Question

Which of the following would most likely be a major nursing diagnosis for a client with acute pancreatitis? A.) Impaired tissue perfusion: peripheral B.) Fluid volume excess C.) Impaired swallowing D.) Altered nutrition: Less than body requirements

Answer 1

The primary nursing diagnosis for a client with acute pancreatitis is most likely 'Altered nutrition: Less than body requirements' due to pain and digestion issues impacting food intake.

Step-by-step explanation:

The major nursing diagnosis for a client with acute pancreatitis would most likely be D.) Altered nutrition: Less than body requirements. This is because pancreatitis can lead to problems with fat digestion, and patients often experience significant abdominal pain, which can reduce their appetite and intake of food. Other signs such as jaundice can occur from pancreatitis and illustrate severe inflammation or obstruction, but they do not directly inform nursing care planning regarding nutritional status. Fluid volume excess is a possibility but fluid management is more of a medical management issue unless the pancreatitis progresses to cause systemic inflammatory response, in which nursing would be closely involved. Impaired tissue perfusion and impaired swallowing are less common with acute pancreatitis and would not typically be the primary focus of nursing care.