Caring for the Acutely Ill
Caring for the Acutely Ill Exam 3 Study
Questions and Answers UPDATED 2025
What is pyelonephritis?
infection of the kidney
What clinical manifestations are associated with pyelonephritis?
fever > 102 F, pain in the side/back or groin, dysuria, cloudy or bloody urine, urine with
odor, change in mental status of older adults
What causes the pain in pyelonephritis?
inflammed tissue
In what case would a patient experience little to no manifestations with pyelonephritis?
patients who have chronic pyelonephritis
What diagnostic tests would a nurse expect to be ordered for a patient with
pyelonephritis?
urinalysis (UA), renal ultrasound, DMSA, BUN & Creatinine levels
What can a UA assess for?
blood in urine, urine concentration, and bacteria
What can a renal ultrasound assess for?
to view the kidney structures to assess for cysts, tumors, or obstructions
What can a DMSA assess for?
any scarring in the urinary tract
What is the role of the nurse for a patient with pyelonephritis?
disease prevention
What education would be helpful in disease preventions of pyelonephritis?
maintain adequate hydration, urinate after intercourse, females should wipe from front
to back, avoid the use of feminine sprays
Caring for the Acutely Ill
,Caring for the Acutely Ill
What does it mean if the urinalysis indicates the presence of nitrates?
this indicates that the cause of the pyelonephritis is E. coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae
What can the presence of nitrates cause in the kidney?
can lead to emphysematous pyelonephritis -> which can cause necrosis of the kidney
How would a patient with uncomplicated pyelonephritis be treated?
this patient would be treated on an outpatient basis, anf the nurse should plan on
educating the client on taking an oral antibiotic for 14 days; additional education on
prevention should also be in the plan of care
How would a patient with complicated pyelonephritis be treated?
this patient would be admitted and administration of IV antibiotics, pain medications, &
antipyretics would be given
How is pyelonephritis considered complicated?
if the patient has an underlying condition
- for example: pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, kidney transplant recipient, or renal
failure
What actions should a nurse plan to take to care for a patient with pyelonephritis?
administer antibiotics, fluids, and antipyretics
What outcomes are in a pyelonephritis patient's plan of care?
free of pain and fever, negative urinalysis, and normal range of CBC, BUN, and creatinine
What are a few antibiotics used for a patient with pyelonephritis?
levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, co-trimoxazole, ampicillin
The nurse is assessing a client with a history of pyelonephritis. The nurse is concerned
the client may be developing renal failure based on which of the following symptoms?
edema & weight gain
3 multiple choice options
What is a renal calculi?
kidney stones
What are some risk factors of renal calculi?
Caring for the Acutely Ill
, Caring for the Acutely Ill
diet, genetics, enviornment, lifestyle
What clinical manifestations are associated with a renal calculi?
flank pain with an acute onset with may radiate to the groin, testicles, or labia,
nausea/vomiting, hematuria, fever/chills
What diagnostic tests may help identify a renal calculi?
KUB (kidney, ureter, bladder x-ray), ultrasound, non-contrast abdominal and pelvic CT,
urinalysis
How can a KUB help a renal calculi patient?
assess for renal calculi, but this test may miss small stones
How can an ultrasound help a renal calculi patient?
determines if obstruction and possible hydronephrosis is present
How can a non-contrast abdominal and pelvic CT help a renal calculi patient?
can help identify an stones or obstructions, but the IV contrast dye is nephrotoxic and
may cause further kidney damage
How can a UA help a renal calculi patient?
helps show any signs of infection
What is the role of the nurse for a renal calculi patient?
help determine and educate on any pre-disposing factors
What is renal calculi prevention based upon?
the patient's compliance in following a long-term regime to help prevent any further
stones
What are 2 priorties in a renal calculi patient?
pain management and fluid volume
What should the nurse do to all urine from a renal calculi patient?
strain the urine
What are the outcomes for a renal calculi patient?
passage of calculi & pain relief
Caring for the Acutely Ill
Caring for the Acutely Ill Exam 3 Study
Questions and Answers UPDATED 2025
What is pyelonephritis?
infection of the kidney
What clinical manifestations are associated with pyelonephritis?
fever > 102 F, pain in the side/back or groin, dysuria, cloudy or bloody urine, urine with
odor, change in mental status of older adults
What causes the pain in pyelonephritis?
inflammed tissue
In what case would a patient experience little to no manifestations with pyelonephritis?
patients who have chronic pyelonephritis
What diagnostic tests would a nurse expect to be ordered for a patient with
pyelonephritis?
urinalysis (UA), renal ultrasound, DMSA, BUN & Creatinine levels
What can a UA assess for?
blood in urine, urine concentration, and bacteria
What can a renal ultrasound assess for?
to view the kidney structures to assess for cysts, tumors, or obstructions
What can a DMSA assess for?
any scarring in the urinary tract
What is the role of the nurse for a patient with pyelonephritis?
disease prevention
What education would be helpful in disease preventions of pyelonephritis?
maintain adequate hydration, urinate after intercourse, females should wipe from front
to back, avoid the use of feminine sprays
Caring for the Acutely Ill
,Caring for the Acutely Ill
What does it mean if the urinalysis indicates the presence of nitrates?
this indicates that the cause of the pyelonephritis is E. coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae
What can the presence of nitrates cause in the kidney?
can lead to emphysematous pyelonephritis -> which can cause necrosis of the kidney
How would a patient with uncomplicated pyelonephritis be treated?
this patient would be treated on an outpatient basis, anf the nurse should plan on
educating the client on taking an oral antibiotic for 14 days; additional education on
prevention should also be in the plan of care
How would a patient with complicated pyelonephritis be treated?
this patient would be admitted and administration of IV antibiotics, pain medications, &
antipyretics would be given
How is pyelonephritis considered complicated?
if the patient has an underlying condition
- for example: pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes, kidney transplant recipient, or renal
failure
What actions should a nurse plan to take to care for a patient with pyelonephritis?
administer antibiotics, fluids, and antipyretics
What outcomes are in a pyelonephritis patient's plan of care?
free of pain and fever, negative urinalysis, and normal range of CBC, BUN, and creatinine
What are a few antibiotics used for a patient with pyelonephritis?
levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, co-trimoxazole, ampicillin
The nurse is assessing a client with a history of pyelonephritis. The nurse is concerned
the client may be developing renal failure based on which of the following symptoms?
edema & weight gain
3 multiple choice options
What is a renal calculi?
kidney stones
What are some risk factors of renal calculi?
Caring for the Acutely Ill
, Caring for the Acutely Ill
diet, genetics, enviornment, lifestyle
What clinical manifestations are associated with a renal calculi?
flank pain with an acute onset with may radiate to the groin, testicles, or labia,
nausea/vomiting, hematuria, fever/chills
What diagnostic tests may help identify a renal calculi?
KUB (kidney, ureter, bladder x-ray), ultrasound, non-contrast abdominal and pelvic CT,
urinalysis
How can a KUB help a renal calculi patient?
assess for renal calculi, but this test may miss small stones
How can an ultrasound help a renal calculi patient?
determines if obstruction and possible hydronephrosis is present
How can a non-contrast abdominal and pelvic CT help a renal calculi patient?
can help identify an stones or obstructions, but the IV contrast dye is nephrotoxic and
may cause further kidney damage
How can a UA help a renal calculi patient?
helps show any signs of infection
What is the role of the nurse for a renal calculi patient?
help determine and educate on any pre-disposing factors
What is renal calculi prevention based upon?
the patient's compliance in following a long-term regime to help prevent any further
stones
What are 2 priorties in a renal calculi patient?
pain management and fluid volume
What should the nurse do to all urine from a renal calculi patient?
strain the urine
What are the outcomes for a renal calculi patient?
passage of calculi & pain relief
Caring for the Acutely Ill
