Final answer:
The nurse should assess for peripheral edema and check blood pressure when caring for a patient with acute glomerular inflammation, as these are characteristic signs of the condition. Assessing orientation and judgment may be relevant for severe cases, while auscultation for dysrhythmias and abdominal quadrant pain are not primary assessments for this condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
When caring for a patient with acute glomerular inflammation, or acute glomerulonephritis, the nurse should include specific assessments which are indicative of the condition. The characteristic signs and symptoms that should be assessed include:
- Assess for the presence of peripheral edema, as fluid retention leading to edema in areas such as the face, hands, and feet is a common symptom of glomerulonephritis due to its impact on kidney function and fluid balance.
- Assess the patient's blood pressure (BP), since increased blood pressure is a frequent result of the decreased kidney function that accompanies glomerulonephritis.
- Assessing the patient's orientation and judgment could be relevant if there's a concern for severe uremia, which can lead to altered mental status, but is a non-specific finding and not typically used as a primary assessment for glomerulonephritis.
- Auscultating the patient's apical heart rate for dysrhythmias might be indicated if the patient has symptoms or a history that suggests potential heart involvement but it's not a primary characteristic of acute glomerular inflammation.
- Percussing for pain in the right lower abdominal quadrant is more indicative of appendicitis or other lower abdominal pathology, rather than glomerulonephritis, and would not be part of the routine assessment for this kidney condition.
Therefore, for the assessment of acute glomerulonephritis, including peripheral edema and blood pressure checks are essential and align with the symptoms associated with this condition.