A client admitted to the hospital with a suspected diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is being assessed by the nurse. Which assessment findings would be consistent with acute pancreatitis? (Select all that apply)
Diarrhea.
Black tarry stools.
Hyperactive bowel sounds.
Gray-blue color at the flank.
Abdominal guarding and tenderness.
Left upper quadrant pain with radiation to the back.
Correct Answer : D,E,F
Choice A reason: Diarrhea is less common in acute pancreatitis, which typically causes nausea and vomiting. Flank discoloration is a specific sign, making this incorrect, as it’s not a primary finding the nurse would expect in the assessment of acute pancreatitis.
Choice B reason: Black tarry stools indicate upper GI bleeding, not pancreatitis, which causes pain and guarding. Left quadrant pain is typical, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s expected findings in a client with suspected acute pancreatitis.
Choice C reason: Hyperactive bowel sounds suggest obstruction, not pancreatitis, which often causes hypoactive sounds due to inflammation. Abdominal tenderness is correct, making this incorrect, as it doesn’t align with the nurse’s anticipated findings in acute pancreatitis assessment.
Choice D reason: Gray, including its reasoning, and a gray-blue flank (Cullen’s or Grey Turner’s sign) indicates severe pancreatitis with hemorrhage. This aligns with severe pancreatitis assessment, making it a correct finding the nurse would expect in suspected acute pancreatitis.
Choice E reason: Abdominal guarding and tenderness result from pancreatic inflammation, common in acute pancreatitis. This aligns with abdominal assessment findings, making it a correct manifestation the nurse would identify in a client with suspected acute pancreatitis.
Choice F reason: Left upper quadrant pain radiating to the back is classic in acute pancreatitis due to pancreatic inflammation. This aligns with clinical assessment, making it a correct finding the nurse would expect in a client with suspected acute pancreatitis.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Tongue furrows indicate dehydration but don’t assess ambulation safety, which requires hemodynamic stability. Orthostatic blood pressure changes are key, making this incorrect, as it’s less relevant than the nurse’s priority to evaluate fall risk in a dehydrated client.
Choice B reason: Comparing blood pressure in lying, sitting, and standing positions detects orthostatic hypotension, a fall risk in dehydrated older clients. This aligns with mobility safety assessment, making it the correct action to determine if the client is safe for independent ambulation.
Choice C reason: Serum potassium above 3.5 mEq/L ensures cardiac stability but doesn’t directly assess ambulation safety. Orthostatic changes are more relevant, making this incorrect, as it’s not the nurse’s primary focus for evaluating mobility in a dehydrated client.
Choice D reason: Radial and apical pulse consistency checks pacemaker function, not ambulation safety in dehydration. Blood pressure changes are critical, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s assessment of safe independent ambulation in the dehydrated older client.
Correct Answer is ["A","F"]
Explanation
Choice A reason: Sodium of 130 mEq/L indicates hyponatremia, likely from vomiting-induced sodium loss. This aligns with the child’s electrolyte profile and symptoms, making it a correct imbalance the nurse would identify as most likely based on the lab values and clinical presentation.
Choice B reason: Calcium of 9.5 mg/dL is normal, not indicating hypocalcemia. Hyponatremia and metabolic alkalosis match the labs (sodium 130, HCO3 30), making this incorrect, as it does not reflect the child’s electrolyte imbalances from vomiting and irregular pulse.
Choice C reason: Potassium of 3.3 mEq/L is low, not high, ruling out hyperkalemia. Hyponatremia and metabolic alkalosis fit the labs and vomiting history, making this incorrect, as it contradicts the child’s potassium level in the nurse’s assessment of imbalances.
Choice D reason: Potassium of 3.3 mEq/L suggests mild hypokalemia, but hyponatremia (sodium 130) is more prominent with vomiting. Metabolic alkalosis is also evident, making this partially correct but incorrect as the primary imbalance compared to hyponatremia in the child’s profile.
Choice E reason: HCO3 of 30 mEq/L indicates alkalosis, not acidosis, due to vomiting-induced hydrogen ion loss. Hyponatremia and metabolic alkalosis are correct, making this incorrect, as it contradicts the child’s alkalotic state in the nurse’s evaluation of lab values.
Choice F reason: HCO3 of 30 mEq/L indicates metabolic alkalosis, common with vomiting due to loss of acidic gastric contents. This, with hyponatremia, aligns with the child’s labs and symptoms, making it a correct imbalance the nurse would identify in the assessment.
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