Leadership HESI Related

Review Leadership HESI related questions and content

During preoperative teaching for a female client undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy, which statement should the nurse include?

  • A. The head of your bed must remain flat for 24 hours after surgery.
  • B. You should avoid deep breathing and coughing after surgery.
  • C. You won't be able to swallow for the first day or two.
  • D. You must avoid hyperextending your neck after surgery.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Instructing the client to avoid hyperextending the neck after thyroid surgery is crucial to prevent stress on the surgical site and reduce the risk of complications such as strain on the incision or damage to the healing tissues. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because:
A) Keeping the head of the bed flat for 24 hours is not necessary after a thyroidectomy; elevation of the head of the bed can actually help reduce swelling and improve comfort.
B) Encouraging deep breathing and coughing after surgery is essential to prevent respiratory complications such as pneumonia, so this advice is incorrect.
C) Difficulty swallowing after thyroid surgery is not a typical outcome, so this statement is inaccurate and should not be included in the preoperative teaching.