Which of the following discharge teaching should the nurse give a mother for her child who is suffering from cystic fibrosis?

Appeared in: NORCET-7 Mains-2024

Explanation

Cystic fibrosis causes exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in up to 90% of patients due to mucus blocking the pancreatic ducts.
This blockage prevents digestive enzymes from reaching the small intestine, leading to severe malabsorption of fats and proteins.
Therefore, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy must be administered with every meal and snack to ensure adequate digestion and nutrient absorption.
Proper nutritional management is critical for growth, weight maintenance, and overall health in children with CF.

Option B: Recommending social isolation is detrimental to a child's psychosocial development. General play is encouraged.
Option C: Physical activity and outdoor play are strongly encouraged as they help loosen airway secretions, improve lung capacity, and strengthen respiratory muscles.
Option D: Follow-up for CF is much more frequent than biannually (twice a year). The standard of care is quarterly visits (every 3 months).

Visual 1: Diagram - A diagram illustrating how thick mucus blocks the pancreatic duct in cystic fibrosis, preventing enzymes from reaching the duodenum.
Visual 2: Infographic - An infographic summarizing the key pillars of cystic fibrosis management: Airway Clearance, Nutrition, Medication, and Fitness.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Discharge teaching and nursing management for a child with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Patient and family education is a primary nursing responsibility in managing chronic illnesses like CF. Clear, accurate instructions are vital for adherence and preventing complications.
Nurses must empower families to integrate a complex treatment regimen into daily life, focusing on nutrition, respiratory therapy, and infection prevention.
What if? If the child with CF also develops CF-related diabetes (CFRD), the nurse's teaching must be updated. While a high-calorie, high-fat diet is still needed, the family must also learn carbohydrate counting and insulin administration to manage blood glucose levels.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept: The question asks for correct discharge teaching for cystic fibrosis.
Recall the pathophysiology of CF, specifically its effect on the exocrine glands, particularly the pancreas and lungs.
Evaluate each option based on established CF management guidelines.
Option A addresses the pancreatic insufficiency, a hallmark of CF. This is a critical intervention.
Option B suggests social isolation, which is contrary to promoting normal childhood development.
Option C advises against exercise, which is contrary to the goal of improving airway clearance.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Discharge teaching and nursing management for a child with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).
Stem keywords: discharge teaching, mother, child, cystic fibrosis
Lead-in keywords: Which of the following
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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