NCLEX PN Exam Cram Related

Review NCLEX PN Exam Cram related questions and content

A patient 3 hours post-op from a hysterectomy is complaining of intense pain at the incision site. When assessing the patient, the nurse notes a BP of 169/93, pulse 145 bpm, and regular. What action should the nurse take?

  • A. Reassure the patient that pain is normal following surgery.
  • B. Administer prn Nifedipine and assess the client's response.
  • C. Administer prn Meperidine HCL and assess the client's response.
  • D. Recheck BP and pulse rate every 20 minutes for the next hour.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take in this situation is to administer prn Meperidine HCL and assess the client's response. A BP of 169/93 and a pulse of 145 bpm indicate pain-related hypertension and sinus tachycardia, which are physiological responses to pain. Treating the cause of the increased pulse rate requires pain medication. Reassuring the patient about normal post-surgery pain is important, but addressing the physiological responses to pain is a priority. Administering Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, is not indicated for pain management but for hypertension. Rechecking the BP and pulse rate without addressing the pain directly does not address the underlying issue causing the elevated vital signs.