A client is admitted to the emergency room with renal calculi and is complaining of moderate to severe flank pain and nausea.
The client’s temperature is 100.8 degrees Fahrenheit. The priority nursing goal for this client is:- A- Maintain fluid and electrolyte balance
- B- Control nausea
- C- Manage pain
- D- Prevent urinary tract infection
The priority nursing goal for this client with renal calculi, flank pain, nausea, and fever is: C) Manage pain.
Here's why:
- Pain:
Moderate to severe flank pain is a hallmark symptom of renal calculi and can be incredibly distressing for the patient. Managing pain is crucial to improve their comfort and well-being, allowing them to cooperate with further investigations and treatments.
- Fever:
A temperature of 100.8°F suggests a potential infection, which can worsen the pain and lead to complications. While managing the fever is important, it's secondary to addressing the immediate and severe pain.
- Nausea:
While nausea can be distressing, it's often a secondary symptom of the pain and fever. Managing the pain may indirectly alleviate the nausea.
- Fluid and electrolyte balance:
Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance is important for kidney health and preventing complications. However, it's not the immediate priority in this situation with severe pain and potential infection.
- Urinary tract infection (UTI):
Preventing UTIs is crucial for patients with renal calculi. However, it's not the immediate priority in this acute scenario.
Therefore, while all the listed options are important for this client's care, managing the severe pain takes precedence due to its immediate impact on the patient's comfort and potential to worsen the clinical situation. Once the pain is managed, other interventions like fever control, fluid management, and UTI prevention can be addressed.
Remember, this is a general guideline based on the information provided. The specific priority may vary depending on the individual patient's presentation and any additional factors identified during the assessment.
