Which nursing action is most appropriate for a client hospitalized with acute pancreatitis?
a. Withholding all oral intake, as ordered, to decrease pancreatic secretions
b. Administering morphine, as prescribed, to relieve severe pain
c. Limiting I.V. fluids, as ordered, to decrease cardiac workload
d. Keeping the client supine to increase comfort
Answer A.
The nurse should withhold all oral intake to suppress pancreatic secretions, which may worsen pancreatitis. Typically, this client requires a nasogastric tube to decompress the stomach and GI tract. Although pancreatitis may cause considerable pain, it’s treated with I.M. meperidine (Demerol), not morphine, which may worsen pain by inducing spasms of the pancreatic and biliary ducts. Pancreatitis places the client at risk for fluid volume deficit from fluid loss caused by increased capillary permeability. Therefore, this client needs fluid resuscitation, not fluid restriction. A client with pancreatitis is most comfortable lying on the side with knees flexed.
a. Withholding all oral intake, as ordered, to decrease pancreatic secretions
b. Administering morphine, as prescribed, to relieve severe pain
c. Limiting I.V. fluids, as ordered, to decrease cardiac workload
d. Keeping the client supine to increase comfort
Answer A.
The nurse should withhold all oral intake to suppress pancreatic secretions, which may worsen pancreatitis. Typically, this client requires a nasogastric tube to decompress the stomach and GI tract. Although pancreatitis may cause considerable pain, it’s treated with I.M. meperidine (Demerol), not morphine, which may worsen pain by inducing spasms of the pancreatic and biliary ducts. Pancreatitis places the client at risk for fluid volume deficit from fluid loss caused by increased capillary permeability. Therefore, this client needs fluid resuscitation, not fluid restriction. A client with pancreatitis is most comfortable lying on the side with knees flexed.
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Psychosocial Integrity