A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving hemodialysis. During dialysis, what measure should the nurse or the dialysis nurse employ when caring for this client?

Question

A) Check the shunt every 20 to 30 minutes for vibration.
B) Measure blood pressure on the nondominant hand.
C) Encourage the client to drink enough orange juice.
D) Keep two clamps on the dressing over the cannula.

Answer 1

D
Feedback:
The nurse should keep two clamps on the dressing over the cannula as a precautionary measure during cannula separation, to clamp the ends of the separated cannula quickly until they can be reattached. The shunt should be checked every 2 to 3 hours for vibration, because vibration in the shunt indicates that the blood is flowing normally. The nurse should avoid measuring blood pressure on the nondominant hand because the shunt is usually attached to the nondominant hand and it could be separated when measuring blood pressure. Apple or grape juice should be given instead of orange juice because orange juice is high in potassium and elevated potassium levels can lead to cardiac arrest.