Question

A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has calcium oxalate renal calculi. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

a) Increase your intake of foods high in oxalates, such as spinach.
b) Limit your consumption of fluids, especially water.
c) Reduce your dietary calcium intake to prevent stone formation.
d) Maintain a low-oxalate diet, avoiding certain vegetables and nuts.

Answer 1

The correct answer is d) Maintain a low-oxalate diet, avoiding certain vegetables and nuts. A low-oxalate diet helps prevent the formation of calcium oxalate stones, while consuming enough dietary calcium can bind oxalate and prevent its absorption and increasing fluid intake is also a key preventive measure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should include in the teaching that the client with calcium oxalate renal calculi should maintain a low-oxalate diet, avoiding foods that are high in oxalates such as certain vegetables like spinach and nuts. This is important because oxalates can promote the formation of calcium oxalate stones in the kidneys. Additionally, it is advised to consume an adequate amount of dietary calcium to bind with oxalate in the gastrointestinal tract, which reduces oxalate absorption into the bloodstream and subsequent urinary excretion. Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, to produce 2 to 2.5 liters of urine a day helps to dilute the urine and reduce the risk of stone formation.

Preventive strategies for kidney stones also include consuming diets low in protein, nitrogen, sodium, and reducing intake of animal protein to decrease the excretory load on the kidneys.