Which client is most likely to develop a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L (6.2 mmol/L)?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer to the question is option B) The client who had a traumatic burn. Hyperkalemia (potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L) is likely in this client due to cell destruction associated with the burn, leading to the release of potassium into the bloodstream. This potassium shift can result in elevated serum potassium levels. Option A) The client who abuses laxatives is incorrect because laxative abuse can lead to potassium depletion, causing hypokalemia rather than hyperkalemia. Option C) The client with colitis is also incorrect as colitis is more likely to result in electrolyte imbalances such as hypokalemia rather than hyperkalemia. Option D) The client with Cushing's syndrome is incorrect because Cushing's syndrome is associated with conditions that can lead to hypokalemia, such as increased excretion of potassium. In an educational context, understanding the causes of electrolyte imbalances is crucial for nurses caring for patients, particularly those with traumatic burns. Monitoring for potassium shifts in burn patients is essential to prevent complications related to electrolyte imbalances. This question highlights the importance of recognizing the relationship between burns and potassium levels, emphasizing the need for accurate assessment and monitoring in clinical practice.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Kolcaba's theory of comfort defines it as a holistic state that goes beyond just physical ease or the absence of pain. It encompasses a sense of calm, satisfaction, and well-being across physical, psychospiritual, environmental, and sociocultural dimensions. Comfort is not merely a fleeting moment of relief or limited to the physical body; it's an overarching experience that nurses aim to enhance for patients. Choice A focuses only on physical ease, which is too narrow, while Choice C limits it to pain absence, ignoring other aspects like emotional or spiritual comfort. Choice D suggests temporariness, but Kolcaba views comfort as a sustainable state that can be intentionally supported. Choice B captures the full scope of her theory, emphasizing a holistic calm and satisfaction that aligns with her framework of nursing care.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Nonpharmacological interventions for pain focus on techniques that don't involve medications, aiming to enhance comfort through physical, psychological, or environmental means. Guided imagery, where patients visualize calming scenes to distract from pain, is a prime example, leveraging the mind-body connection to reduce pain perception. Choice A, administering morphine, is pharmacological, as it's a potent opioid drug used for severe pain. Choice C, prescribing ibuprofen, also falls under pharmacological methods, relying on an anti-inflammatory medication. Choice D, starting an IV opioid drip, is another drug-based approach, delivering opioids directly into the bloodstream. Choice B stands out as the correct nonpharmacological option, offering a holistic, medication-free way to manage pain, which nurses can implement alongside other therapies to improve patient comfort without the side effects or dependency risks associated with medications.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Symptom management is a key focus in end-of-life care, aiming to alleviate pain, nausea, dyspnea, or anxiety, ensuring the patient's final days are as comfortable as possible. This shifts priority from curing to caring, addressing physical and emotional suffering holistically. Choice A, aggressive curative measures, opposes this, as end-of-life care accepts the disease's terminality, avoiding futile treatments that may increase distress. Choice C, prolonged hospitalization, isn't a focuscare often moves to hospice or home settings for comfort and familiarity, not extended hospital stays. Choice D, avoiding patient interaction, is wrong; meaningful engagement with patients and families enhances dignity and support. Choice B stands out, reflecting palliative principles nurses uphold, using medications, positioning, or emotional care to manage symptoms, fostering peace over prolonging life unnecessarily.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The nurse most expects cool, clammy skin when assessing a client with acute pain, as it's a physiological response to sympathetic nervous system activationpain triggers stress, causing vasoconstriction and sweating, cooling the skin. This contrasts with chronic pain's subtler signs. Choice B, euphoria, is rareacute pain typically causes distress, not happiness, unless masked by strong analgesics, which isn't implied. Choice C, increased appetite, is unlikely; pain often suppresses hunger via stress hormones like cortisol. Choice D, lethargy, might occur in chronic pain from exhaustion, but acute pain usually heightens alertness initially due to adrenaline. Choice A is correct, reflecting a classic sign nurses assess in acute pain (e.g., post-injury), guiding interventions like analgesics or comfort measures to address both symptoms and underlying causes effectively.