A client who had colon surgery 3 days ago is anxious and requesting assistance to reposition. While the nurse is turning the client, the wound dehiscences and eviscerates. The nurse moistens an available sterile dressing and places it over the wound. Which intervention should the nurse implement next?
Prepare the client to return to the operating room.
Obtain a sample of the drainage to send to the lab.
Bring additional sterile dressing supplies to the room.
Auscultate the abdomen for bowel sound activity.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Prepare the client to return to the operating room:
This is the correct and immediate priority. Evisceration, where internal organs protrude through the surgical incision, is a surgical emergency. Returning the client to the operating room is necessary to assess the extent of the complication, address the wound dehiscence, and protect the exposed organs. This intervention aims to prevent further complications and provide necessary surgical interventions.
B. Obtain a sample of the drainage to send to the lab:
While obtaining samples for laboratory analysis can be important for infection control, in the context of a client with evisceration, the primary concern is the surgical emergency. The priority is to address the wound complication by returning to the operating room rather than focusing on laboratory analysis at this immediate moment.
C. Bring additional sterile dressing supplies to the room:
While bringing additional supplies may be necessary, the priority in this situation is to prepare for the client's return to the operating room. Once the client is in a controlled surgical environment, additional dressing changes and wound care can be performed as needed.
D. Auscultate the abdomen for bowel sound activity:
While monitoring bowel sounds is a routine nursing assessment, in the context of evisceration, the immediate concern is the exposure of internal organs and the risk of infection. Preparing for the operating room takes precedence over routine assessments.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Activity level of bowel sounds:
Bowel sounds are important to assess, but they may not directly influence or be influenced by the abdominal pain associated with chronic pancreatitis.
B. Eating patterns and dietary intake.
Clients with chronic pancreatitis often experience abdominal pain exacerbated by the intake of food, especially fatty meals. Monitoring the client's eating patterns and dietary intake is crucial for identifying triggers that may worsen the abdominal pain. By understanding the relationship between food intake and pain, the nurse can provide guidance on dietary modifications to help manage the symptoms.
C. Level and amount of physical activity:
While physical activity is important for overall health, it may not be the primary factor contributing to or alleviating the abdominal pain in a client with chronic pancreatitis.
D. Color and consistency of feces:
Monitoring the color and consistency of feces is important for assessing pancreatic function, but it may not be the most immediate factor to address in the context of managing abdominal pain. Dietary patterns are more directly related to pain management in this case.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Administer a prescribed sedative:
Sedatives may depress the respiratory drive, which can be detrimental in a client with respiratory distress. It is not the appropriate intervention in this case.
B. Assist the client to an upright position.
Positioning the client upright helps improve respiratory mechanics by reducing the pressure on the diaphragm and allowing better lung expansion. This position can enhance the efficiency of breathing and alleviate symptoms of breathlessness.
C. Encourage the client to drink water:
While maintaining hydration is important, it may not directly address the immediate respiratory distress. Addressing the respiratory symptoms with an upright position is more crucial at this moment.
D. Apply a high-flow venturi mask:
While oxygen therapy may be necessary for a client with COPD experiencing respiratory distress, the first step is to assist the client to an upright position to improve respiratory mechanics. Applying a high-flow venturi mask may be a subsequent intervention based on the overall assessment, but positioning is the initial priority.
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