Practice Question
A nurse is caring for a client who is being admitted for an acute exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. Which of the following actions should the nurs take first?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Review the client's electrolyte values.
Rationale:
🟦 Acute UC flare causes severe diarrhea, leading to electrolyte imbalance, especially low sodium and potassium.
🟦 Electrolyte abnormalities can cause arrhythmias, dehydration, and hemodynamic instability.
🟦 Identifying imbalances early guides urgent interventions such as fluid replacement.
🟦 This is a physiologic safety priority, which comes before history or psychosocial assessment.
🟦 The nurse must assess life-threatening problems before non-urgent concerns.
Obtain dietary history
🟦 Appropriate but NOT urgent during an acute flare.
Investigate emotional concerns
🟦 Psychosocial needs are important but NOT priority in acute instability.
Check perianal skin integrity
🟦 Important, but electrolyte issues take precedence because they affect survival.
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This question is from Class of 2026 MS2 Final which contains 78 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: LPN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: LPN HESI Exams
- Domain: Med-Surgical
- Answer Choices: 4