HESI Medical Surgical Exam Related

Review HESI Medical Surgical Exam related questions and content

A 68-year-old client on day 2 after hip surgery has no cardiac history but reports having chest heaviness. The first nursing action should be to:

  • A. Inquire about the onset, duration, severity, and precipitating factors of the heaviness.
  • B. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula.
  • C. Offer pain medication for the chest heaviness.
  • D. Inform the physician of the chest heaviness.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct first nursing action when a client reports chest heaviness post-hip surgery is to gather more information through assessment. Inquiring about the onset, duration, severity, and precipitating factors of the heaviness is crucial to determine the cause. This approach helps the nurse to gather essential data to make an informed decision regarding the client's care. Administering oxygen (Choice B) may be indicated based on assessment findings, but it is crucial to assess first. Offering pain medication (Choice C) without further assessment is premature and may mask symptoms. Informing the physician (Choice D) should be done after a thorough assessment to provide comprehensive information for appropriate medical decision-making.