Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 63%
Full-length
Passage / Scenario
The nurse is caring for a 20-year-old female client.Nurses' Notes
Urgent Care Clinic
0845: The parent brought the client to the clinic due to vomiting and weakness. The parent states that the client has experienced
sore throat and nasal congestion for the past week. The client has had 4 episodes of emesis during the past 24 hours and
diffuse, constant abdominal pain. The parent also reports that the client has had increased thirst and urine output over the
past 2 months.
The client's last menstrual period ended approximately 6 weeks ago with no abnormalities. Pregnancy status is unknown. The
client does not take any medications and does not use tobacco, alcohol, or recreational substances. Family history includes
hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
The client appears drowsy and is oriented to person and time only. The abdomen is soft without rigidity or rebound
tenderness, and bowel sounds are normal. No blood is present in emesis. Respirations are rapid and deep. Breath sounds
are clear.
Vital signs are T 98.8 F (37.1 C), P 128, RR 30, and BP 88/60 mm Hg.
Finger-stick blood glucose level is 600 mg/dL (33.3 mmol/L).
For each potential finding below, click to specify if the finding is consistent with the disease process of diabetic ketoacidosis, ruptured appendix, or ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Each finding may support more than one disease process.
Rationale
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a complication of diabetes mellitus that results from lack of insulin. Insulin is required to transport glucose
into cells for energy, which means that lack of insulin leads to intracellular starvation despite the high level of glucose circulating in the blood
(hyperglycemia). Physiologic responses to hyperglycemia include osmotic diuresis (polyuria) for reduction of blood glucose levels and
breakdown of fat into acidic ketone bodies for energy. This leads to states of dehydration (as evidenced by tachycardia), electrolyte
imbalance, and metabolic acidosis. Ketoacidosis leads to tachypnea and deep respirations (Kussmaul respirations), as well as abdominal
pain and vomiting.
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix often resulting from obstruction by fecal matter. Appendiceal obstruction traps colonic fluid
and mucus, causing increased intraluminal pressure and inflammation. This impairs perfusion of the appendix, resulting in swelling and
ischemia. Clinical manifestations include fever, abdominal pain, rebound abdominal tenderness, tachycardia, nausea, and vomiting.
Abdominal pain usually begins near the umbilicus and migrates to the right lower quadrant (eg, McBurney point). Tachypnea, as well as a
compensatory response, can be present, especially if there is a ruptured appendix or evidence of sepsis causing lactic acidosis (metabolic
acidosis).
into cells for energy, which means that lack of insulin leads to intracellular starvation despite the high level of glucose circulating in the blood
(hyperglycemia). Physiologic responses to hyperglycemia include osmotic diuresis (polyuria) for reduction of blood glucose levels and
breakdown of fat into acidic ketone bodies for energy. This leads to states of dehydration (as evidenced by tachycardia), electrolyte
imbalance, and metabolic acidosis. Ketoacidosis leads to tachypnea and deep respirations (Kussmaul respirations), as well as abdominal
pain and vomiting.
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix often resulting from obstruction by fecal matter. Appendiceal obstruction traps colonic fluid
and mucus, causing increased intraluminal pressure and inflammation. This impairs perfusion of the appendix, resulting in swelling and
ischemia. Clinical manifestations include fever, abdominal pain, rebound abdominal tenderness, tachycardia, nausea, and vomiting.
Abdominal pain usually begins near the umbilicus and migrates to the right lower quadrant (eg, McBurney point). Tachypnea, as well as a
compensatory response, can be present, especially if there is a ruptured appendix or evidence of sepsis causing lactic acidosis (metabolic
acidosis).