A home health nurse is caring for a client who has Alzheimer's disease.
The client's son is concerned about his mother becoming frustrated.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?

The correct answer is choice b. Reduced fat in the stools.

Choice A rationale:

Decreased sodium excretion is not a therapeutic effect of pancrelipase. Pancrelipase is an enzyme replacement therapy that helps in the digestion of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, but it does not affect sodium excretion.

Choice B rationale:

Reduced fat in the stools is the correct answer. Pancrelipase helps in the digestion of fats, which reduces the amount of fat excreted in the stools. This is particularly important for patients with cystic fibrosis, who often have pancreatic insufficiency leading to malabsorption of fats.

Choice C rationale:

Improved respiratory function is not a direct therapeutic effect of pancrelipase. While better nutrition and absorption can indirectly support overall health, including respiratory function, pancrelipase specifically targets digestive enzyme insufficiency.

Choice D rationale:

Improved absorption of vitamins B and C is not the primary therapeutic effect of pancrelipase. Pancrelipase aids in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) rather than water-soluble vitamins like B and C.

The correct answer is Choice B.

Choice A rationale: Bradycardia is not typically associated with a perforated appendix. Instead, tachycardia (increased heart rate) may occur due to pain and infection-related systemic responses. Bradycardia could indicate other unrelated medical issues and should still be monitored.

Choice B rationale: Elevated temperature is a key sign of infection and inflammation, which are common with a perforated appendix. The release of bacteria into the abdominal cavity can cause peritonitis, leading to fever as part of the body's immune response.

Choice C rationale: Lethargy can be a nonspecific symptom and may occur in various conditions. While it can be associated with severe infection, it is not a definitive indicator of a perforated appendix. Monitoring for more specific signs, like fever and pain, is crucial.

Choice D rationale: Decreased abdominal girth is unlikely and not indicative of a perforated appendix. Instead, an increase in abdominal girth due to fluid accumulation (ascites) or air (from perforation) would be more concerning and should be reported promptly.