Which nursing diagnosis is appropriate for a client with renal calculi?

Which nursing diagnosis is appropriate for a client with renal calculi?

• A. Risk for infection
• B. Acute pain
• C. Impaired urinary elimination
• D. Deficient knowledge

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is recognizing a potential complication from urinary obstruction caused by renal calculi. When a stone blocks urine flow, urine can become stagnant, creating an environment where bacteria thrive and infection can develop. That makes risk for infection the most appropriate nursing diagnosis, because it focuses on preventing or detecting complications such as urinary tract infection or pyelonephritis and guides actions like ensuring adequate hydration, monitoring for fever or changes in urinary symptoms, and initiating prescribed antibiotics if infection is suspected. Pain is a prominent symptom of renal calculi and requires analgesia, but the nursing diagnosis here centers on the risk of infection rather than the pain itself; impaired urinary elimination would apply only if there were clear difficulty with voiding, and deficient knowledge would be relevant if education was the primary issue.

The concept being tested is recognizing a potential complication from urinary obstruction caused by renal calculi. When a stone blocks urine flow, urine can become stagnant, creating an environment where bacteria thrive and infection can develop. That makes risk for infection the most appropriate nursing diagnosis, because it focuses on preventing or detecting complications such as urinary tract infection or pyelonephritis and guides actions like ensuring adequate hydration, monitoring for fever or changes in urinary symptoms, and initiating prescribed antibiotics if infection is suspected. Pain is a prominent symptom of renal calculi and requires analgesia, but the nursing diagnosis here centers on the risk of infection rather than the pain itself; impaired urinary elimination would apply only if there were clear difficulty with voiding, and deficient knowledge would be relevant if education was the primary issue.