The nurse is caring for a client with a history of liver cirrhosis. Which complication should the nurse monitor for?

Choice A reason: Administering an antacid relieves epigastric pain but is premature without assessing pain characteristics. Pain in peptic ulcer disease may indicate complications like perforation, requiring urgent evaluation. Assessment guides whether antacids or other interventions are appropriate, prioritizing patient safety.

Choice B reason: Assessing pain characteristics (e.g., location, intensity, radiation) is the first step, as epigastric pain in peptic ulcer disease may signal complications like bleeding or perforation. This data guides interventions, ensuring timely management of potentially life-threatening conditions, making it the priority action.

Choice C reason: Checking NSAID use identifies ulcer triggers but is secondary to pain assessment. Pain characteristics determine urgency, as severe or radiating pain may indicate perforation, requiring immediate action. Assessment provides critical data before investigating contributing factors like medication history.

Choice D reason: Obtaining a stool sample for occult blood detects gastrointestinal bleeding but is not the first step. Assessing pain characteristics identifies urgent complications like perforation, guiding whether diagnostic tests or interventions are needed, making pain assessment the initial priority.

Choice A reason: A foreign body in the eye may cause irritation or damage but is not a contraindication for ketorolac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for pain and inflammation. The nurse would ensure removal of the foreign body first, but ketorolac can be used post-removal if indicated.

Choice B reason: Radiation exposure, such as from UV light, may cause photokeratitis but is not a specific contraindication for ophthalmic ketorolac. The medication reduces inflammation and pain, which may be beneficial in such cases. The nurse should assess for other ocular conditions, but radiation exposure alone does not preclude its use.

Choice C reason: Chemical burns require immediate irrigation and specific treatments based on the chemical involved. Ketorolac may reduce pain and inflammation post-irrigation, but it is not contraindicated. The nurse should prioritize burn management, but chemical burns do not inherently prohibit ketorolac use compared to corneal abrasions.

Choice D reason: Corneal abrasions are a contraindication for ophthalmic ketorolac, as NSAIDs can delay corneal healing and increase the risk of complications like corneal ulceration. The nurse must review the medical record to confirm the absence of abrasions, as ketorolac is typically used for postoperative pain, not traumatic corneal injuries.