A 43-year-old patient diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney is scheduled for nephrectomy. The left kidney is normal according to diagnostic exam findings, however, the patient is very anxious about the possibility of undergoing dialysis. The nurse is effective in teaching her patient if she says:

Explanation

•Anxious cancer patients experiencing surgery need emotional support and reassurance. For patients with renal cancer scheduled to undergo a nephrectomy, it is important to inform them that the remaining healthy kidney is still able to adequately meet the body’s metabolic needs.

•A nephrectomy is a surgical procedure for the removal of a kidney or section of a kidney that is indicated for patients with renal cell carcinoma or cancer of the kidney.

•There is no need for fluid restriction with a functioning kidney.

•Telling the patient he has absolutely no chance of needing dialysis or that there is a strong change of needing dialysis is inappropriate and inaccurate.

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