A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for oxycodone. Which of the following medications should the nurse remind the client to take regularly to prevent a common adverse effect of oxycodone?

Transurethral resection of the prostate is commonly performed to treat urinary obstruction caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia. In the immediate postoperative period, some hematuria and mild bladder spasms are expected due to surgical manipulation of the prostate tissue. However, excessive bleeding can indicate a complication that requires prompt medical attention. Nurses must carefully monitor urine color, output, and the presence of clots to detect abnormal findings early.

Rationale:
A. Occasional small clots in the urine are expected after TURP because residual blood from the surgical site may pass through the urinary tract. This is considered a normal postoperative finding as long as the clots are small and not accompanied by obstruction or heavy bleeding. Continuous monitoring is still necessary, but this finding alone does not require immediate reporting.

B. Frequent urge to urinate is a common postoperative symptom due to bladder irritation from the surgery and the presence of a urinary catheter. It is often caused by bladder spasms and is an expected response after TURP. This symptom is uncomfortable but not indicative of a complication requiring urgent provider notification.

C. A urine output of 300 mL over 8 hours may be slightly low but can still be acceptable depending on fluid intake, catheter patency, and overall clinical context. It requires monitoring but is not immediately alarming in isolation. The nurse should assess trends rather than report this finding as a priority abnormality.

D. Dark red urine indicates active or excessive bleeding, which is not an expected finding after TURP. Mild hematuria is normal, but dark red urine suggests significant hemorrhage that may lead to clot retention and bladder obstruction. This finding requires immediate notification of the provider for further evaluation and intervention.

Clients with Chronic kidney disease often develop hypertension due to fluid overload, altered renin-angiotensin system activity, and impaired sodium excretion. Accurate blood pressure assessment is critical because treatment decisions depend on reliable readings. When an assistive personnel reports a critically high value, the nurse must first verify the measurement before initiating interventions or escalating care. This ensures patient safety and prevents unnecessary or inappropriate treatment.

Rationale:
A. Reporting the blood pressure reading to the charge nurse is not the first action because the accuracy of the reported value has not yet been confirmed. Escalation should occur only after verifying the data. Immediate communication without reassessment may lead to inappropriate clinical decisions based on an inaccurate reading.

B. Remeasuring the client’s blood pressure is the priority action to confirm the validity of the reported value. Equipment error, improper cuff size, or incorrect technique by assistive personnel may produce falsely elevated readings. Verification ensures that subsequent interventions are based on accurate clinical data and supports safe nursing judgment.

C. Instructing the client to remain in bed may be appropriate if hypertension is confirmed, but it does not address the priority need to verify the blood pressure reading first. Without confirmation, restricting activity may be unnecessary or unrelated to the client’s actual condition. Assessment must always precede intervention.

D. Administering an antihypertensive medication is inappropriate without first confirming the blood pressure and obtaining a provider’s order. Antihypertensive drugs can cause rapid blood pressure reduction, leading to complications such as hypotension or decreased organ perfusion if given unnecessarily. Safe medication administration requires validated data and proper authorization.