A female patient presents with right upper quadrant pain, nausea and vomiting. She has been diagnosed with acute cholecystitis. What is the most appropriate nursing action to alleviate her symptoms?
Encouraging the patient to drink ginger tea for nausea
Applying ice packs to the abdomen
Administering prescribed intravenous analgesics
Advising the patient to eat small, frequent meals
The Correct Answer is C
A. Encouraging the patient to drink ginger tea for nausea: While ginger tea may help with nausea in some cases, it is not an appropriate intervention for acute cholecystitis, which requires more aggressive management.
B. Applying ice packs to the abdomen: Ice packs are not a standard treatment for acute cholecystitis and would not effectively alleviate the patient’s pain or inflammation.
C. Administering prescribed intravenous analgesics: The most appropriate intervention is to administer prescribed intravenous analgesics to relieve pain in patients with acute cholecystitis. Pain management is a priority to alleviate discomfort while awaiting further treatment, such as surgery or antibiotics.
D. Advising the patient to eat small, frequent meals: Dietary changes like eating small, frequent meals may be advised after the acute phase to prevent future attacks, but they are not appropriate for addressing acute symptoms.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Crohn's disease causes continuous inflammation of the mucosa and sub-mucosa of the colon and rectal linings: This description is more applicable to ulcerative colitis, which involves continuous inflammation and primarily affects the colon and rectum, not Crohn's disease, which can affect any part of the GI tract.
B. Crohn's disease is characterized by a transmural granulomatous inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract: While this is an accurate medical description of Crohn’s disease, it uses technical language that may be difficult for a patient to understand.
C. Crohn's disease has the appearance of a patchwork quilt with some areas that are clear and some with sores. This description provides a clear and visual explanation of the nature of Crohn’s disease, which typically affects the gastrointestinal tract in a "skip lesion" pattern, where some areas are inflamed (sores), and others appear normal (clear areas).
D. Crohn's disease looks like what would appear to be a second-degree burn in the colon and rectum areas only: This description is inaccurate for Crohn’s disease, as it implies the disease is limited to the colon and rectum, which is not the case. Crohn’s can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Encourage the patient to use an alcohol-based mouthwash to clean the oral cavity:
Alcohol-based mouthwashes can irritate the oral mucosa and worsen the pain of stomatitis. Instead, non-alcoholic, soothing mouth rinses are recommended.
B. Advise the patient to avoid all oral intake until the ulcers heal completely: Patients still need proper nutrition, and complete avoidance of food can lead to malnutrition. Soft, non-irritating foods are encouraged rather than full avoidance.
C. Suggest the patient brush their teeth vigorously to remove any bacteria from the mouth: Vigorous brushing can worsen oral ulcers and lead to further pain and bleeding. A gentle, soft-bristle toothbrush should be recommended.
D. Recommend the patient to consume soft, non-irritating foods and avoid acidic or spicy foods.
Consuming soft, bland, non-irritating foods and avoiding acidic or spicy foods helps reduce discomfort and prevent further irritation of oral ulcers, which is essential in managing stomatitis.
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