Question

A 65-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes has a urinary tract infection (UTI). The unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) reported to the nurse that the patient's blood glucose is 642 mg/dL and the patient is hard to arouse. When the nurse assesses the urine, there are no ketones present. What collaborative care should the nurse expect for this patient?

a. Routine insulin therapy and exercise
b. Administer a different antibiotic for the UTI.
c. Cardiac monitoring to detect potassium changes
d. Administer IV fluids rapidly to correct dehydration.

Answer 1

The nurse should expect to administer IV fluids rapidly to correct dehydration for the 65-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes and a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should expect the collaborative care for the 65-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes and a urinary tract infection (UTI) to include administering IV fluids rapidly to correct dehydration.

This patient is hard to arouse, which may be an indication of severe dehydration. Administering IV fluids rapidly can help correct the dehydration and stabilize the patient's condition.

While insulin therapy and exercise may be part of the long-term management of the patient's diabetes, these interventions would not be the primary focus in the immediate treatment of the UTI and dehydration. Administering a different antibiotic for the UTI may be considered if the current antibiotic is not effective, but addressing dehydration is the priority at this time. Lastly, cardiac monitoring to detect potassium changes may be necessary if there are signs of electrolyte imbalances, but it is not the main collaborative care for this patient.