Nokea
The nurse in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) cares for a client who had an appendectomy. Which of the following client assessments warrants immediate follow-up?
- A. has breath sounds that are high-pitched and crowing
- B. reports incisional pain at a level of '5' on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (severe pain)
- C. has a capillary blood glucose of 115 mg/dL [70-110 mg/dL]
- D. reports persistent nausea following the administration of an anti-emetic
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: High-pitched, crowing breath sounds suggest airway obstruction or stridor, a critical finding requiring immediate intervention to ensure airway patency. Moderate pain, slightly elevated glucose, and nausea are less urgent.
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The nurse is caring for a client who underwent moderate sedation for a closed shoulder reduction. The nurse reviews the client’s clinical data. Which post-procedure data requires immediate followup?
- A. Blood Pressure
- B. Glasgow Coma Scale
- C. Respirations
- D. Temperature
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Respiratory depression is a critical risk post-moderate sedation, so abnormal respirations require immediate follow-up. Blood pressure, Glasgow Coma Scale, and temperature are important but secondary unless specific abnormalities are noted.
The nurse is caring for a client immediately following scleral buckling surgery for a retinal detachment of the right eye. Which of the following actions would be appropriate for the nurse to take?
- A. Place the client in a prone position
- B. Approach the client from the left side
- C. Instruct the client to perform deep breathing and coughing exercises
- D. Instruct client to avoid bending down
- E. Orientate the client to the environment
- F. Obtain a prescription for a stool softener
Correct Answer: B,D,E,F
Rationale: Post-scleral buckling surgery, the client’s positioning depends on the surgeon’s orders, but prone positioning is often avoided to prevent pressure on the eye. Approaching from the left side preserves the client’s intact visual field. Deep breathing and coughing may increase intraocular pressure and are typically avoided. Avoiding bending down prevents increased intraocular pressure. Orienting the client to the environment promotes safety due to potential vision changes. A stool softener prevents straining, which could increase intraocular pressure.
The nurse is caring for a client who has been on bed rest for 2 days following surgery. To prevent complications associated with the client's first ambulation, the nurse should plan to
- A. Encourage the client to increase fluid intake to at least 2,000 mL per day.
- B. Assist the client in performing range-of-motion (ROM) exercises.
- C. Teach the client how to use the incentive spirometer.
- D. Encourage the client to dangle their legs at the bedside.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dangling legs at the bedside prevents orthostatic hypotension during first ambulation. Fluids, ROM, and spirometry are supportive but not specific to ambulation.
The nurse is assisting a client in selecting appropriate food options for dumping syndrome. Which foods would be suitable choices? Select all that apply.
- A. Rice cereal
- B. Pastries
- C. Chicken breast
- D. Cola
- E. Scrambled eggs
Correct Answer: A,C,E
Rationale: Rice cereal, chicken breast, and scrambled eggs are low-sugar, high-protein options suitable for dumping syndrome. Pastries and cola are high-sugar, triggering symptoms.
The nurse is preparing a client scheduled for hip arthroplasty in two hours. The nurse has received a prescription for tranexamic acid. The nurse understands that this medication has had a therapeutic effect when the client has
- A. decreased postoperative pain
- B. increased postoperative vital capacity
- C. less postoperative blood loss
- D. no surgical site infection
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic that reduces bleeding by inhibiting clot breakdown. Its therapeutic effect is evident with less postoperative blood loss. It does not directly affect pain, vital capacity, or infection rates.