A nurse is assisting with the care of a 17-year-old client who is married and needs to undergo an emergency appendectomy. Which of the following individuals should the nurse ask to sign the informed consent form?

A. Social worker: Social workers can assist clients who have difficulty with transportation by coordinating community resources, arranging rides, or providing access to transportation services. This ensures the client can safely attend follow-up appointments without compromising independence or safety.

B. Primary care provider: The primary care provider manages overall health and follow-up care but does not typically coordinate transportation services for clients.

C. Physical therapist: Physical therapists focus on improving mobility, strength, and balance, which may indirectly support functional independence, but they do not coordinate transportation.

D. Occupational therapist: Occupational therapists help clients maintain or regain functional skills for daily activities, including driving skills, but arranging transportation to appointments falls under social work support rather than therapy interventions.

A. Heart rate: The increase from 88/min to 110/min indicates tachycardia, which can be an early sign of hypovolemia, infection, or sepsis. When combined with hypotension and fever, this finding suggests possible postoperative complications requiring urgent evaluation.

B. Pedal pulses: Bilateral pedal pulses remain 2+, indicating adequate peripheral perfusion at this time. This finding is stable and does not suggest acute circulatory compromise requiring immediate follow-up.

C. Breath sounds: Breath sounds are clear and unchanged from admission, suggesting no current pulmonary complication such as atelectasis or pneumonia. This finding does not indicate an urgent problem.

D. Abdominal dressing: A sudden increase to a large amount of serosanguinous drainage after the client felt something “pop” raises concern for wound dehiscence or possible evisceration. This is a surgical emergency requiring immediate assessment and intervention.

E. Respiratory rate: The respiratory rate has increased from 18/min to 24/min, indicating tachypnea. This may reflect pain, infection, or developing sepsis and warrants prompt follow-up in the postoperative client.

F. Oxygen saturation: Oxygen saturation remains within an acceptable range at 95% on room air. Although it should continue to be monitored, it does not currently indicate acute respiratory compromise.