A healthcare provider prescribes a low-fiber diet for a patient with ulcerative colitis.
Which food selection by the patient indicates to the nurse that the patient understands the prescribed diet?

Choice A rationale

Applying ice, then a warm compress to the IV site may help with pain or inflammation, but it does not address the potential problem with the IV site itself. If the client is experiencing pain and refuses a flush to assess the site, it could indicate that the IV site is compromised.

Choice B rationale

Checking the medical record for the date of IV insertion could provide useful information about how long the IV has been in place, but it does not directly address the client’s current complaint of pain at the IV site.

Choice C rationale

Redressing the IV site while checking for redness could help identify signs of infection or inflammation, but it does not address the client’s complaint of pain or their refusal to have the site flushed.

Choice D rationale

Discontinuing the current IV site and inserting a new one is the most appropriate action in this situation. If the client is experiencing pain at the IV site and refuses a flush to assess the site, it suggests that the current IV site may be compromised. Inserting a new IV ensures that the client can continue to receive their scheduled IV medication safely.

Choice A rationale

The patient vomiting at home for 3 days prior to surgery is crucial information that the PACU nurse should report. This could indicate a pre-existing condition or complication that needs to be addressed in the patient’s post-operative care plan.

Choice B rationale

While the patient refusing to take ice chips despite complaining of dry mouth is an important observation, it is not as critical as the patient’s pre-operative condition (vomiting for 3 days). The refusal of ice chips could be addressed through patient education and encouragement.

Choice C rationale

The presence of peripheral pulses and full range of motion in both legs is expected and normal in a post-operative patient, unless there were complications during surgery that could affect these observations. Therefore, this information, while important, is not as critical as the patient’s pre-operative condition.

Choice D rationale

The condition of the patient’s abdomen (soft, bowel sounds absent) and the absence of bleeding on the dressing are expected observations in a patient who has undergone an exploratory laparotomy. These observations, while important, do not provide additional critical information that the PACU nurse should report.