A distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy is performed on a client with cancer of the pancreas. He is returned to his room postoperatively. The client is sleepy but can answer simple questions appropriately. His dressing is dry and intact. Vital signs are within normal limits. Which of the following nursing measures must be done before the nurse leaves the room?
- A. Inform his wife that he has returned to his room.
- B. Check to see if the indwelling urinary catheter bag is correctly attached to the bed frame.
- C. Assess to be sure he is not experiencing any discomfort.
- D. Put all four side rails in the high position.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Raising all four side rails ensures safety for a sleepy postoperative client, preventing falls.
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The nurse is preparing the postoperative nursing care plan for the client recovering from a hemorrhoidectomy. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
- A. Establish rapport with the client to decrease embarrassment of assessing site.
- B. Encourage the client to lie in the lithotomy position twice a day.
- C. Milk the tube inserted during surgery to allow the passage of flatus
- D. Digitally dilate the rectal sphincter to express old blood.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Establishing rapport reduces embarrassment during perianal assessments, promoting comfort post-hemorrhoidectomy. Lithotomy position is not standard for recovery.
The nurse writes a psychosocial problem of 'risk for altered sexual functioning related to new colostomy.' Which intervention should the nurse implement?
- A. Tell the client there should be no intimacy for at least three (3) months.
- B. Ensure the client and significant other are able to change the ostomy pouch.
- C. Demonstrate with charts possible sexual positions for the client to assume.
- D. Teach the client to protect the pouch from becoming dislodged during sex.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Teaching pouch protection during sex addresses practical concerns, supporting sexual function and confidence. A three-month intimacy ban is unnecessary, pouch changing is unrelated to sexual function, and charts may be less practical.
The nurse caring for a client one (1) day postoperative sigmoid resection notes a moderate amount of dark reddish brown drainage on the midline abdominal incision. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Mark the drainage on the dressing with the time and date.
- B. Change the dressing immediately using sterile technique.
- C. Notify the health-care provider immediately.
- D. Reinforce the dressing with a sterile gauze pad.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dark reddish brown drainage one day post-surgery suggests possible bleeding or dehiscence, warranting immediate notification of the HCP for evaluation. Marking or reinforcing the dressing delays action, and changing the dressing is secondary.
The nurse is performing an admission assessment on a client diagnosed with GERD. Which signs and symptoms would indicate GERD?
- A. Pyrosis, water brash, and flatulence.
- B. Weight loss, dysarthria, and diarrhea.
- C. Decreased abdominal fat, proteinuria, and constipation.
- D. Midepigastric pain, positive H. pylori test, and melena.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Pyrosis (heartburn), water brash (regurgitation of sour fluid), and flatulence are classic symptoms of GERD due to acid reflux and gas buildup. The other options include symptoms more associated with other conditions like peptic ulcer disease or systemic disorders.
The nurse is admitting the client with gastric cancer to an oncology unit for treatment. Which assessment finding should prompt the nurse to review the medical record to determine whether the cancer may have metastasized to the peritoneal cavity?
- A. The client is reporting nausea.
- B. Grey Turner’s sign is present.
- C. The client reports a rapid weight loss.
- D. Ascites is evident in the abdomen.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A. Nausea is a sign of gastric outlet obstruction or impending hemorrhage. B. Grey Turner’s sign is a symptom of pancreatitis, not metastasis. C. Weight loss is an initial sign associated with cancer. D. The presence of ascites indicates seeding of the tumor in the peritoneal cavity.