Nursing Prioritization Delegation Assignment Q 37
A client going through intense chemotherapy treatment is admitted to the unit. Which of these would the nurse instruct the nursing assistant to report to prevent an acid-base imbalance?
A. Hair loss during the morning bath.
B. Complaints of pain associated with exertion.
C. Failure to eat all the food on the breakfast tray.
D. Prolonged episodes of nausea and vomiting.
Correct Answer: D. Prolonged episodes of nausea and vomiting.
Repeated nausea and vomiting can lead to an acid base deficit and metabolic alkalosis. Other causes of metabolic alkalosis include the loss of hydrochloric acid from the stomach through vomiting, potassium depletion due to the use of diuretics for hypertension, and the excessive use of laxatives.
Option A: Chemotherapy drugs are powerful medications that attack rapidly growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these drugs also attack other rapidly growing cells in the body — including those in the hair roots. Fortunately, most of the time hair loss from chemotherapy is temporary.
Option B: Chemotherapy or radiation induced pain is most often a form of nerve pain. It can cause peripheral neuropathy (painful numbness of the extremities), or paresthesia (numbness and tingling of hands, feet or any extremity of the body).
Option C: Cancer treatments may lower appetite or change the way food tastes or smells. Side effects such as mouth and throat problems, or nausea and vomiting can also make eating difficult. Cancer-related fatigue can also lower the appetite.