A client who has come to the clinic is diagnosed with endometriosis. What would the nurse expect the primary care provider to prescribe as a first-line treatment?

Choice A: Encourage her to turn, cough, and deep breathe at frequent intervals. This intervention is appropriate for the nurse to include in the client's plan of care at this time because it can help prevent respiratory complications such as atelectasis (collapse of lung tissue) or pneumonia after surgery. Turning, coughing, and deep breathing can help expand the lungs, clear the airways, and improve oxygenation.

Choice B: Ask the client how she feels about having her breast removed. This intervention is not appropriate for the nurse to include in the client's plan of care at this time because it may be too intrusive or insensitive. Asking the client how she feels about having her breast removed may trigger emotional distress or anxiety in the client who has just undergone a major surgery that affects her body image and self-esteem. The nurse should wait until the client is more stable and ready to talk about her feelings and concerns.

Choice C: Attach a sign above her bed to have BP, IV lines, and lab work in her right arm. This intervention is not appropriate for the nurse to include in the client's plan of care at this time because it is incorrect and potentially harmful. Attaching a sign above her bed to have BP, IV lines, and lab work in her right arm may cause injury or infection to the arm that has undergone surgery and lymph node removal. The nurse should attach a sign above her bed to have BP, IV lines, and lab work in her left arm instead.

Choice D: Position her right arm below heart level. This intervention is not appropriate for the nurse to include in the client's plan of care at this time because it is incorrect and potentially harmful. Positioning her right arm below heart level may impair the blood circulation and lymphatic drainage of the arm that has undergone surgery and lymph node removal. The nurse should position her right arm above heart level instead.

Choice A: Vomiting is not the most serious side effect because it is a common and manageable side effect of chemotherapy. Vomiting is a reflex action that expels the contents of the stomach through the mouth. It can be caused by various factors such as nausea, motion sickness, or infection. It can also be caused by chemotherapy, which can irritate the lining of the stomach or trigger the vomiting center in the brain. Vomiting can be prevented or treated with antiemetic drugs, hydration, and dietary changes.

Choice B: Fatigue is not the most serious side effect because it is a common and manageable side effect of chemotherapy. Fatigue is a condition that causes extreme tiredness or exhaustion that is not relieved by rest or sleep. It can be caused by various factors such as anemia, inflammation, or pain. It can also be caused by chemotherapy, which can damage healthy cells and tissues and affect the body's energy production. Fatigue can be managed with exercise, nutrition, and stress reduction.

Choice C: Hair loss is not the most serious side effect because it is a common and temporary side effect of chemotherapy. Hair loss is a condition that causes hair to fall out from the scalp or other parts of the body. It can be caused by various factors such as genetics, hormones, or infection. It can also be caused by chemotherapy, which can target rapidly dividing cells such as hair follicles and prevent hair growth. Hair loss usually occurs within two to four weeks after starting chemotherapy and reverses within six months after stopping chemotherapy.

Choice D: Myelosuppression is the most serious side effect because it is a rare and life-threatening side effect of chemotherapy. Myelosuppression is a condition that causes a decrease in the production of blood cells in the bone marrow. It can lead to anemia (low red blood cells), neutropenia (low white blood cells), and thrombocytopenia (low platelets), which can cause symptoms such as weakness, infection, and bleeding. It can also be caused by chemotherapy, which can target rapidly dividing cells such as bone marrow cells and impair blood cell formation. Myelosuppression requires close monitoring and treatment with blood transfusions, growth factors, or antibiotics.