A nurse is caring for a child who has a hip spica cast. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A reason: Decreased bowel sounds 6 hours post-hysterectomy are expected due to anesthesia and surgical manipulation, typically resolving within 24-48 hours. Urinary output of 75 mL in 3 hours is more urgent. Assuming bowel sounds require reporting risks overlooking critical renal issues, potentially delaying intervention in postoperative care.

Choice B reason: Urinary output of 75 mL in 3 hours (25 mL/hour) is below the expected 30-50 mL/hour, indicating potential renal compromise or obstruction post-hysterectomy, requiring immediate reporting. This ensures timely intervention, critical for preventing acute kidney injury, ensuring fluid balance, and supporting recovery in postoperative clients.

Choice C reason: A pain level of 4 is moderate and manageable with routine analgesics, not requiring immediate provider reporting compared to low urinary output. Assuming pain is urgent risks misprioritizing, potentially delaying critical interventions for renal issues, essential for ensuring comprehensive postoperative care and client stability.

Choice D reason: Scant dark red drainage is expected 6 hours post-hysterectomy, indicating minor surgical oozing, not requiring immediate reporting. Low urinary output is priority. Assuming drainage is concerning risks diverting focus from renal complications, critical for preventing kidney injury and ensuring safe recovery in postoperative clients.

Choice A reason: Discussing preferences for repositioning schedules is secondary to assessing physical ability in stroke clients, who may have hemiplegia. Evaluating ability ensures safety. Assuming preferences are priority risks unsafe repositioning, potentially causing falls, critical to avoid in ensuring safe mobility and care for stroke patients.

Choice B reason: Evaluating the client’s ability to assist with repositioning is critical post-stroke to assess motor function, ensuring safe technique and preventing injury. This informs whether assistive devices or additional staff are needed, essential for reducing fall risk, promoting recovery, and tailoring care to the client’s physical capacity.

Choice C reason: Repositioning without assistive devices is unsafe for stroke clients with potential weakness or paralysis, risking falls or strain. Evaluating ability is priority. Assuming no devices are needed risks injury, critical to prevent in ensuring safe handling, supporting recovery, and maintaining safety in stroke rehabilitation care.

Choice D reason: Raising side rails ensures safety but is secondary to evaluating the client’s ability to assist, which guides repositioning technique. Assuming rails are the first step risks overlooking physical capacity, potentially leading to unsafe repositioning, critical to avoid in preventing falls and ensuring safe care for stroke clients.