A nurse is teaching a client who has chronic pain about avoiding constipation from opioid medications.

Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

A:Provide frequent rest periods for the client. This is correct because the client has anaemia (low haemoglobin and hematocrit), which can cause weakness and fatigue. Rest periods can help conserve energy and prevent complications.
B:Instruct the client to avoid blowing their nose forcefully. This is correct because the client has thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), which can increase the risk of bleeding. Blowing the nose forcefully can cause nasal bleeding or rupture of blood vessels.
C: Assess the client’s level of orientation. This is correct because the client has hepatic encephalopathy (brain dysfunction due to liver failure), which can cause confusion, mood changes, and disorientation. Assessing the client’s level of orientation can help monitor the severity of hepatic encephalopathy and guide appropriate interventions.
D:Place the client on a low-carbohydrate diet. This is incorrect because a low-carbohydrate diet can worsen hepatic encephalopathy by increasing ammonia production in the gut. The client should be on a high-protein, high-calorie diet to provide adequate nutrition and prevent muscle wasting.
E: Restrict the client’s sodium intake. This is correct because the client has ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen) due to portal hypertension (high blood pressure in the portal vein). Restricting sodium intake can help reduce fluid retention and prevent further complications.
F Advise the client to avoid the use of soap and alcohol-based lotions. This is correct because the client has pruritus (itching) due to high bilirubin levels in the blood. Soap and alcohol-based lotions can dry out the skin and worsen pruritus. The client should use mild cleansers and moisturizers to soothe the skin.
G: Place the client under contact isolation. This is incorrect because there is no indication that the client has an infectious disease that requires contact isolation. Contact isolation is used for clients who have diseases that can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact with the client or their environment, such as Clostridioides difficile infection or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection.

The correct answer is choice C. “Perform chest percussion and postural drainage at least twice daily.” This is because chest percussion and postural drainage are airway clearance techniques that help remove thick mucus from the lungs of children who have cystic fibrosis. This can prevent respiratory infections and improve lung function.

Choice A is wrong because a bronchodilator should be administered before airway clearance therapy, not after. A bronchodilator helps open up the airways and make it easier to cough up mucus.

Choice B is wrong because pancreatic enzymes should be administered with meals and snacks, not on an empty stomach.

Pancreatic enzymes help digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in children who have cystic fibrosis. This can prevent malnutrition and growth failure.

Choice D is wrong because there is no need to restrict gluten intake for children who have cystic fibrosis, unless they also have celiac disease.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye that can cause intestinal damage in people who have celiac disease. Cystic fibrosis does not affect the ability to tolerate gluten.