A nurse is caring for a client with acute pancreatitis. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize to manage pain?
Administer oral analgesics as prescribed
Encourage a high-fiber diet to promote digestion
Administer IV opioid analgesics as prescribed
Apply a warm compress to the abdomen
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Oral analgesics are less effective in acute pancreatitis due to severe pain and potential gastric dysmotility from inflammation. IV opioids provide faster, more reliable pain relief, as oral absorption may be impaired, making this a less appropriate choice for acute pain management.
Choice B reason: A high-fiber diet is contraindicated in acute pancreatitis, as it stimulates digestion, increasing pancreatic enzyme secretion and worsening inflammation and pain. Patients are typically kept NPO (nothing by mouth) to rest the pancreas, making this an inappropriate intervention for pain control.
Choice C reason: IV opioid analgesics, such as morphine or fentanyl, are the preferred treatment for severe pain in acute pancreatitis. They provide rapid, effective analgesia by acting on central pain receptors, reducing discomfort without stimulating pancreatic activity, making this the priority intervention for pain management.
Choice D reason: Applying a warm compress to the abdomen is contraindicated, as heat may increase inflammation and blood flow to the pancreas, worsening pain and tissue damage. Pain management in pancreatitis relies on pharmacological interventions, making this an incorrect and potentially harmful action.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Beta blockers are used in cirrhosis to reduce portal hypertension and variceal bleeding risk but are not a priority in acute liver failure. They do not address immediate life-threatening issues like hemodynamic instability or respiratory compromise, which are critical in acute liver failure management.
Choice B reason: Maintaining airway and stabilizing circulation is the priority in acute liver failure, as patients may develop cerebral edema, causing respiratory compromise, or coagulopathy, leading to bleeding and shock. Ensuring oxygenation and hemodynamic stability prevents multi-organ failure, addressing the most immediate life-threatening complications of liver failure.
Choice C reason: Paracentesis removes ascitic fluid in cirrhosis but is not a priority in acute liver failure, where ascites is less prominent. It does not address urgent issues like airway compromise or circulatory shock, which are critical in preventing rapid deterioration in acute liver failure.
Choice D reason: Vitamin K corrects coagulopathy from liver dysfunction but is not the priority in acute liver failure. While bleeding risk is significant, airway and circulatory stability take precedence, as respiratory failure or shock are more immediately life-threatening than correctable coagulopathy in this acute setting.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Elevated serum albumin is not associated with portal hypertension or cirrhosis. Cirrhosis typically causes hypoalbuminemia due to impaired liver synthesis, reducing oncotic pressure and contributing to ascites, making this finding incorrect for indicating portal hypertension complications in cirrhosis.
Choice B reason: Esophageal varices, dilated veins in the esophagus, are a direct result of portal hypertension in cirrhosis. Increased portal vein pressure forces blood into collateral veins, forming varices, which risk rupture and life-threatening bleeding, making this the most indicative finding of portal hypertension.
Choice C reason: Decreased prothrombin time is not typical in cirrhosis, where coagulopathy prolongs prothrombin time due to impaired clotting factor synthesis. This finding does not reflect portal hypertension, which affects vascular dynamics, not coagulation directly, making it irrelevant to this complication.
Choice D reason: Clear yellow urine is normal and not indicative of portal hypertension. In cirrhosis, urine may darken due to bilirubin in jaundice, but this is unrelated to portal hypertension’s vascular effects, like varices, making this an incorrect finding for this complication.
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