A nurse in a clinic is caring for a client who has alcohol use disorder. The client reports frequent bruising and nosebleeds. Which of the following conditions should the nurse suspect?

A. Perform leg exercises every 2 hr: Performing leg exercises every 2 hours is essential for preventing blood clots and maintaining circulation in immobile patients. This is especially important after surgery to prevent complications like deep vein thrombosis.

B. Irrigate the nasogastric tube every 4 to 8 hr: Irrigating the nasogastric tube is not a standard nursing practice and should not be done without a physician's order. The nasogastric tube is typically used for decompression, drainage, or feeding. If the tube becomes clogged or there are concerns about drainage, the nurse should contact the healthcare provider for further instructions.

C. Maintain bed rest for 48 hr following surgery: While some bed rest might be necessary immediately after surgery, the goal is to encourage mobility as soon as possible to prevent complications such as atelectasis and deep vein thrombosis. Patients are usually encouraged to mobilize as soon as they are medically stable, often within hours after surgery.

D. Encourage hourly use of an incentive spirometer while awake: Using an incentive spirometer helps prevent atelectasis and promotes lung expansion after surgery. Encouraging the patient to use the incentive spirometer hourly while awake is a common nursing intervention to maintain respiratory function postoperatively.

E. Document the color, consistency, and amount of nasogastric drainage: Documenting the color, consistency, and amount of nasogastric drainage is crucial for monitoring the patient's condition. Changes in these factors could indicate bleeding, infection, or other complications, and timely documentation helps healthcare providers assess the patient's status and make appropriate interventions.

A. Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus can cause easy bruising and slow wound healing, but it is not typically associated with frequent nosebleeds.

B. Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A primarily affects the liver and does not cause frequent bruising and nosebleeds.

C. Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis, which is scarring of the liver tissue due to long-term liver damage, can lead to impaired liver function. One consequence of cirrhosis is decreased production of clotting factors, which can result in easy bruising. Additionally, the enlarged spleen in cirrhosis can lead to thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), contributing to bleeding tendencies, including nosebleeds. Cirrhosis is the most likely condition given the symptoms described.

D. Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder and is not directly associated with frequent bruising and nosebleeds.