Nokea
A patient is admitted to the unit with acute cholecystitis. The physician has noted that surgery will be scheduled in 4 days. The patient asks why the surgery is being put off for a week when he has a sick gallbladder. What rationale would underlie the nurses response?
- A. Surgery is delayed until the patient can eat a regular diet without vomiting.
- B. Surgery is delayed until the acute symptoms subside.
- C. The patient requires aggressive nutritional support prior to surgery.
- D. Time is needed to determine whether a laparoscopic procedure can be used.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Unless the patients condition deteriorates, surgical intervention is delayed just until the acute symptoms subside (usually within a few days). There is no need to delay surgery pending an improvement in nutritional status, and deciding on a laparoscopic approach is not a lengthy process.
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A patient is being treated on the acute medical unit for acute pancreatitis. The nurse has identified a diagnosis of Ineffective Breathing Pattern Related to Pain. What intervention should the nurse perform in order to best address this diagnosis?
- A. Position the patient supine to facilitate diaphragm movement.
- B. Administer corticosteroids by nebulizer as ordered.
- C. Perform oral suctioning as needed to remove secretions.
- D. Maintain the patient in a semi-Fowlers position whenever possible.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse maintains the patient in a semi-Fowlers position to decrease pressure on the diaphragm by a distended abdomen and to increase respiratory expansion. A supine position will result in increased pressure on the diaphragm and potentially decreased respiratory expansion. Steroids and oral suctioning are not indicated.
A patient with ongoing back pain, nausea, and abdominal bloating has been diagnosed with cholecystitis secondary to gallstones. The nurse should anticipate that the patient will undergo what intervention?
- A. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
- B. Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) infusion
- C. Intracorporeal lithotripsy
- D. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWL)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Most of the nonsurgical approaches, including lithotripsy and dissolution of gallstones, provide only temporary solutions to gallstone problems and are infrequently used in the United States. Cholecystectomy is the preferred treatment.
A patients abdominal ultrasound indicates cholelithiasis. When the nurse is reviewing the patients laboratory studies, what finding is most closely associated with this diagnosis?
- A. Increased bilirubin
- B. Decreased serum cholesterol
- C. Increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
- D. Decreased serum alkaline phosphatase level
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: If the flow of blood is impeded, bilirubin, a pigment derived from the breakdown of red blood cells, does not enter the intestines. As a result, bilirubin levels in the blood increase. Cholesterol, BUN, and alkaline phosphatase levels are not typically affected.
A patient has been diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. The nurse is addressing the diagnosis of Acute Pain Related to Pancreatitis. What pharmacologic intervention is most likely to be ordered for this patient?
- A. Oral oxycodone
- B. IV hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
- C. IM meperidine (Demerol)
- D. Oral naproxen (Aleve)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The pain of acute pancreatitis is often very severe and pain relief may require parenteral opioids such as morphine, fentanyl (Sublimaze), or hydromorphone (Dilaudid). There is no clinical evidence to support the use of meperidine for pain relief in pancreatitis. Opioids are preferred over NSAIDs.
A student nurse is caring for a patient who has a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and who is receiving parenteral nutrition. The student should prioritize which of the following assessments?
- A. Fluid output
- B. Oral intake
- C. Blood glucose levels
- D. BUN and creatinine levels
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In addition to administering enteral or parenteral nutrition, the nurse monitors serum glucose levels every 4 to 6 hours. Output should be monitored but in most cases it is not more important than serum glucose levels. A patient on parenteral nutrition would have no oral intake to monitor. Blood sugar levels are more likely to be unstable than indicators of renal function.