HESI Medical Surgical Practice Exam Related

Review HESI Medical Surgical Practice Exam related questions and content

The client had a thyroidectomy 24 hours ago and reports experiencing numbness and tingling of the face. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

  • A. Open and prepare the tracheostomy kit.
  • B. Inspect the neck for an increase in swelling.
  • C. Monitor for the presence of Chvostek's sign.
  • D. Assess lung sounds for laryngeal stridor.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Monitor for the presence of Chvostek's sign. Chvostek's sign is a clinical indicator of hypocalcemia, a common complication after thyroidectomy. Numbness and tingling around the face are associated with hypocalcemia due to potential damage to the parathyroid glands during surgery, leading to decreased calcium levels. Inspecting the neck for swelling (choice B) is important but does not directly address the presenting symptoms. Opening and preparing the tracheostomy kit (choice A) is not necessary based on the client's current symptoms. Assessing lung sounds for laryngeal stridor (choice D) is not directly related to the client's reported numbness and tingling of the face.