A nurse is caring for a patient with a pancreatic tumor affecting the exocrine function. How should the nurse distinguish the functional difference between the pancreas' endocrine and exocrine glands when planning care?

A. This reverses the functions. Endocrine glands do not produce digestive enzymes; they secrete hormones like insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. Exocrine glands, not endocrine, release digestive enzymes into the duodenum. B. This statement is inaccurate. The exocrine glands produce digestive enzymes, not the endocrine glands. Endocrine glands produce hormones, not digestive enzymes. C. This is also reversed. Exocrine glands release enzymes for digestion into the GI tract, while endocrine glands secrete hormones like insulin into the bloodstream to regulate glucose. D. This accurately describes the distinct functions of the pancreas’ dual roles. The exocrine pancreas produces enzymes such as amylase, lipase, and proteases, which enter the duodenum via the pancreatic duct to aid digestion. The endocrine pancreas, composed of the islets of Langerhans, secretes hormones like insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin into the bloodstream to maintain glucose homeostasis. Understanding this distinction is critical for nurses in planning care for patients with pancreatic tumors, as exocrine dysfunction can lead to malabsorption and nutritional deficiencies, while endocrine dysfunction affects blood sugar regulation.