A client has cancer of the pancreas. The nurse should be most concerned with which nursing diagnosis? A. Alteration in nutrition B. Alteration in bowel elimination C. Alteration in skin integrity D. Ineffective individual coping

Before selecting the most concerning nursing diagnosis, it's crucial to understand the effects of pancreatic cancer on the body. The pancreas plays a significant role in both endocrine and exocrine functions. It is involved in regulating blood sugar levels through the production of insulin and glucagon and contributes to digestion by secreting enzymes that break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

We will now examine the impact of pancreatic cancer on each nursing diagnosis to determine which would be most concerning. A. Alteration in nutrition: Pancreatic cancer can negatively impact the body's ability to digest and absorb nutrients, leading to malnutrition. This is because the pancreatic enzymes needed for proper digestion may be compromised. B. Alteration in bowel elimination: Pancreatic cancer may also cause problems with bowel elimination, but the severity would vary depending on the tumor's location and size. Nonetheless, it is not as directly linked as the alteration in nutrition is. C. Alteration in skin integrity: While cancer and its treatments might have side effects that could impact skin integrity (e.g., itching or rash), this is not specifically related to pancreatic cancer and is less prevalent compared to the alteration in nutrition. D. Ineffective individual coping: Coping mechanisms are essential in dealing with any medical condition. However, this diagnosis is more psychological and less directly influenced by the cancer to the pancreas itself.

After evaluating the impact of pancreatic cancer on each nursing diagnosis, the most concerning one is A. Alteration in nutrition. This is because pancreatic cancer directly affects the pancreas' ability to produce essential enzymes needed for digestion and absorption of nutrients, leading to malnutrition.