A patient with ascites has been admitted to your unit. Which of the following safety precautions should you reinforce to prevent complications?
Instruct the patient to change positions slowly prevent dizziness and falls.
Advise the patient to avoid all physical activity to prevent exacerbation of symptoms.
Encourage the patient to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Recommend wearing tight clothing to support the abdominal area.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Instruct the patient to change positions slowly to prevent dizziness and falls. Ascites can cause a shift in fluid balance, leading to orthostatic hypotension. Changing positions slowly reduces the risk of dizziness and falls, which are common in patients with fluid shifts.
B. Advise the patient to avoid all physical activity to prevent exacerbation of symptoms: Complete avoidance of physical activity is not recommended. Mild activity may help with overall health and mobility unless contraindicated. Bedrest is typically only recommended for acute or severe cases.
C. Encourage the patient to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration: Patients with ascites are often on fluid restrictions to manage excess fluid accumulation. Encouraging excess fluid intake can worsen the condition.
D. Recommend wearing tight clothing to support the abdominal area: Tight clothing could cause discomfort and increase abdominal pressure, which could exacerbate symptoms or complications related to ascites.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. The gallbladder became infected by a virus and needs to be removed: Gallstones are not caused by a viral infection.
B. The gallbladder has become inflamed due to a build-up of gallstones that are blocking the common bile duct: While gallstones can obstruct the bile duct, leading to inflammation, the best explanation relates to cholesterol as the main cause of stone formation.
C. The gallbladder has become blocked by a tumor and is no longer working: Tumors are not a common cause of gallstones or cholecystitis.
D. The gallbladder has become inflamed due to the cholesterol in the gallstones. Gallstones are typically formed from cholesterol and bile salts. When there is too much cholesterol in the bile, it can form stones that may lead to inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis).
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
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.
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