Exam 44: Nursing Management: Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract Problems

A patient who was admitted with acute bleeding from esophageal varices asks the nurse the purpose for the ordered ranitidine (Zantac). Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

The health care provider prescribes pancreatin (Viokase) for a patient with chronic pancreatitis. The nurse teaches the patient that the drug is considered effective if the patient experiences

A patient is admitted with an abrupt onset of jaundice, nausea and vomiting, hepatomegaly, and abnormal liver function studies. Serologic testing is negative for viral causes of hepatitis. Which question by the nurse is most appropriate?

When assessing the neurologic status of a patient with a diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy, the nurse asks the patient to

During treatment of a patient with a Minnesota balloon tamponade for bleeding esophageal varices, which nursing action will be included in the plan of care?

When obtaining a health history from a patient with acute pancreatitis, the nurse asks the patient specifically about a history of

A health care provider who has not been immunized for hepatitis B is exposed to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) through a needle stick from an infected patient. The infection control nurse informs the individual that treatment for the exposure should include

When taking the BP of a patient with severe acute pancreatitis, the nurse notices carpal spasm of the patient's hand. Which action should the nurse take next?

Which of these nursing actions included in the plan of care for a patient with cirrhosis can the nurse delegate to a nursing assistant?

A 32-year-old patient has early alcoholic cirrhosis diagnosed by a liver biopsy. When planning patient teaching, the priority information for the nurse to include is the need for

A homeless patient with severe anorexia, fatigue, jaundice, and hepatomegaly is diagnosed with viral hepatitis and has just been admitted to the hospital. In planning care for the patient, the nurse assigns the highest priority to the patient outcome of

A patient with acute pancreatitis has a nasogastric (NG) tube to suction and is NPO. Which information obtained by the nurse is the best indicator that these therapies have been effective?

A portocaval shunt is considered for a patient with cirrhosis following an episode of bleeding esophageal varices. The nurse plans to teach the patient that this procedure

A patient with cirrhosis has a massive hemorrhage from esophageal varices. In planning care for the patient, the nurse gives the highest priority to the goal of

When providing discharge instructions to a patient following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy at an outpatient surgical center, the nurse recognizes that teaching has been effective when the patient states,

A patient who is admitted to the hospital with a sudden onset of severe right upper-quadrant pain that radiates to the right shoulder is diagnosed with cholecystitis. Which assessment information will be most important for the nurse to report to the health care provider?

The nurse identifies the collaborative problem of potential complication: electrolyte imbalance for a patient with severe acute pancreatitis. Assessment findings that alert the nurse to electrolyte imbalances associated with acute pancreatitis include

A patient with end-stage liver disease who is to undergo a liver transplant tells the nurse, "I have a friend who has already rejected two kidney transplants. I am concerned that I will reject this liver." The nurse's best response to the patient is

A patient with severe cirrhosis has an episode of bleeding esophageal varices. To detect possible complications of the bleeding episode, it is most important for the nurse to monitor

The nurse identifies a nursing diagnosis of risk for impaired skin integrity for a patient with cirrhosis who has ascites and 4+ pitting edema of the feet and legs. An appropriate nursing intervention for this problem is to