A nurse is caring for a client who had a surgical repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm 3 days ago. The client's vital signs are temperature 38.3°C (100.9°F), heart rate 80/min, respirations 16/min, and blood pressure 128/76 mm Hg. Which of the following actions is the nurse's priority?
Notify the surgeon of the temperature elevation.
Encourage the client to drink more fluids.
Assess the surgical incision for signs of infection.
Monitor vital signs every 4 hr.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Notifying the surgeon of the temperature elevation is important, but it is not the nurse's priority. A temperature elevation after abdominal surgery could be a sign of infection, but the immediate action should be to assess the surgical incision for any signs of infection.
Choice B rationale:
Encouraging the client to drink more fluids is a good practice to maintain hydration and promote recovery after surgery. However, it is not the nurse's priority in this situation. The elevated temperature and potential infection take precedence over increasing fluid intake.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct answer because the nurse's priority is to assess the surgical incision for signs of infection. An elevated temperature is a significant finding after surgery, and it may indicate a surgical site infection, which requires prompt assessment and intervention.
Choice D rationale:
Monitoring vital signs every 4 hours is an essential nursing intervention after surgery, but it is not the priority when the client has an elevated temperature and a recent surgical incision.
The nurse must first assess for signs of infection before proceeding with routine vital sign monitoring.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
A 23-year-old client in skeletal traction may be at risk of pressure injuries, but being young and presumably healthier than the other options, this client may have a lower risk compared to the other choices.
Choice B rationale:
A 67-year-old client with coronary artery disease may be at risk of pressure injuries, especially if the client has limited mobility or is bedridden. However, coronary artery disease alone does not significantly increase the risk of pressure injuries.
Choice C rationale:
A 32-year-old client with a spinal cord injury is most at risk of developing a pressure injury. Spinal cord injuries often result in paralysis or limited mobility, leading to prolonged pressure on specific areas of the body, which can cause pressure ulcers.
Choice D rationale:
A 55-year-old client with emphysema may have compromised lung function, but this alone does not significantly increase the risk of pressure injuries. Pressure injuries are primarily related to immobility and pressure on specific body areas.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
High lipase is not a typical laboratory finding related to overusing prescribed diuretics and a sodium level of 127 mEq/L. Lipase is an enzyme involved in lipid digestion and is more relevant in assessing pancreatic function.
Choice B rationale:
High creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) is not associated with overusing prescribed diuretics or hyponatremia (low sodium level). CK-MB is a specific marker for myocardial damage and is usually elevated in conditions like myocardial infarction.
Choice C rationale:
Low hemoglobin is not directly related to overusing prescribed diuretics and a sodium level of 127 mEq/L. Low hemoglobin may indicate anemia or other hematological issues but this is not a typical finding in this scenario.
Choice D rationale:
The correct answer is low urine specific gravity. Overusing diuretics can lead to excessive urination, causing the urine to become more dilute with lower specific gravity. A low urine specific gravity indicates decreased urine concentration and can be a sign of fluid and electrolyte imbalances, including hyponatremia.
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