(^382) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
TREATMENT
- Surgical removal by nephrectomy.
- Tumor destruction by radiofrequency ablation.
- Chemotherapy.
NURSING DIAGNOSIS
- Fear
- Impaired skin integrity
- Risk of impaired urinary elimination
NURSING INTERVENTIONS
- Monitor vital signs for changes.
- Monitor intake and output.
- Monitor operative site for redness, swelling, and bleeding.
- Monitor pain level postoperatively.
- Hourly urine output monitoring for first 24 to 48 hours postoperatively.
- Monitor hemoglobin and hematocrit as scheduled.
- Monitor for signs of infection postoperatively.
Kidney Stones
WHAT WENT WRONG?
Kidney stones, also known as renal calculi or nephrolithiasis, occur within the kid-
neys. Stones can also form elsewhere within the urinary tract. The patient may not
have any symptoms from kidney stones until the stone attempts to move down the
ureter towards the bladder. Patients develop crystals within the urine. A slow flow
of urine gives the crystals time to form a stone. Crystals may be formed from cal-
cium, uric acid, cystine, or struvite. Medications such as diuretics can increase the
risk of kidney stone formation in some patients.5