RN Nursing · Liver Disorders · Practice question
A nurse is preparing discharge instructions for a client who has cirrhosis of the liver. Which of the following statements should be included in the education materials?
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✓
"Avoid high-sodium foods such as canned soups/vegetables, processed meats, and prepackaged frozen dinners."
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"Increase your activity as much as possible. You need to remain active."
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"Ensure that you eat three large meals per day to keep your calories up."
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"Take pain-relief medication such as acetaminophen to relieve discomfort associated with ascites."
Answer & explanation
Correct: "Avoid high-sodium foods such as canned soups/vegetables, processed meats, and prepackaged frozen dinners."
Clients with cirrhosis frequently develop ascites and peripheral edema due to portal hypertension, hypoalbuminemia, and secondary hyperaldosteronism leading to sodium and water retention. A low-sodium diet is therefore a cornerstone of management, and clients should be instructed to avoid high-sodium foods such as canned soups and vegetables, processed meats, and prepackaged frozen dinners, as sodium intake directly worsens fluid accumulation. Telling the client to increase activity as much as possible is inappropriate; fatigue is common in cirrhosis and excessive activity can precipitate complications such as variceal bleeding or worsening encephalopathy. Adequate rest is emphasized. Eating three large meals per day is not recommended; the preferred approach is five to six small, frequent meals to reduce the metabolic burden on the compromised liver and to manage early satiety caused by ascites. Acetaminophen is specifically contraindicated in clients with liver disease because it is hepatotoxic, particularly at higher doses or with any alcohol use; recommending it for pain relief would be dangerous. Therefore, the sodium restriction instruction is the only clinically appropriate and safe discharge teaching statement among the options provided.
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