Question

The client was recently admitted to the hospital with left lower quadrant pain. The client states, "It feels like my belly is cramping." During the focused interview, the client admitted to experiencing a significant amount of occupational stress. Guarding is noted during the abdominal examination. The nurse reviews the medical record (see chart below) and concludes that the client has developed a diverticulitis. Which client statement supports this conclusion by the nurse?

1) "I get home so late at night, but I've got to stop lying down right after dinner."
2) "I drink a whole pot of coffee every day."
3) "I drink 9-12 beers after I get home from work, every day."
4) "We have been growing green beans in our garden and I think I ate too many the other day."

Answer 1

The client's statement that supports the nurse's conclusion of diverticulitis is option 4. Consuming a large amount of fiber-rich foods can increase the risk of diverticulitis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse concludes that the client has developed diverticulitis based on the client's left lower quadrant pain, cramping sensation, and the presence of guarding during abdominal examination. The statement that supports this conclusion is option 4, 'We have been growing green beans in our garden and I think I ate too many the other day.' Diverticulitis is a digestive disease characterized by inflammation and infection of the pouches (diverticula) in the wall of the large intestine. Consuming a large amount of fiber-rich foods, such as green beans, can increase the risk of diverticulitis.