A nurse is assessing a client who has had staples removed from an abdominal wound postoperatively. The nurse notes separation of the wound edges with copious light-brown serous drainage. Which of the following actions should the nurse perform first?
Check the client's vital signs.
Cover the wound with a moist, sterile gauze dressing.
Assess the client's pain level.
Obtain a culture and sensitivity of the wound drainage
The Correct Answer is B
A. Check the client's vital signs. While vital signs are important for overall assessment, the immediate priority when faced with wound dehiscence is to protect the wound and prevent further contamination or damage.
B. Cover the wound with a moist, sterile gauze dressing. The first priority is to cover the wound with a moist, sterile dressing to protect it from infection and to manage the drainage. This helps in creating a barrier to prevent contamination and supports the wound environment for healing.
C. Assess the client's pain level. Pain assessment is important but not the immediate priority in this case. Managing the wound and preventing further complications is more critical.
D. Obtain a culture and sensitivity of the wound drainage. While obtaining a culture is important to identify any infection, it is not the first action. Protecting the wound from further contamination comes first.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Sleep on the abdomen to facilitate wound healing: Clients are usually advised to avoid sleeping on the side of the operated eye or on the abdomen to prevent pressure on the eye.
B. Bend at the waist to pick objects up from the floor: Bending at the waist can increase intraocular pressure, which is not advisable post-surgery.
C. Notify the surgeon if white drainage develops on the eyelids: White drainage may be a sign of normal healing or minor irritation; however, yellow or green discharge would be more concerning for infection.
D. Avoid lifting anything heavier than 4.5 kg (10 lb) for 1 week. Lifting heavy objects can increase intraocular pressure and potentially disrupt the healing process after cataract surgery. The client should avoid such activities to promote proper healing.
Correct Answer is ["A","C"]
Explanation
A. Hypotension: Hypotension is a common sign of hemorrhage. It occurs due to significant blood loss leading to decreased circulating blood volume and reduced cardiac output, which in turn lowers blood pressure. In the context of postoperative care, hypotension is a critical sign that may indicate internal bleeding.
B. Diaphoresis: Diaphoresis (excessive sweating) can be an autonomic response to acute blood loss and shock. The body tries to compensate for reduced blood volume and pressure by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which results in sweating as part of the body's effort to maintain perfusion to vital organs.
C. Tachypnea: Tachypnea (rapid breathing) is a compensatory mechanism in response to decreased oxygen delivery due to blood loss. The body increases respiratory rate to improve oxygen uptake and delivery to tissues, which is vital when there is reduced blood volume from hemorrhage.
D. Bradycardia: Bradycardia (slow heart rate) is not typically associated with hemorrhage. Instead, hemorrhage usually causes tachycardia (rapid heart rate) as the body attempts to maintain cardiac output and compensate for the loss of blood volume. Bradycardia could indicate other issues such as increased intracranial pressure or a vagal response but is not a common sign of acute hemorrhage.
E. Diarrhea: Diarrhea is not a sign of hemorrhage. It is more commonly associated with gastrointestinal issues such as infections, inflammatory bowel diseases, or reactions to medications. Hemorrhage typically affects cardiovascular parameters rather than causing gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea.
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