Question

A patient has been admitted to the medical unit with a diagnosis of ureteral colic secondary to urolithiasis. When planning the patient's admission assessment, the nurse should be aware of the signs and symptoms that are characteristic of this diagnosis? Select all that apply.

A) Diarrhea
B) High fever
C) Hematuria
D) Urinary frequency
E) Acute pain"

Answer 1

Patients with urolithiasis may experience acute pain, hematuria, and urinary frequency.

Step-by-step explanation:

When planning the admission assessment for a patient with a diagnosis of ureteral colic secondary to urolithiasis, the nurse should be aware of the following signs and symptoms that are characteristic of this diagnosis:

1. Acute pain: Patients with ureteral colic due to kidney stones often experience severe episodic pain in the flank, lower abdomen, and groin. This pain is typically described as one of the worst pains ever experienced.
2. Hematuria: Blood in the urine is commonly present in patients with urolithiasis. It occurs due to damage to the lining of the urinary tract.
3. Urinary frequency: While not a universal symptom, some patients with kidney stones may experience increased urinary frequency as a result of irritation of the urinary tract.

Different patients may experience varying combinations of these symptoms, but the presence of acute pain, hematuria, and possible urinary frequency can be indicative of urolithiasis.