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The postoperative client complains of hearing a 'popping sound' and feeling 'something opening' when ambulating in the room. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Notify the surgeon the client has had an evisceration.
- B. Contact the surgery department to prepare for emergency surgery.
- C. Assess the operative site and cover the site with a moistened dressing.
- D. Explain this is a common feeling and tell the client to continue with activity.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A popping sound and opening sensation suggest dehiscence or evisceration; assessing and covering with a moist dressing stabilizes the site, the first step. Notification and surgery prep follow, and dismissing the symptom is unsafe.
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Which nursing intervention is priority for the client experiencing acute pain?
- A. Assess the client's verbal and nonverbal behavior.
- B. Wait for the client to request pain medication.
- C. Administer the pain medication on a scheduled basis.
- D. Teach the client to use only imagery every hour for the pain.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Assessing verbal and nonverbal behavior determines pain severity and guides treatment, the priority. Waiting, scheduled dosing, or imagery alone delays or limits care.
The client is in the lithotomy position during surgery. Which nursing intervention should be implemented to decrease a complication from the positioning?
- A. Increase the intravenous fluids.
- B. Lower one leg at a time.
- C. Raise the foot of the stretcher.
- D. Administer epinephrine, a vasopressor.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lowering legs sequentially prevents rapid blood pressure drops from venous pooling, reducing circulatory complications in lithotomy. Fluids, stretcher elevation, and epinephrine are unrelated.
Which activities are the circulating nurse's responsibilities in the operating room?
- A. Monitor the position of the client, prepare the surgical site, and ensure the client's safety.
- B. Give preoperative medication in the holding area and monitor the client's response to anesthesia.
- C. Prepare sutures; set up the sterile field; and count all needles, sponges, and instruments.
- D. Prepare the medications to be administered by the anesthesiologist and change the tubing for the anesthesia machine.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The circulating nurse monitors positioning, preps the site, and ensures safety, maintaining a non-sterile role. Medications, sterile field setup, and anesthesia tubing are other roles.
The 26-year-old male client in the PACU has a heart rate of 110 and a rising temperature and complains of muscle stiffness. Which interventions should the nurse implement? Select all that apply.
- A. Give a back rub to the client to relieve stiffness.
- B. Apply ice packs to the axillary and groin areas.
- C. Prepare an ice slush for the client to drink.
- D. Prepare to administer dantrolene, a smooth-muscle relaxant.
- E. Reposition the client on a warming blanket.
Correct Answer: B,D
Rationale: Tachycardia, hyperthermia, and muscle stiffness suggest malignant hyperthermia; ice packs cool the body, and dantrolene reverses the condition. Back rubs, ice slush, and warming blankets are inappropriate.
Which nursing task would be most appropriate to delegate to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) on a postoperative unit?
- A. Change the dressing over the surgical site.
- B. Teach the client how to perform incentive spirometry.
- C. Empty and record the amount of drainage in the JP drain.
- D. Auscultate the bowel sounds in all four (4) quadrants.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Emptying and recording JP drain output is a technical task within UAP scope. Dressing changes, teaching, and auscultation require nursing judgment.