ATI Medical Surgical Proctored Exam 2023 With NGN Questions and Correct Answers Related

Review ATI Medical Surgical Proctored Exam 2023 With NGN Questions and Correct Answers related questions and content

A nurse is caring for a client who has just returned from surgery with an external fixator to the left tibia. Which of the following assessment findings requires immediate intervention by the nurse?

  • A. The client's capillary refill in the left toe is 6 seconds.
  • B. The client has 100 mL blood in the closed-suction drain.
  • C. The client has an oral temperature of 36.3° C (90.9° F).
  • D. The client reports a pain level of 7 on a scale from 0 to 10 at the operative site.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Capillary refill time of 6 seconds in the toe indicates poor circulation, which is a concerning finding post-surgery with an external fixator. Immediate intervention is needed to prevent complications like tissue ischemia. Choices B, C, and D do not require immediate intervention as they are within normal limits postoperatively. Blood in the drain is expected, the temperature is normal, and pain level 7 is manageable with appropriate pain management.