The patient has been abusing alcohol for several years and tells the nurse, "I used to drink a pint of whiskey every day. Now I get sick and pass out after just two drinks." What does the nurse correctly recognize about this patient?

Question

1. The patient's symptoms are related to hyperglycemia; he may have pancreatic damage.
2. The patient may have liver damage, resulting in an inability to metabolize large amounts of alcohol.
3. The patient is in denial and is most likely minimizing the amount of alcohol he consumes.
4. The patient has brain damage from the alcohol and cannot remember how much he consumes.

Answer 1

2
Rationale 1: While patients with alcoholism frequently have pancreatic damage, this patient is describing a different situation.
Rationale 2: Alcoholism is a common cause of cirrhosis, a debilitating, and often fatal, failure of the liver to perform its vital functions, such as metabolism of alcohol.
Rationale 3: While patients with alcoholism are frequently in denial and tend to minimize the amount of alcohol they consume, this patient is describing a different situation.
Rationale 4: While patients with alcoholism frequently have brain damage, this patient is describing a different situation.
Global Rationale: Alcoholism is a common cause of cirrhosis, a debilitating, and often fatal, failure of the liver to perform its vital functions, such as metabolism of alcohol. While patients with alcoholism are frequently in denial, and tend to minimize the amount of alcohol they consume, this patient is describing the results of liver damage. While patients with alcoholism frequently have pancreatic damage, this patient is describing the results of liver damage. While patients with alcoholism frequently have brain damage, this patient is describing the results of liver damage.