GU Practice Questions
A nurse assesses a client who presents with renal calculi. Which question would the nurse ask? a. "Do any of your family members have this problem?" b. "Do you drink any cranberry juice?" c. "Do you urinate after sexual intercourse?" d. "Do you experience burning with urination?"
a - There is a strong association between family history and stone formation and recurrence. Nephrolithiasis is associated with many genetic variations; therefore, the nurse should ask whether other family members have also had renal stones. The other questions do not refer to renal calculi but instead are questions that should be asked of a patient with a urinary tract infection.
After teaching a client with a history of renal calculi, the nurse assesses the client's understanding. Which statement made by the client indicates a correct understanding of the teaching? a. "I should drink at least 3 L of fluid every day." b. "I will eliminate all dairy or sources of calcium from my diet." c. "Aspirin and aspirin-containing products can lead to stones." d. "The doctor can give me antibiotics at the first sign of a stone."
a - Dehydration contributes to the precipitation of minerals to form a stone. Although increased intake of calcium causes hypercalcemia and leads to excessive calcium filtered into the urine, if the client is well hydrated, the calcium will be excreted without issues. Dehydration increases the risk for supersatuGraRtioAnDoEfScaLlcAiuBm.CinOtMhe urine, which contributes to stone formation. The nurse would encourage the client to drink more fluids, not decrease calcium intake. Ingestion of aspirin or aspirin-containing products does not cause a stone. Antibiotics neither prevent nor treat a stone.
A client is taking furosemide 40 mg/day for management of early chronic kidney disease (CKD). To assess the therapeutic effect of the medication, what action of the nurse is best? a. Obtain daily weights of the client. b. Auscultate heart and breath sounds. c. Palpate the client's abdomen. d. Assess the client's diet history.
a - Furosemide is a loop diuretic that helps reduce fluid overload and hypertension in patients with early stages of CKD. One kilogram of weight equals about 1 L of fluid retained in the client, so daily weights are necessary to monitor the response of the client to the medication. Heart and breath sounds would be assessed if there is fluid retention, as in heart failure.Palpation of the client's abdomen is not necessary, but the nurse would check for edema. The diet history of the client would be helpful to assess electrolyte replacement since potassium is lost with this diuretic, but this does not assess the effectiveness of the medication.
A 70-kg adult client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is on a 40-g protein diet. The patient has a reduced glomerular filtration rate and is not undergoing dialysis. Which result would be of most concern to the nurse? a. Albumin level of 2.5 g/dL (3.63 mcmol/L) b. Phosphorus level of 5 mg/dL (1.62 mmol/L) c. Sodium level of 135 mEq/L (135 mmol/L) d. Potassium level of 5.5 mEq/L (5.5 mmol/L)
a - Protein restriction is necessary with CKD due to the buildup of waste products from protein breakdown. The nurse would be concerned with the low albumin level since this indicates that the protein in the diet is not enough for the client's metabolic needs. The electrolyte values are not related to the protein-restricted diet.
A client has a serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L (6.5 mmol/L), a serum creatinine level of 2 mg/dL (176 mcmol/L), and a urine output of 350 mL/day. What is the best action by the nurse? a. Place the client on a cardiac monitor immediately. b. Teach the client to limit high-potassium foods. c. Continue to monitor the client's intake and output. d. Ask to have the laboratory redraw the blood specimen.
a - The best action by the nurse would be to check the cardiac status with a monitor. High-potassium levels can lead to dysrhythmias. The other choices are logical nursing interventions for acute kidney injury but not the best immediate action.
A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has an elevated serum phosphorus level. What drug would the nurse anticipate to be prescribed for this client? a. Calcium acetate b. Doxycyline c. Magnesium sulfate d. Lisinopril
a - The client with CKD often has a high phosphorus level which tends to lower the calcium level in an inverse relationship, and causes osteodystrophy. To prevent this bone disease, the client needs to take a drug that can bind with phosphorus for elimination via the GI tract. When phosphorus is lowered to within normal limits, normal calcium levels may be restored.
A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is refusing to take his medication and has missed two hemodialysis appointments. What is the best initial action for the nurse? a. Discuss what the treatment regimen means to the client. b. Refer the client to a mental health nurse practitioner. c. Reschedule the appointments to another date and time. d. Discuss the option of peritoneal dialysis.
a - The initial action for the nurse is to assess anxiety, coping styles, and the client's acceptance of the required treatment for CKD. The client may be in denial of the diagnosis. While rescheduling hemodialysis appointments may help, and referral to a mental health practitioner and the possibility of peritoneal dialysis are all viable options, assessment of the client'sacceptance of the treatment would come first.
A client comes into the emergency department with a serum creatinine of 2.2 mg/dL (1944 mcmol/L) and a blood urea nitrogen (BUN) of 24 mL/dL (8.57 mmol/L). What question would the nurse ask first when taking this client's history? a. "Have you been taking any aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen recently?" b. "Do you have anyone in your family with renal failure?" c. "Have you had a diet that is low in protein recently?" d. "Has a relative had a kidney transplant lately?"
a - There are some medications that are nephrotoxic, such as the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen. This would be a good question to initially ask the patient since both the serum creatinine and BUN are elevated, indicating some renal problems. A diet high in protein could be a factor in an increased BUN.
A marathon runner comes into the clinic and states "I have not urinated very much in the last few days." The nurse notes a heart rate of 110 beats/min and a blood pressure of 86/58 mm Hg. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? a. Give the client a bottle of water immediately. b. Start an intravenous line for fluids. c. Teach the patient to drink 2 to 3 L of water daily. d. Perform an electrocardiogram.
a - This athlete is mildly dehydrated as evidenced by the higher heart rate and lower blood pressure. The nurse can start hydrating the client with a bottle of water first, followed by teaching the patient to drink 2 to 3 L of water each day. An intravenous line may be needed later, after the patient's degree of dehydration is assessed. An electrocardiogram is notnecessary at this time.
The nurse is assessing a client with acute pyelonephritis. What assessment findings would the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.) a. Fever b. Chills c. Tachycardia d. Tachypnea e. Flank or back pain f. Fatigue
a, b, c, d, e, f - All of these assessment findings commonly occur in clients who have acute pyelonephritis because this health problem is a kidney infection.
A nurse assesses a client who has had two episodes of bacterial cystitis in the last 6 months. Which question(s) would the nurse ask? (Select all that apply.) a. "How much water do you drink every day?" b. "Do you take estrogen replacement therapy?" c. "Does anyone in your family have a history of cystitis?" d. "Are you on steroids or other immune-suppressing drugs?" e. "Do you drink grapefruit juice or orange juice daily?"
a, b, d - Fluid intake, estrogen levels, and immune suppression all can increase the chance of recurrent cystitis. Family history is usually insignificant, and cranberry juice, not grapefruit or orange juice, has been found to increase the acidic pH and reduce the risk for bacterial cystitis.
The nurse is caring for a client with a new diagnosis of chronic kidney disease. Which priority complications would the nurse anticipate? (Select all that apply.) a. Dehydration b. Anemia c. Hypertension d. Dysrhythmias e. Heart failure
b, c, d, e - The client who has CKD has fluid overload and electrolyte imbalances, especially hyperkalemia, that can cause hypertension, heart failure, and dysrhythmias. Anemia results because erythropoietin production by the kidneys is decreased.
A client is undergoing hemodialysis. The client's blood pressure at the beginning of the procedure was 136/88 mm Hg, and now it is 110/54 mm Hg. What actions would the nurse perform to maintain blood pressure? (Select all that apply.) a. Adjust the rate of extracorporeal blood flow. b. Place the patient in the Trendelenburg position. c. Stop the hemodialysis treatment. d. Administer a 250-mL bolus of normal saline. e. Contact the primary health care provider.
a, b, d - Hypotension occurs often during hemodialysis treatments as a result of vasodilation from the warmed dialysate. Modest decreases in blood pressure, as is the case with this client, can be maintained with rate adjustment, Trendelenburg positioning, and a fluid bolus. If the blood pressure drops considerably after two boluses and cooling dialysate, the hemodialysis can be stopped and the primary health care provider contacted.
A client is unsure of the decision to undergo peritoneal dialysis (PD) and wishes to discuss the advantages of this treatment with the nurse. Which statements by the nurse are correct regarding PD? (Select all that apply.) a. "You will not need vascular access to perform PD." b. "There is less restriction of protein and fluids." c. "You will have no risk for infection with PD." d. "You have flexible scheduling for the exchanges." e. "It takes less time than hemodialysis treatments."
a, b, d - PD is based on exchanges of waste, fluid, and electrolytes in the peritoneal cavity. There is no need for vascular access. Protein is lost in the exchange, which allows for more protein and fluid in the diet. There is flexibility in the time for exchanges, but the treatment takes a longer period of time compared to hemodialysis. There still is risk for infection with PD, especially peritonitis.
A nurse reviews the laboratory findings of a client with a urinary tract infection (bacterial cystitis). The laboratory report notes a "shift to the left" in the client's white blood cell count. What action would the nurse take? a. Request that the laboratory perform a differential analysis on the white blood cells. b. Notify the primary health care provider and start an intravenous line for parenteral antibiotics.c. c. Ask assistive personnel (AP) to strain the client's urine for renal calculi. d. Assess the client for a potential allergic reaction and anaphylactic shoc
b - An increase in band cells creates a "shift to the left." A left shift most commonly occurs with urosepsis and is seen rarely with uncomplicated urinary tract infections. The nurse will be administering antibiotics, most likely via IV, so he or she would notify the primary health care provider and prepare to give the antibiotics. The shift to the left is part of a differential white blood cell count. The nurse would not need to strain urine for stones. Allergic reactions are associated with elevated eosinophil cells, not band cells.
A client is having a peritoneal dialysis treatment. The nurse notes an opaque color to the effluent. What is the priority action by the nurse? a. Warm the dialysate solution in a microwave before instillation. b. Obtain a sample of the effluent and send to the laboratory. c. Flush the tubing with normal saline to maintain patency of the catheter. d. Check the peritoneal catheter for kinking and curling.
b - An opaque or cloudy effluent is the first sign of peritonitis. A sample of the effluent would need to be sent to the laboratory for culture and sensitivity in order to administer the correct antibiotic. Warming the dialysate in a microwave and flushing the tubing are not safe actions by the nurse. Checking the catheter for obstruction is a viable option but will not treat the peritonitis.
The nurse is caring for four clients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Which client would the nurse assess first upon initial rounding? a. Client with a blood pressure of 158/90 mm Hg b. Client with Kussmaul respirations c. Client with skin itching from head to toe d. Client with halitosis and stomatitis
b - Kussmaul respirations indicate that the client has metabolic acidosis which is a complication of CKD. The client is increasing the rate and depth of breathing to excrete carbon dioxide through the lungs to lower serum pH. Hypertension is common in most patients with CKD, and skin itching increases with calcium-phosphate imbalances and elevations of nitrogenous wastes, another common finding in CKD. Uremia from CKD causes ammonia to be formed, resulting in the common findings of halitosis and stomatitis.
A nurse cares for a postmenopausal client who has had two episodes of bacterial urethritis in the last 6 months. The client asks, "I never have urinary tract infections. Why is this happening now?" How would the nurse respond? a. "Your immune system becomes less effective as you age." b. "Low estrogen levels can make the tissue more susceptible to infection." c. "You should be more careful with your personal hygiene in this area." d. "It is likely that you have an untreated sexually transmitted disease."
b - Low estrogen levels decrease moisture and secretions in the perineal area and cause other tissue changes, predisposing it to the development of infection. Urethritis is most common in postmenopausal women for this reason. Although immune function does decrease with aging and sexually transmitted diseases are a known cause of urethritis, the most likely reason in this patient is low estrogen levels. Personal hygiene usually does not contribute to this disease process.
A nurse is giving discharge instructions to a client recently diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Which statements made by the client indicate a correct understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply.) a. "I can continue to take antacids to relieve heartburn." b. "I need to ask for an antibiotic when scheduling a dental appointment." c. "I'll need to check my blood sugar often to prevent hypoglycemia." d. "The dose of my pain medication may have to be adjusted." e. "I should watch for bleeding when taking my anticoagulants."
b, c, d, e - In discharge teaching, the nurse must emphasize that the client needs to have an antibiotic prophylactically before dental procedures to prevent infection. There may be a need for dose reduction in medications if the kidney is not excreting them properly (antacids with magnesium, antibiotics, antidiabetic drugs, insulin, opioids, and anticoagulants).
A client with pneumonia and dementia is admitted with an indwelling urinary catheter in place. During interprofessional rounds the following day, which question would the nurse ask the primary health care provider? a. "Do you want daily weights on this client?" b. "Will the client be able to return home?" c. "May we discontinue the indwelling catheter?" d. "Should we get another chest x-ray today?"
c - An indwelling urinary catheter dramatically increases the risks of urinary tract infection and urosepsis. Nursing staff should ensure that catheters are left in place only as long as they are medically needed. The nurse would inquire about removing the catheter. All other questions might be appropriate, but because of client safety, this question takes priority.
A nurse cares for a client who has pyelonephritis. The client states, "I am embarrassed to talk about my symptoms." How would the nurse respond? a. "I am a professional. Your symptoms will be kept in confidence." b. "I understand. Elimination is a private topic and shouldn't be discussed." c. "Take your time. It is okay to use words that are familiar to you." d. "You seem anxious. Would you like a nurse of the same gender to care for you?"
c - Clients may be uncomfortable discussing issues related to elimination and the genitourinary area. The nurse would encourage the client to use language that is familiar to the client. The nurse must assess the client and cannot take the time to stop the discussion or find another nurse to complete the assessment
A nurse cares for a middle-age female client with diabetes mellitus who is being treated for the third episode of acute pyelonephritis in the past year. The client asks, "What can I do to help prevent these infections?" How would the nurse respond? a. "Test your urine daily for the presence of ketone bodies and proteins." b. "Use tampons rather than sanitary napkins during your menstrual period." c. "Drink more water and empty your bladder more frequently during the day." d. "Keep your hemoglobin A1C under 9% by keeping your blood sugar controlled."
c - Clients with long-standing diabetes mellitus are at risk for pyelonephritis for many reasons. Chronically elevated blood glucose levels spill glucose into the urine, changing the pH, and providing a favorable climate for bacterial growth. The neuropathy associated with diabetes reduces bladder tone and reduces the client's sensation of bladder fullness. Thus, even with large amounts of urine, the client voids less frequently, allowing stasis and overgrowth of microorganisms. Increasing fluid intake (specifically water) and voiding frequently prevent stasis and bacterial overgrowth. Testing urine and using tampons will not help prevent pyelonephritis. A hemoglobin A1C of 9% is too high.
The nurse is teaching a client how to increase the flow of dialysate into the peritoneal cavity during dialysis. Which statement by the client demonstrates a correct understanding of the teaching? a. "I should leave the drainage bag above the level of my abdomen." b. "I could flush the tubing with normal saline if the flow stops." c. "I should take a stool softener every morning to avoid constipation." d. "My diet should have low fiber in it to prevent any irritation."
c - Inflow and outflow problems of the dialysate are best controlled by preventing constipation. A daily stool softener is the best option for the client. The drainage bag should be below the level of the abdomen. Flushing the tubing will not help with the flow. A diet high in fiber will also help with a constipation problem.
After teaching a client with bacterial cystitis who is prescribed phenazopyridine, the nurse assesses the client's understanding. Which statement made by the client indicates a correct understanding of the teaching? a. "I will not take this drug with food or milk." b. "I will have my partners tested for STIs." c. "An orange color in my urine should not alarm me." d. "I will drink two glasses of cranberry juice daily."
c - Phenazopyridine discolors urine, most commonly to a deep reddish orange. Many clients think that they have blood in their urine when they see this. In addition, the urine can permanently stain clothing. There are no dietary restrictions or needs while taking this medication.
A client is placed on fluid restriction because of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Which assessment finding would alert the nurse that the client's fluid balance is stable at this time? Decreased calcium levels Increased phosphorus levels No adventitious sounds in the lungs Increased edema in the legs
c - The absence of adventitious sounds upon auscultation of the lungs indicates a lack of fluid overload and fluid balance in the client's body. Decreased calcium levels and increased phosphorus levels are common findings with CKD. Edema would indicate a fluid imbalance.
The nurse is caring for a client who has chronic pyelonephritis. What assessment finding would the nurse expect? a. Fever b. Flank pain c. Hypertension d. Nausea and vomiting
c - The client who has chronic pyelonephritis has renal damage and therefore has hypertension. The other assessment findings commonly occur in clients with acute pyelonephritis.
The charge nurse is orienting a new nurse about care for an assigned client with an arteriovenous (AV) fistula for hemodialysis in her left arm. Which action by the float nurse would be considered unsafe? a. Palpating the access site for a bruit or thrill b. Using the right arm for a blood pressure reading c. Administering intravenous fluids through the AV fistula d. Checking distal pulses in the left arm
c - The nurse would not use the arm with the AV fistula for intravenous infusion, blood pressure readings, or venipuncture. Compression and infection can result in the loss of the AV fistula. The AV fistula would be monitored by auscultating or palpating the access site. Checking the distal pulse would be an appropriate assessment.
The nurse is teaching a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) about the sodium restriction needed in the diet to prevent edema and hypertension. Which statement by the client indicates that more teaching is needed? a. "I will probably lose weight by cutting out potato chips." b. "I will cut out bacon with my eggs every morning." c. "My cooking style will change by not adding salt." d. "I am thrilled that I can continue to eat fast food."
d - Fast-food restaurants usually serve food that is high in sodium. This statement indicates that more teaching needs to occur. The other statements show a correct understanding of the teaching.
A nurse cares for a client who has kidney stones from gout ricemia. Which medication does the nurse anticipate administering? a. Phenazopyridine b. Doxycyline c. Tolterodine d. Allopurinol
d - Stones caused by hyperuricmia caused by gout or other reason respond to allopurinol. Phenazopyridine is given to clients with urinary tract infections. Doxycycline is an antibiotic. Tolterodine is an anticholinergic with smooth muscle-relaxant properties.
The nurse administers epoetin alfa to a client who has chronic kidney disease (CKD). Which laboratory test value would the nurse monitor to determine this drug's effectiveness? a. Potassium b. Sodium c. Renin d. Hemoglobin
d - The purpose of giving epoetin alfa to a client with CKD is to manage anemia by stimulating the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. Therefore, monitoring the client's hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell count would indicate if the drug was effective.
