Practice Question
The nurse is teaching a client recovering from acute pancreatitis about lifestyle modifications. Which instructions should the nurse include? (Select All that Apply.)
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
"Avoid alcohol completely."
Rationale:
💎 1. Avoid alcohol completely
💎 Alcohol is one of the leading causes of acute and chronic pancreatitis, as it stimulates pancreatic enzyme secretion and causes inflammation and autodigestion of pancreatic tissue.
💎 Continued alcohol consumption can precipitate recurrent attacks, resulting in permanent pancreatic damage, necrosis, or pseudocyst formation.
💎 The nurse must emphasize lifelong alcohol abstinence as a critical measure to prevent relapse and to protect both pancreatic and liver function.
💎 Support programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or counseling may be helpful for maintaining sobriety and long-term recovery.
💎 2. Report abdominal pain or vomiting to your provider
💎 Persistent or worsening abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting may indicate recurrent inflammation, pseudocyst development, or ductal obstruction.
💎 Early reporting ensures prompt medical evaluation and prevents complications like infection, necrosis, or hemorrhage.
💎 The nurse should teach the client to monitor for symptoms such as bloating, jaundice, or dark urine, as these may also signal pancreatic or biliary dysfunction.
💎 Immediate communication with the healthcare provider helps ensure early intervention and prevents deterioration of pancreatic function.
💎 3. Eat small, frequent meals instead of large meals
💎 Large meals stimulate excess pancreatic enzyme secretion, leading to abdominal pain and delayed recovery.
💎 Small, frequent meals help maintain adequate nutrition while minimizing pancreatic stimulation, reducing enzyme demand and pain episodes.
💎 Meals should be high in carbohydrates and protein but low in fat to provide sufficient calories without aggravating the pancreas.
💎 This dietary approach supports steady energy levels and prevents postprandial discomfort, nausea, or indigestion.
💎 4. Follow a low-fat diet
💎 A low-fat diet reduces the pancreas’s workload and prevents steatorrhea (fatty stools), which commonly occurs when fat digestion is impaired.
💎 Fat restriction decreases pancreatic enzyme activation, reducing the risk of pain and inflammation recurrence.
💎 Recommended foods include lean meats, whole grains, fruits, and cooked vegetables, while fried foods, butter, and high-fat dairy should be avoided.
💎 Maintaining a low-fat, nutrient-rich diet enhances long-term pancreatic recovery and digestive comfor
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This question is from Ati Custom NSG2440 Med Surg 3 Exam 1 Fall 2025 which contains 44 questions.
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From Exam
Ati Custom NSG2440 Med Surg 3 Exam 1 Fall 2025
44 Questions
View Full Exam Start PracticingQuestion Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI MedSurg
- Answer Choices: 5