A patient comes into the clinic complaining of swelling, heat, and severe pain in the right great toe. Which laboratory value is most likely to be elevated?
a. Calcium
b. Potassium
c. Uric acid
d. Glucose
ANS: C
High serum uric acid levels lead to the formation of uric acid crystals, usually in the kidneys and joint spaces. These crystals are long and jagged and cause the swelling, inflammation, and severe pain of gout.
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The nurse is caring for a middle-aged client prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Which side effect of medication therapy leads to the most common cause of noncompliance?
A) Hypertension B) Dizziness C) Hallucinations D) Sexual dysfunction
A client whose dislocated shoulder was reduced today is experiencing moderate pain at the site of injury and across the back. The nurse administers a prescribed oral pain medication, repositions the client, and applies an ice pack to the shoulder
The client still complains of pain and requests a cup of hot water to drink to "wash the pain" from the system. Which of these actions should the nurse take? a. Call the health care provider to request an order for the water. b. Give the client the water. c. Inform the nursing supervisor that a client may need a psychiatric consultation. d. Tell the client that water will not bring pain relief.
A community health nurse working with a group of migrant workers is reinforcing instruction on how to avoid medication errors. What should the nurse encourage clients to do in order to avoid medication errors?
1. Have all medications filled at the same pharmacy. 2. Let the health care provider know if they have difficulty acquiring their medications. 3. Ask questions about how and when to take medications if they are unsure. 4. Take all the medication as directed, and not to save the medication for a future illness. 5. Ask friends or family if they have any of the same medication and are willing to share it with the client.
When the nurse is evaluating the fluid balance for a patient admitted for hypervolemia associated with multiple draining wounds, the most accurate assessment to include is:
a) Skin turgor b) Daily weight c) Presence of edema