Final answer:
In caring for a patient with pancreatitis and severe ascites, it is important to monitor blood pressure and signs of dehydration. Fluid management needs to be carefully balanced to prevent both dehydration and hypervolemia. The treatment should be individualized based on ongoing patient assessments and healthcare team collaboration.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a patient is admitted with pancreatitis and has severe ascites, the primary nursing interventions should center around monitoring fluid and electrolyte balance, as ascites indicates fluid accumulation due to hypoalbuminemia, commonly seen in the context of liver dysfunction. The nurse should monitor the patient's blood pressure vigilantly and evaluate for signs of both dehydration and fluid overload. Care must be taken with fluid administration because while hypovolemia (dehydration) can be a concern, the risk of exacerbating ascites and precipitating hypervolemia (excessive fluid volume) must also be managed.
Regarding the given options, monitoring blood pressure and signs of dehydration is crucial to track any changes that indicate worsening of the patient's condition or response to treatment. The complete restriction of fluids may not be appropriate without considering the current fluid and electrolyte status, and decisions on IV solutions should be made in collaboration with the healthcare team based on the patient's ongoing assessments. It is not typically necessary to strictly limit IV fluids to crystalloid solutions to prevent IV line clotting; this decision will depend on the patient's individual needs and treatment plan outlined by the healthcare team.