Question

A child is admitted to the hospital with a probable diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome. Which findings would the nurse expect to observe? Select all that apply.

a) Proteinuria
b) Hypertension
c) Edema
d) Hyperalbuminemia

Answer 1

In cases of nephrotic syndrome, a nurse would expect to observe proteinuria and edema, as the condition involves significant protein loss in the urine and low serum albumin levels, leading to swelling.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a child is admitted to the hospital with a probable diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome, the nurse would expect to observe several clinical findings. Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by damage to the glomerulus, which leads to proteinuria, or the presence of a large amount of protein in the urine. This condition also typically presents with edema due to low serum albumin levels, which fail to regulate the water content in the tissues properly, leading to swelling in various parts of the body. However, hypertension is not a primary feature of nephrotic syndrome, and hyperalbuminemia is incorrect as the albumin level is actually low (hypoalbuminemia) due to its loss through the urine. Therefore, the findings that the nurse would expect to observe in a child with nephrotic syndrome are: a) Proteinuria and c) Edema.