A nurse in an emergency department is planning care for a client who has abdominal trauma from a motor-vehicle crash. Which of the following provider prescriptions should the nurse implement first?

• Postoperative ileus: Ileus is a common complication after abdominal surgery due to anesthesia, opioid use, and limited mobility. It presents as delayed return of bowel function, marked by absent bowel sounds and abdominal discomfort. In this case, the child has absent bowel sounds and increasing tenderness, supporting this risk.
• Atelectasis: Atelectasis generally presents with diminished breath sounds and hypoxia, not clear breath sounds. Although the child has shallow respirations and is refusing the incentive spirometer, there are no respiratory findings such as decreased oxygen saturation or adventitious breath sounds that support this condition currently.
• Peritonitis: Peritonitis would present with systemic symptoms like fever, severe abdominal pain, rebound tenderness, or signs of sepsis. The child has mild abdominal tenderness and stable vital signs, which do not indicate peritoneal inflammation at this time.
• Urinary retention: This would be characterized by lack of urination, bladder distension, or discomfort—none of which are noted in the scenario. The child’s urinary output and bladder status are not identified as concerns, making this diagnosis unlikely.
• Absent bowel sounds: This is a key clinical sign of ileus. After surgery, bowel activity should return gradually. Continued absence of sounds, especially along with abdominal tenderness, strongly indicates impaired gastrointestinal motility.
• Shallow respirations: While shallow breathing is often a contributing factor to respiratory complications, in the context of abdominal surgery, it also limits diaphragmatic movement, which can further suppress bowel activity and contribute to postoperative ileus.
• Clear breath sounds: This is a normal respiratory finding and does not support the presence of atelectasis or other pulmonary complications. It suggests that lung fields are adequately ventilated despite shallow breathing.
• Intact abdominal dressing: This is an expected postoperative finding and does not support a diagnosis of infection, wound complication, or ileus. It indicates proper surgical wound healing.

A. Calories. Significant increases in caloric intake are not necessary during the first trimester. Most women do not require additional calories until the second and third trimesters, when fetal growth accelerates.
B. Folate. Folate (or folic acid) is crucial during early pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Women are advised to increase folate intake before conception and during early pregnancy.
C. Calcium. Calcium needs increase later in pregnancy when the fetus's bone development intensifies. While important throughout pregnancy, calcium is not the most critical nutrient to increase specifically in the first trimester.
D. Protein. Protein is essential for fetal growth, but increased protein needs become more important in the second and third trimesters when fetal tissue development peaks. Early pregnancy focuses more on folate supplementation for neural development.