A nurse is caring for a client who had total hip arthroplasty 1 day ago and is receiving morphine sulfate by PCA pump for pain control. The client reports nausea and vomiting. Which of the following actions is the priority for the nurse to take?
Provide an antiemetic.
Make the client NPO.
Administer a stimulant laxative.
Auscultate bowel sounds.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Provide an antiemetic.
While providing an antiemetic can help alleviate the client's nausea and vomiting, it is not the priority action. Assessment should come first to determine the underlying cause.
B. Make the client NPO.
Making the client NPO might be necessary if there is concern about bowel obstruction or other gastrointestinal issues, but this decision should be based on an initial assessment, such as auscultating bowel sounds.
C. Administer a stimulant laxative.
Administering a stimulant laxative is not appropriate at this stage without first assessing bowel sounds. It could potentially worsen the situation if there is a bowel obstruction.
D. Auscultate bowel sounds.
The priority in this situation is to assess for possible complications such as bowel obstruction or paralytic ileus, which can occur postoperatively and can be exacerbated by opioid use. Auscultating bowel sounds helps determine the presence of normal, hypoactive, or absent bowel sounds, guiding further management.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. "Skeletal traction has less risk for infection than skin traction."
This statement is not accurate. Both skeletal and skin traction carry some risk of infection, but the risk factors and considerations are different for each. Skeletal traction involves pins or wires directly inserted into the bone, and while the risk of infection is present, it is not necessarily lower than that of skin traction.
B. "Clients in skin traction have more mobility than those in skeletal traction."
This statement is not accurate. Skeletal traction, involving the use of weights and pins or wires inserted into the bone, tends to provide more stable immobilization. Skin traction, which relies on external devices applied to the skin's surface, may allow for some limited mobility but is generally not as effective as skeletal traction.
C. "Skeletal traction is better than skin traction for reducing a fracture."
This is the correct statement. Skeletal traction is often more effective in providing a stable and controlled environment for reducing and immobilizing fractures.
D. "Clients in skin traction have more discomfort than those in skeletal traction."
This statement is not necessarily accurate. Discomfort can vary depending on the individual, the type of fracture, and other factors. Both skeletal and skin traction may cause some discomfort, and it's important to assess and manage the client's pain appropriately in either case.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Tenting
Tenting refers to the delayed recoil of the skin when pinched. In a dehydrated state, the skin loses elasticity, leading to tenting due to decreased skin turgor. This is a specific sign of fluid-volume deficit.
B. Protruding eyeballs
Protruding eyeballs are not typically associated with dehydration. This could be related to other conditions such as thyroid dysfunction, but it is not a specific indicator of fluid-volume deficit.
C. Elevated blood pressure
Elevated blood pressure is not a typical sign of dehydration. In fact, dehydration often leads to a decrease in blood pressure due to reduced blood volume.
D. Dry mucous membranes
Dry mucous membranes can be an indication of dehydration, but in the context of the question, tenting (Option A) is a more specific sign related to skin turgor and is commonly assessed when evaluating for dehydration.
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