DSM- Liver Disease

The nurse admits a patient suspected of having cirrhosis to the medical unit. Which collaborative intervention should the nurse expect for the patient?

Liver biopsy

The nurse is caring for a patient experiencing ascites secondary to cirrhosis. Which medication should the nurse expect to be prescribed for the patient?

Diuretic

The nurse assessing a patient diagnosed with cirrhosis notes abdominal distention. The nurse should suspect the patient to be exhibiting which complication of cirrhosis?

Ascites

A patient diagnosed with cirrhosis tells the nurse, "My doctor said that I might need a liver transplant in the future. How will I know if I need a transplant?" Which response by the nurse is accurate?

"Transplantation is indicated when your functional status declines."

The nurse is performing a health history on a patient suspected of having cirrhosis of the liver. Which question is most important for the nurse to include in the patient interview?

"Do you have a history of hepatitis infection?"

The nurse is completing the admission history for a patient diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. Which question should the nurse ask the patient's family to confirm the complication of portal systemic encephalopathy?

"Has the patient been acting differently lately?"

The nurse is providing necessary lifestyle alterations to a patient diagnosed with cirrhosis. Which patient statement indicates to the nurse that further teaching is needed?

"I can't wait until I feel better so that I can go back to enjoying beer."

The nurse is providing nutritional teaching for a patient diagnosed with cirrhosis. Which patient statement leads the nurse to determine that the teaching was successful?

"I'm going to have to decrease my intake of sodium."

A 40-year-old patient is diagnosed with end-stage liver disease. The patient began drinking alcohol heavily at 17 years of age. Which statement indicates to the nurse that the patient has alcoholic cirrhosis?

"I've had a lot of abdominal pain and swelling."

The nurse is teaching a patient diagnosed with cirrhosis strategies to improve the patient's condition. Which instruction should the nurse include?

"Take medications as prescribed even if feeling better."

The healthcare provider prescribes the laxative lactulose for a patient diagnosed with cirrhosis. The patient asks the nurse, "Why do I have to take this new medicine?" Which response by the nurse is correct?

"This medication is used to reduce your ammonia levels."

An infant diagnosed with biliary atresia is scheduled for hepatoportoenterostomy surgery. Which explanation for the surgery is appropriate for the nurse to provide to the infant's parents?

"This surgery will correct the obstruction of the bile ducts and promote bile flow from the liver."

The nurse admits a patient suspected of having cirrhosis. The nurse receives an order for liver function studies. The patient asks, "Why do I need this test?" Which response by the nurse is accurate?

"To determine if your liver enzymes are elevated."

An infant scheduled for a liver transplant. The patient's parent asks the nurse, "What caused my baby to need a transplant?" Which response by the nurse is accurate?

"Your baby's bile ducts failed to develop."

A patient diagnosed with cirrhosis asks the nurse, "What is happening with my liver?" Which response by the nurse is accurate?

"Your liver tissue is being gradually replaced by scar tissue."

A 66-year-old patient admits to a history of alcoholism for most of their adult life. The patient is brought to the emergency department with bleeding esophageal varices. Which collaborative therapy should the nurse expect to be the most effective for the patient at this time?

Balloon tamponade

The nurse reviews the laboratory results for an infant suspected of having biliary atresia. Which result supports the suspected diagnosis?

Elevated bilirubin levels

The nurse is evaluating a patient diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver for discharge. Which outcome and nursing observation indicate to the nurse that the patient is ready for discharge home?

Improved coagulation studies

The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. Which risk factor should the nurse expect to find in the patient's history?

Injection drug use

The nurse assesses an infant admitted with biliary atresia. Which finding should the nurse expect?

Jaundice

The nurse is caring for a 55-year-old patient who is recovering from alcoholism, and has a primary diagnosis of cirrhosis. The nurse observes a distinct change in the patient's breathing pattern during the routine morning assessment. Which activity is appropriate for the nurse to perform while providing care?

Measure patient's abdominal girth

A patient diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver experienced bleeding esophageal varices one day ago. A Sengstaken-Blakemore tube was inserted. Which action is most important for the nurse to take when caring for the patient?

Monitor the patient's respiratory status.

The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. Which dietary modifications will this patient require?

Sodium restriction

The nurse admits a patient suspected of having portal systemic encephalopathy. Which assessment finding by the nurse should confirm the suspected diagnosis?

The patient exhibits hand flapping when the arms are extended.

The nurse admits a patient diagnosed with end-stage cirrhosis and declining functional status to the emergency department. Which collaborative treatment should the nurse expect to implement to relieve the patient's symptoms of portal hypertension and reduce the onset of esophageal varices and ascites?

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)

The nurse is caring for a child scheduled for a liver transplant. Which medication should the nurse expect to be included in the preoperative orders?

Vitamin K

The nurse is taking a health history on a patient newly diagnosed with cirrhosis. Which item should the nurse assess during this part of the admission process?

Weight loss