A nurse is caring for a 5-week-old infant who has just returned from a PACU following surgery.

Exhibits

The nurse is planning care for a 5-week-old infant who is postoperative. For each intervention, click to specify if the intervention is expected or unexpected for the infant. There must be at least 1 selection in every row. There does not need to be a selection in every column.

Rationale:

A. Place a pillow under the client's knees when changing positions: Elevating the knees with a pillow may be appropriate for comfort, but in a client with a thoracic spine injury, this can alter spinal alignment and increase the risk of further injury. Maintaining proper spinal alignment during all movements is more important than knee elevation.

B. Use a sheet when repositioning the client onto his side: Using a sheet for logrolling or turning helps maintain spinal alignment and allows multiple caregivers to move the client safely as a unit. This technique minimizes rotation or flexion of the spine, which is critical in preventing further spinal cord injury in clients with thoracic spine trauma.

C. Apply an immobilizing collar on the client prior to movement: Cervical collars are used for cervical spine injuries, not thoracic spine injuries. Applying a collar would not stabilize the thoracic spine and could give a false sense of security while performing repositioning.

D. Instruct the client to keep his arms at his side when altering positions: The client may need to assist in turning if possible, and keeping the arms rigidly at the side is not necessary. Restricting arm movement does not ensure spinal safety and may limit the client’s ability to participate safely in repositioning.

Rationale:

• Prenatal anemia: Anemia reduces immune function and tissue oxygenation, making the client more susceptible to postpartum infections, including uterine and systemic infections.
• High parity: Multiparity increases the risk of uterine atony due to repeated stretching and decreased tone of the uterine muscles. This predisposes the postpartum client to poor uterine contraction and increased risk of hemorrhage.
• Polyhydramnios: Excessive amniotic fluid causes uterine overdistension, which weakens uterine contractility and increases the risk of atony and postpartum hemorrhage.
• Prolonged rupture of membranes: Extended rupture of membranes (>18 hours) significantly increases the risk of intrauterine or postpartum infection, including endometritis, due to ascending bacteria from the vaginal canal. This can lead to fever, leukocytosis, and foul-smelling lochia.