Chapter 41 A patient is admitted with renal calculi. a. What symptoms will the patient manifest if he is experiencing renal colic? b. How will the nurse best manage the renal colic? c. The nurse is straining the urine for presence of stones that the patient may have passed. What is the importance of this nursing action?
Chapter 41 focuses on a patient who has been admitted with renal calculi, also known as kidney stones. Renal calculi are hard deposits that form in the kidneys and can be quite painful. In this case, we are tasked with answering three questions related to the patient’s condition: 1) What symptoms will the patient manifest if he is experiencing renal colic? 2) How will the nurse best manage the renal colic? 3) What is the importance of straining the urine for presence of stones that the patient may have passed?
a. Symptoms of renal colic typically include severe pain in the back or side, often radiating towards the lower abdomen and groin. This pain can be excruciating and intermittent, with the patient experiencing episodes of intense discomfort. The pain is usually described as sharp and stabbing, and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Patients may also experience blood in their urine, known as hematuria, which is a common sign of kidney stones. Additionally, patients may feel a frequent urge to urinate, yet only produce a small amount of urine. These symptoms may vary depending on the size, location, and number of kidney stones present.
b. The nurse’s primary goal in managing renal colic is to alleviate the patient’s pain and promote comfort. Pain management strategies may include administering analgesic medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or opioids, as prescribed by the healthcare provider. It is important for the nurse to closely monitor the patient’s pain levels and response to medication, and adjust the treatment plan accordingly. In some cases, a non-pharmacological approach may be effective, such as applying heat or cold packs to the affected area, or assisting the patient to find a comfortable position. Providing emotional support to the patient is also crucial, as renal colic can be a distressing experience.
c. The nurse’s action of straining the urine for presence of stones that the patient may have passed is important for several reasons. First, it allows for the identification and confirmation of the presence of kidney stones. By visually inspecting the urine for the passing of stones, the nurse can provide valuable information to the healthcare team regarding the progression of the patient’s condition. This information can guide the treatment plan and help determine the most appropriate interventions. Additionally, analyzing the stones can provide insights into their composition, which can be useful in guiding dietary and lifestyle modifications to prevent future stone formation. By straining the urine, the nurse also ensures that any stones that have been passed are saved for further analysis, rather than being lost in the toilet. In some cases, the stones may need to be sent to a laboratory for analysis to determine their composition and guide further medical management. Therefore, this nursing action plays a crucial role in the overall management and care of the patient with renal calculi.
In conclusion, a patient experiencing renal colic due to renal calculi may manifest symptoms such as severe back or side pain, hematuria, nausea, vomiting, and an urge to urinate despite producing a small amount of urine. The nurse’s role in managing renal colic involves providing pain relief, both pharmacologically and non-pharmacologically, and offering emotional support to the patient. Straining the urine for presence of stones that the patient may have passed is an important nursing action as it helps confirm the presence of stones, provides valuable information about the progression of the condition, and enables further analysis of the stones’ composition for appropriate management and prevention strategies.