Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 80%
Practice
The nurse is caring for a patient receiving peritoneal dialysis. The patient suddenly complains of abdominal pain and chills. The patientÔÇÖs temperature is elevated. The nurse should
Correct answer
D
Rationale
The correct answer is D: inform the provider of probable visceral perforation. This is the most urgent action as sudden abdominal pain, chills, and elevated temperature in a patient receiving peritoneal dialysis could indicate a serious complication like visceral perforation, which requires immediate medical attention to prevent further complications. Assessing peritoneal dialysate return (A) may provide some information but does not address the urgent need to address a potential visceral perforation. Checking the patient's blood sugar (B) and evaluating the patient's neurological status (C) are not priorities in this situation and do not address the potential life-threatening complication of visceral perforation.