Lewis Ch. 43

A 54-year-old patient admitted with diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, osteomyelitis, and alcohol abuse has a serum amylase level of 280 U/L and a serum lipase level of 310 U/L. To what diagnosis does the nurse attribute these findings? a. Malnutrition b. Osteomyelitis c. Alcohol abuse d. Diabetes mellitus

C. Alcohol abuse The patient with alcohol abuse could develop pancreatitis as a complication, which would increase the serum amylase (normal 30-122 U/L) and serum lipase (normal 31-186 U/L) levels as shown.

The nurse is planning care for a 48-year-old woman with acute severe pancreatitis. The highest priority patient outcome is a. maintaining normal respiratory function. b. expressing satisfaction with pain control. c. developing no ongoing pancreatic disease. d. having adequate fluid and electrolyte balance.

a. maintaining normal respiratory function. Respiratory failure can occur as a complication of acute pancreatitis, and maintenance of adequate respiratory function is the priority goal.

A serum potassium level of 3.2 mEq/L (3.2 mmol/L) is reported for a patient with cirrhosis who has scheduled doses of spironolactone (Aldactone) and furosemide (Lasix). due. Which action should the nurse take? a. Administer both drugs. b. Administer the spironolactone. c. Withhold the spironolactone and administer the furosemide. d. Withhold both drugs until discussed with the health care provider.

b. Administer the spironolactone. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic and will help increase the patients potassium level.

To prepare a 56-year-old male patient with ascites for paracentesis, the nurse a. places the patient on NPO status. b. assists the patient to lie flat in bed. c. asks the patient to empty the bladder. d. positions the patient on the right side.

c. asks the patient to empty the bladder. The patient should empty the bladder to decrease the risk of bladder perforation during the procedure.

The nurse will ask a 64-year-old patient being admitted with acute pancreatitis specifically about a history of a. diabetes mellitus. b. high-protein diet. c. cigarette smoking. d. alcohol consumption.

d. alcohol consumption. Alcohol use is one of the most common risk factors for pancreatitis in the United States.

The patient with advanced cirrhosis asks why his abdomen is so swollen. The nurse's response is based on the knowledge that a. a lack of clotting factors promotes the collection of blood in the abdominal cavity. b. portal hypertension and hypoalbuminemia cause a fluid shift into the peritoneal space. c. decreased peristalsis in the GI tract contributes to gas formation and distention of the bowel. d. bile salts in the blood irritate the peritoneal membranes, causing edema and pocketing of fluid.

Correct answer: b Rationale: Ascites is the accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal or abdominal cavity and is a common manifestation of cirrhosis.

The health care provider orders lactulose for a patient with hepatic encephalopathy. The nurse will monitor for effectiveness of this medication for this patient by assessing which of the following? A. Relief of constipation B. Relief of abdominal pain C. Decreased liver enzymes D. Decreased ammonia levels

D) Hepatic encephalopathy is a complication of liver disease and is associated with elevated serum ammonia levels. Lactulose traps ammonia in the intestinal tract. Its laxative effect then expels the ammonia from the colon, resulting in decreased serum ammonia levels and correction of hepatic encephalopathy.

A 23-year-old has been admitted with acute liver failure. Which assessment data are most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider? a. Asterixis and lethargy b. Jaundiced sclera and skin c. Elevated total bilirubin level d. Liver 3 cm below costal margin

a. Asterixis and lethargyThe patients findings of asterixis and lethargy are consistent with grade 2 hepatic encephalopathy.

Which finding indicates to the nurse that lactulose (Cephulac) is effective for a 72-year-old man who has advanced cirrhosis? a. The patient is alert and oriented. b. The patient denies nausea or anorexia. c. The patients bilirubin level decreases. d. The patient has at least one stool daily

a. The patient is alert and oriented. The purpose of lactulose in the patient with cirrhosis is to lower ammonia levels and prevent encephalopathy. Although lactulose may be used to treat constipation, that is not the purpose for this patient.

Which action should the nurse take to evaluate treatment effectiveness for a patient who has hepatic encephalopathy? a. Request that the patient stand on one foot. b. Ask the patient to extend both arms forward. c. Request that the patient walk with eyes closed. d. Ask the patient to perform the Valsalva maneuver.

b. Ask the patient to extend both arms forward. Extending the arms allows the nurse to check for asterixis, a classic sign of hepatic encephalopathy. The other tests might also be done as part of the neurologic assessment but would not be diagnostic for hepatic encephalopathy.

Which topic is most important to include in patient teaching for a 41-year-old patient diagnosed with early alcoholic cirrhosis? a. Maintaining good nutrition b. Avoiding alcohol ingestion c. Taking lactulose (Cephulac) d. Using vitamin B supplements

b. Avoiding alcohol ingestion The disease progression can be stopped or reversed by alcohol abstinence. The other interventions may be used when cirrhosis becomes more severe to decrease symptoms or complications, but the priority for this patient is to stop the progression of the disease.

A 55-year-old patient admitted with an abrupt onset of jaundice and nausea has abnormal liver function studies but serologic testing is negative for viral causes of hepatitis. Which question by the nurse is most appropriate? a. Is there any history of IV drug use? b. Do you use any over-the-counter drugs? c. Are you taking corticosteroids for any reason? d. Have you recently traveled to a foreign country?

b. Do you use any over-the-counter drugs? The patients symptoms, lack of antibodies for hepatitis, and the abrupt onset of symptoms suggest toxic hepatitis, which can be caused by commonly used over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).

The nurse is caring for a 73-year-old man who has cirrhosis. Which data obtained by the nurse during the assessment will be of most concern? a. The patient complains of right upper-quadrant pain with palpation. b. The patients hands flap back and forth when the arms are extended. c. The patient has ascites and a 2-kg weight gain from the previous day. d. The patients skin has multiple spider-shaped blood vessels on the abdomen.

b. The patients hands flap back and forth when the arms are extended. Asterixis indicates that the patient has hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatic coma may occur.

Which assessment information will be most important for the nurse to report to the health care provider about a patient with acute cholecystitis? a. The patients urine is bright yellow. b. The patients stools are tan colored. c. The patient has increased pain after eating. d. The patient complains of chronic heartburn.

b. The patients stools are tan colored. Tan or grey stools indicate biliary obstruction, which requires rapid intervention to resolve

To detect possible complications in a patient with severe cirrhosis who has bleeding esophageal varices, it is most important for the nurse to monitor a. bilirubin levels. b. ammonia levels. c. potassium levels. d. prothrombin time.

b. ammonia levels. The protein in the blood in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract will be absorbed and may result in an increase in the ammonia level because the liver cannot metabolize protein very well.

Which action should the nurse in the emergency department take first for a new patient who is vomiting blood? a. Insert a large-gauge IV catheter. b. Draw blood for coagulation studies. c. Check blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and respirations. d. Place the patient in the supine position.

c. Check blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and respirations. The nurses first action should be to determine the patients hemodynamic status by assessing vital signs.

A 49-year-old female patient with cirrhosis and esophageal varices has a new prescription for propranolol (Inderal). Which finding is the best indicator that the medication has been effective? a. The patient reports no chest pain. b. Blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg. c. Stools test negative for occult blood. d. The apical pulse rate is 68 beats/minute

c. Stools test negative for occult blood. Because the purpose of b-blocker therapy for patients with esophageal varices is to decrease the risk for bleeding from esophageal varices, the best indicator of the effectiveness for propranolol is the lack of blood in the stools.

When planning care for a patient with cirrhosis, the nurse will give highest priority to which nursing diagnosis? a. Impaired skin integrity related to edema, ascites, and pruritus b. Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements related to anorexia c. Excess fluid volume related to portal hypertension and hyperaldosteronism d. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pressure on diaphragm and reduced lung volume

d. Ineffective breathing pattern related to pressure on diaphragm and reduced lung volume Although all of these nursing diagnoses are appropriate and important in the care of a patient with cirrhosis, airway and breathing are always the highest priorities.