An 83-year-old client is seen for urinary frequency and burning. A dipstick urine test reveals positive nitrates. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Assume the client has a UTI.
b. Catheterize the client for a sterile specimen.
c. Nothing; this is a normal finding.
d. Send the urine for a culture.
D
Positive nitrates are 95% specific for an infection originating in the urinary tract. Being elderly, this client is in a high-risk group for urosepsis, and cultures are mandatory to guide treatment. The client does not need a catheterized specimen, but the nurse should not just assume the client has a UTI and do nothing more.
You might also like to view...
Complete the following ECG criteria for an accelerated junctional rhythm:
Rhythm ________________________________________ Rate ________________________________________ P waves ________________________________________ PR interval ________________________________________ QRS duration ________________________________________ Fill in the blanks with correct word
A recent graduate nurse charts the following entry:
"1200: Ambulated patient 25 feet with walker." The preceptor nurse critiques the entry. Which statement by the preceptor nurse is most accurate? "This charting a. has missing data you must incorporate." b. is accurate and timely—very well done." c. needs to say whether the patient did well or not." d. should include the patient's response."
A tool that is a cause-and-effect grid that identifies expected client/family and staff behaviors against a timeline for a case-type or otherwise defined homogenous population is called
a. A critical path b. A "Care Maps" tool c. A multidisciplinary action plan d. Standards of client care
Path-goal theory suggests that leaders should respond to followers who need clarity and control from a(n)
a. Achievement style b. Supportive style c. Directive style d. Participative style