Question

question 12
1 pts
a 27 year old patient recovering from chronic alcohol abuse reports nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort. a physical examination is negative for jaundice or ascites.
what will the nurse practitioner do initially?
obtain a bilirubin level and prothrombin time
order a complete blood count and liver function tests
reassure the patient that this is likely a viral gastroenteritis
refer the patient to a specialist for evaluation and treatment

Explanation:

For a patient with a history of chronic alcohol abuse presenting with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort, while jaundice or ascites are not present on physical exam, initial assessment should focus on evaluating liver function (as alcohol abuse can lead to liver issues) and general blood parameters. A complete blood count can show signs of infection, anemia (which could be related to underlying issues), etc. Liver function tests (such as AST, ALT, ALP, etc.) are crucial as they can detect early liver damage even without jaundice (jaundice is a later sign in some liver diseases). Obtaining just bilirubin and prothrombin time (option 1) is too limited as it doesn't assess other liver enzymes or general blood status. Reassuring the patient (option 3) is premature without proper testing. Referring to a specialist (option 4) may be needed later but initial testing (CBC and LFTs) should be done first to guide further management.

Answer:

Order a complete blood count and liver function tests.