth, not conditions that would appear acutely in an 8-year-old. Nephrosis is altered glomerular permeability apparently due to an autoimmune process or a T-lymphocyte dysfunction that results in fusion of the glomeruli membrane surfaces, which, in turn, leading to abnormal loss of protein in urine. The highest incidence is at 3 years of age, and it occurs more often in boys than in girls. In addition to proteinuria, a major symptom of nephrosis is edema, which is absent in this case.

A 10-year-old girl is experiencing acute renal failure due to dehydration. The nurse is preparing to administer IV fluid. Which of the following interventions should the nurse take in caring for this child? A. Administer the IV fluid slowly B. Make sure the IV fluid contains potassium C. Increase oral intake of fluid D. Provide a diet high in protein and sodium

ANS: A Rationale: If the child is dehydrated (as with diarrhea or hemorrhage), IV fluid is needed to replace plasma volume. Administer such fluid slowly, however, to avoid heart failure as extra fluid cannot be removed by the nonfunctioning kidneys. Be certain the fluid prescribed does not contain potassium until it is established kidney function is adequate; otherwise, the buildup of potassium could cause heart block. The child's diet should be low in protein, potassium, and sodium and high in carbohydrate to supply enough calories for metabolism yet limit urea production and control serum potassium levels. Oral fluid intake may be limited to prevent heart failure due to accumulating fluid that cannot be excreted.

The nurse is caring for a 12-year-old girl with nephrotic syndrome. The girl confides that she feels like a "freak" compared to her peers because of her weight, edema, and moon face. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate? A. "Let's put you in touch with some other girls who are also having the same body changes." B. "Luckily, this is just a temporary, unfortunate part of your condition; you need to accept it." C. "Your real friends do not care about your appearance and just want you to get well." D. "You are beautiful in your own way; what matters is what is on the inside."

ANS: A Rationale: It is important to introduce the girl to other youngsters with chronic renal conditions so she does not feel so isolated. Adolescents need interaction with peers. Telling the girl that this is a temporary condition, her real friends don't care about her appearance, and she is beautiful in her own way dismisses the girl's concerns and does not offer solutions. Nephrotic syndrome is a chronic condition, so telling her the condition is temporary also is inaccurate.

At a well-child visit, a urine specimen is obtained from a child for testing. The nurse is reviewing the results which reveal positive leukocytes. The nurse interprets this as indicating which of the following? A. Possible urinary tract infection B. Diabetes C. Renal disease D. Bleeding

ANS: A Rationale: The evidence of leukocytes in a urine specimen suggests a possible urinary tract infection. Glucose in the urine may suggest diabetes. Elevated protein levels suggest renal disease. Elevated levels of red blood cells in the urine indicate possible calculus, trauma and renal parenchymal disease.

A child is having their urine checked for complaints of polyuria. When analyzing the results, what would positive glucose indicate? A. This may indicate a urinary tract infection. B. This determines the presence of sugar in the urine. C. This indicates renal disease. D. This determines the presence of bacteria in the urine.

ANS: B Rationale: Positive glucose determines the presence of sugar in the urine. This could signify diabetes and needs to be evaluated immediately. Positive leukocytes may indicate a urinary tract infection. The u

A child is diagnosed with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). Review of the child's laboratory test results would reveal which finding? A. Decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine B. Decreased platelets and leukocytosis C. Hypernatremia and hypokalemia D. Respiratory acidosis and proteinuria

ANS: B Rationale: The child with HUS typically exhibits severe thrombocytopenia (decreased platelets) and leukocytosis. BUN and creatinine are elevated. Hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, and proteinuria also may be noted.

The nurse is caring for a child who is undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Immediately after draining the dialysate, which action should the nurse should take immediately? A. Empty the old dialysate B. Weigh the old dialysate C. Weigh the new dialysate D. Start the process over with a fresh bag

ANS: B Rationale: The nurse should weigh the old dialysate to determine the amount of fluid removed from the child. The fluid must be weighed prior to emptying it. The nurse should weigh the new fluid prior to starting the next fill phase. Typically, the exchanges are 3 to 6 hours apart so the nurse would not immediately start the next fill phase.

A female preschool patient with a urinary tract infection is scheduled to have a voiding cystourethrogram. What should the nurse include when teaching the patient about this procedure? A. A headache is a common occurrence after the procedure. B. A local anesthetic will be injected prior to the procedure. C. The patient will be expected to void during the procedure. D. The patient will have to drink three glasses of water during the procedure.

ANS: C Rationale: A voiding cystourethrogram is a study of the lower urinary tract and looks at the structure of the urethra and bladder and the presence of reflux into the ureters. After bladder catheterization, a radiopaque dye is injected into the bladder, and the catheter is then removed. The child is asked to void into a bedpan while serial X-ray films are taken. Being asked to void while being observed may be the most stressful part of the procedure for children because they have been taught voiding is a private act. Be sure children are told in advance that they will be asked to do this, and that it is alright if a stranger watches them. A headache is not a common occurrence after this procedure. A local anesthetic is not needed for this procedure. The patient will not be asked to drink water during the procedure.

The nurse is assessing an infant with suspected hemolytic uremic syndrome. Which characteristics of this condition should the nurse expect to assess or glean from chart review? A. Hemolytic anemia, acute renal failure, and hypotension B. Dirty green colored urine, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation, and depressed serum complement level C. Hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure D. Thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and nocturia several times each night

ANS: C Rationale: Hemolytic uremic syndrome is defined by all three particular features - hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. Dirty green colored urine, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation, and depressed serum complement level are indicative of acute glomerulonephritis. Hypertension, not hypotension, would be seen and the child would have decreased urinary output which would not cause nocturia.

A nurse is caring for a 13-year-old boy with end-stage renal disease who is preparing to have his hemodialysis treatment in the dialysis unit. Which nursing action is appropriate? A. Administer his routine medications as scheduled B. Take his blood pressure measurement in extremity with AV fistula C. Withhold his routine medication until after dialysis is completed D. Assess the Tenckhoff catheter site

ANS: C Rationale: The nurse should withhold routine medications on the morning that hemodialysis is scheduled since they would be filtered out through the dialysis process. His medications should be administered after he returns from the dialysis unit. A Tenckhoff catheter is used for peritoneal dialysis, not hemodialysis. The nurse should avoid blood pressure measurement in the extremity with the AV fistula as it may cause occlusion.