NU371 HESI Case Study: Pancreatitis
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Meet the Client - Correct Answer- A client is admitted to the emergency department (ED)
complaining of severe abdominal and back pain with vomiting for the last 24 hours. The
client was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis 2 years ago and this is the fourth admission for
an acute exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Assessment - Correct Answer- The nurse is completing the client's Emergency Department
(ED) admission assessment.
To support the admitting diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, what information should the nurse
obtain from the client?
a) History or current use of tobacco products.
b) How often alcohol is consumed and date of last drink.
c) Medication taken in the last 24 hours.
d) Weight loss or gain in the last 6 months. - Correct Answer- b) How often alcohol is
consumed and date of last drink.
-
Long-term use of alcohol is commonly associated with the development of chronic
pancreatitis, and alcohol ingestion is the primary cause of an acute exacerbation of
pancreatitis.
The client shares with the nurse that they have been drinking alcohol every day for the last
few years and admits to drinking a little more than usual last night. The client also reports
smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day for the last 20 years. To further evaluate the client's
condition, the health care provider (HCP) prescribes several laboratory tests. - Correct
Answer- -
Which laboratory data indicates that the client is experiencing acute pancreatitis?
a) Hemoglobin (Hgb) 12.9 g/dL (129 g/L) and hematocrit (HCT) 42% (0.42 Proportion of
1.0).
b) White blood cell count of 10,000/uL (10 x109/L).
, c) Amylase of 982 U/L (16.4 mckat/L) and lipase of 400 U/L (6.68 ukat/L).
d) Blood alcohol (ethanol) level of 75 mg/dL (16.28 mmol/L). - Correct Answer- c) Amylase
of 982 U/L (16.4 mckat/L) and lipase of 400 U/L (6.68 ukat/L).
-
Serum amylase and lipase levels can increase to an excess of 3 times their normal upper
limits within 24 hours of an acute exacerbation of pancreatitis. Normal levels are amylase <
160 U/L (2.67 ukat/L) and lipase < 160 U/L (2.67 ukat/L).
Emergency Department Nursing Interventions - Correct Answer- The ED nurse starts an
intravenous (IV) infusion of 5% Dextrose and sodium chloride 0.45% at 125 mL/hour with a
20 gauge angiocatheter in the client's left forearm. The client complains of severe abdominal
pain rated 9 on a 0-10 numerical pain scale. The client's abdomen is soft and tender in the
upper quadrants. The nurse notes audible bowel sounds in all 4 quadrants. Click for Image
Which medication should the nurse expect to administer to relieve the client's pain?
a) Ondansetron 0.15 mg IV push diluted and administered over 15 minutes.
b) Ranitidine IV piggy back administered over 30 minutes.
c) Morphine 5 mg IV push administered diluted over 5 minutes.
d) Promethazine 25 mg deep intramuscular injection. - Correct Answer- c) Morphine 5 mg IV
push administered diluted over 5 minutes.
-
Morphine is considered a first line opioid analgesic and one of the most commonly prescribed
opioids for moderate to severe pain.
The HCP writes admitting prescriptions for the client. - Correct Answer- -
Which diet should the nurse expect the HCP to prescribe for the client?
a) Regular diet.
b) Low-fat diet.
c) Clear-liquid diet.
d) Nothing by mouth. - Correct Answer- d) Nothing by mouth.
-
All oral intake is withheld to inhibit pancreatic stimulation and the secretion of pancreatic
enzymes.
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Meet the Client - Correct Answer- A client is admitted to the emergency department (ED)
complaining of severe abdominal and back pain with vomiting for the last 24 hours. The
client was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis 2 years ago and this is the fourth admission for
an acute exacerbation of pancreatitis.
Assessment - Correct Answer- The nurse is completing the client's Emergency Department
(ED) admission assessment.
To support the admitting diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, what information should the nurse
obtain from the client?
a) History or current use of tobacco products.
b) How often alcohol is consumed and date of last drink.
c) Medication taken in the last 24 hours.
d) Weight loss or gain in the last 6 months. - Correct Answer- b) How often alcohol is
consumed and date of last drink.
-
Long-term use of alcohol is commonly associated with the development of chronic
pancreatitis, and alcohol ingestion is the primary cause of an acute exacerbation of
pancreatitis.
The client shares with the nurse that they have been drinking alcohol every day for the last
few years and admits to drinking a little more than usual last night. The client also reports
smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day for the last 20 years. To further evaluate the client's
condition, the health care provider (HCP) prescribes several laboratory tests. - Correct
Answer- -
Which laboratory data indicates that the client is experiencing acute pancreatitis?
a) Hemoglobin (Hgb) 12.9 g/dL (129 g/L) and hematocrit (HCT) 42% (0.42 Proportion of
1.0).
b) White blood cell count of 10,000/uL (10 x109/L).
, c) Amylase of 982 U/L (16.4 mckat/L) and lipase of 400 U/L (6.68 ukat/L).
d) Blood alcohol (ethanol) level of 75 mg/dL (16.28 mmol/L). - Correct Answer- c) Amylase
of 982 U/L (16.4 mckat/L) and lipase of 400 U/L (6.68 ukat/L).
-
Serum amylase and lipase levels can increase to an excess of 3 times their normal upper
limits within 24 hours of an acute exacerbation of pancreatitis. Normal levels are amylase <
160 U/L (2.67 ukat/L) and lipase < 160 U/L (2.67 ukat/L).
Emergency Department Nursing Interventions - Correct Answer- The ED nurse starts an
intravenous (IV) infusion of 5% Dextrose and sodium chloride 0.45% at 125 mL/hour with a
20 gauge angiocatheter in the client's left forearm. The client complains of severe abdominal
pain rated 9 on a 0-10 numerical pain scale. The client's abdomen is soft and tender in the
upper quadrants. The nurse notes audible bowel sounds in all 4 quadrants. Click for Image
Which medication should the nurse expect to administer to relieve the client's pain?
a) Ondansetron 0.15 mg IV push diluted and administered over 15 minutes.
b) Ranitidine IV piggy back administered over 30 minutes.
c) Morphine 5 mg IV push administered diluted over 5 minutes.
d) Promethazine 25 mg deep intramuscular injection. - Correct Answer- c) Morphine 5 mg IV
push administered diluted over 5 minutes.
-
Morphine is considered a first line opioid analgesic and one of the most commonly prescribed
opioids for moderate to severe pain.
The HCP writes admitting prescriptions for the client. - Correct Answer- -
Which diet should the nurse expect the HCP to prescribe for the client?
a) Regular diet.
b) Low-fat diet.
c) Clear-liquid diet.
d) Nothing by mouth. - Correct Answer- d) Nothing by mouth.
-
All oral intake is withheld to inhibit pancreatic stimulation and the secretion of pancreatic
enzymes.
