Medical Surgical Assignment Exam HESI Related

Review Medical Surgical Assignment Exam HESI related questions and content

The nurse assesses an adult male client 24 hours following abdominal surgery and finds that his blood pressure is 98/40 mm Hg, he is tachycardic, restless, and irritable. Which action should the nurse take first?

  • A. Notify the healthcare provider of the findings.
  • B. Ensure that the IV is infusing at the prescribed rate.
  • C. Listen to lung sounds.
  • D. Check under his back for evidence of bleeding.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In this scenario, the nurse should first check under the client for evidence of bleeding. A blood pressure of 98/40 mm Hg, along with tachycardia, restlessness, and irritability, could indicate internal hemorrhage following abdominal surgery. Checking for bleeding under the back is crucial to rule out this life-threatening complication. Notifying the healthcare provider, ensuring IV infusion, or listening to lung sounds can be important but are secondary to ruling out immediate life-threatening conditions like internal bleeding.