(A) The physician should be notified as problems arise, but in this case, the nurse can attempt to irrigate the Foley catheter first and call the physician if irrigation is unsuccessful. Notifying the physician of problems is a subsequent nursing intervention. (B) This answer is correct. Assessing catheter patency and irrigating as prescribed are the initial priorities to maintain continuous bladder irrigation. Manual irrigation will dislodge blood clots that have blocked the catheter and prevent problems of bladder distention, pain, and possibly fresh bleeding. (C) The Foley catheter would not be changed as an initial nursing intervention, but irrigation of the catheter should be done as ordered to dislodge clots that interfere with patency. (D) Even though the client complains of increasing suprapubic pain, administration of a prescribed narcotic analgesic is not the initial priority. The effect of the medication may mask the symptoms of a distended bladder and lead to more serious complications.

(A) Maintaining the hydration level is the focus for nursing intervention because dehydration enhances the sickling process. Both oral and parenteral fluids are used. (B) The pain is a result of the sickling process. Analgesics or narcotics will be used for symptom relief, but the underlying cause of the pain will be resolved with hydration. (C) Serious bacterial infections may result owing to splenic dysfunction. This is true at all times, not just during the acute period of a crisis. (D) O2 therapy is used for symptomatic relief of the hypoxia resulting from the sickling process. Hydration is the primary intervention to alleviate the dehydration that enhances the sickling process.

(A)March 27 is a miscalculation. (B) February 1 is a miscalculation. (C) February 27 is the correct answer. To calculate the estimated date of confinement using Nagele’s rule, subtract 3 monthsfrom the date that the last menstrual cycle began and then add 7 days to the result. (D) January 3 is a miscalculation.

(A) Diabetes mellitus is not a common complication of myocardial infarction. (B) Anaphylactic shock is an allergic reaction. (C) Cardiac hypertrophy is a late potential complication. It is a common complication of congestive heart failure. (D) Myocardial infarction causes tissue damage, which may interrupt electrical impulses. Myocardial irritability results from lack of oxygenated tissue.

(A, B, C) Although all of the lab data are abnormal and although these values are decreased in aplastic anemia, the disorder is defined by severe deficits in red cell, white cell, and platelet counts. (D) Aplastic anemia is typically defined in terms of abnormalities of red blood cell count, usually < 1 million, white cell count < 2,000, and thrombocytes < 20,000.