foundations of nursing test bank Related

Review foundations of nursing test bank related questions and content

A patient with mastoiditis is admitted to the post-surgical unit after undergoing a radical mastoidectomy. The nurse should identify what priority of postoperative care?

  • A. Assessing for mouth droop and decreased lateral eye gaze
  • B. Assessing for increased middle ear pressure and perforated ear drum
  • C. Assessing for gradual onset of conductive hearing loss and nystagmus
  • D. Assessing for scar tissue and cerumen obstructing the auditory canal
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Assessing for mouth droop and decreased lateral eye gaze. After a radical mastoidectomy, the nurse should prioritize assessing for signs of facial nerve damage, such as mouth droop and decreased lateral eye gaze, which can indicate injury to the facial nerve during surgery. This is crucial as immediate intervention may be needed to prevent long-term complications.

Choices B, C, and D are incorrect:
B: Assessing for increased middle ear pressure and perforated ear drum is not the priority postoperative care for a radical mastoidectomy patient.
C: Assessing for gradual onset of conductive hearing loss and nystagmus is not the priority as these are not immediate concerns postoperatively.
D: Assessing for scar tissue and cerumen obstructing the auditory canal is not the priority as these are not immediate postoperative complications that require urgent attention.