The caregivers of a child who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis 5 months ago report that they have been following all of the suggested guidelines for nutrition, fluid intake, and exercise, but the child has been having bouts of constipation and diarrhea. The nurse tells the caregiver to increase the amount of which substance in the child’s diet?

Choice A reason: Notifying a religious leader may provide spiritual support but is secondary to facilitating the family’s immediate grieving by viewing the deceased. Cleaning the body allows closure, making this less urgent and incorrect for the initial nursing action to support the family’s grief in the ER.

Choice B reason: Arranging funeral home transfer is logistical and less immediate than helping the family process loss through viewing the deceased. Preparing the body supports emotional closure, making this secondary and incorrect for the initial action to aid the family’s grieving process in the ER.

Choice C reason: Cleaning and presenting the deceased allows the family to view their loved one, facilitating closure and beginning the grieving process. This aligns with trauma nursing principles for supporting bereaved families, making it the best initial action in this tragic car accident scenario.

Choice D reason: Presenting personal belongings is meaningful but less critical than allowing the family to see the deceased, which supports immediate grief processing. Body preparation takes precedence for closure, making this less impactful and incorrect for the initial grieving support action in the ER.

Choice A reason: Increasing protein calories doesn’t address malabsorption causing constipation and diarrhea in cystic fibrosis. Pancreatic enzymes improve nutrient absorption, making this irrelevant and incorrect compared to the need to correct digestive issues due to enzyme deficiency in the child’s dietary management.

Choice B reason: Saturated fat doesn’t resolve malabsorption-related constipation and diarrhea in cystic fibrosis and may worsen symptoms. Pancreatic enzymes correct enzyme deficiency, making this inappropriate and incorrect compared to the dietary adjustment needed to manage the child’s gastrointestinal symptoms effectively.

Choice C reason: Iodized salt supports hydration in cystic fibrosis but doesn’t address malabsorption causing diarrhea and constipation. Pancreatic enzymes target digestive issues, making this incorrect, as it fails to correct the underlying enzyme deficiency responsible for the child’s gastrointestinal symptoms.

Choice D reason: Pancreatic enzymes improve fat and nutrient absorption in cystic fibrosis, reducing constipation and diarrhea due to malabsorption. This aligns with pediatric cystic fibrosis management, making it the correct substance to increase in the child’s diet to address the reported gastrointestinal symptoms.