A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for oxygen at 7 L/min via a simple face mask. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to ensure client safety?

The correct answer is choice D. The client has tenderness and warmth in their calf.

Choice A rationale:

The client's self-reported incisional pain level of 7 on a scale of 0 to 10 is important information to assess postoperative recovery, but it is not the priority finding to report among the choices. Pain management is crucial, but potential complications that could be more urgent should be addressed first.

Choice B rationale:

Increased nausea and chills are concerning postoperative findings, but they could be related to the body's response to surgery, anesthesia, or pain medications. While these symptoms should be monitored and managed, they are not as high-priority as potential complications involving the calf.

Choice C rationale:

An oral temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F) indicates a fever and is also a concerning finding in the postoperative period. Infection could be a possible cause, and the provider should be informed. However, compared to tenderness and warmth in the calf, which could suggest deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the fever is of slightly lower priority.

Choice D rationale:

Tenderness and warmth in the calf are the priority findings to report. These symptoms raise concern about the possibility of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious complication after surgery. DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, commonly in the legs. If left untreated, it can lead to a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening condition where the clot travels to the lungs. Immediate assessment and intervention are necessary to rule out or address this potentially critical complication.

The correct answer is choice b. Three-point.

Choice A rationale:

The four-point gait is used when a client can bear weight on both legs. It involves moving one crutch forward, followed by the opposite leg, then the other crutch, and finally the other leg. This gait provides maximum stability but is not suitable for non-weight-bearing conditions.

Choice B rationale:

The three-point gait is appropriate for clients who cannot bear weight on one leg. In this gait, both crutches and the affected leg move forward together, followed by the unaffected leg. This allows the client to keep weight off the injured leg while moving.

Choice C rationale:

The two-point gait is used when a client can bear partial weight on both legs. It involves moving one crutch and the opposite leg forward simultaneously, followed by the other crutch and leg. This gait is faster than the four-point gait but still provides some stability.

Choice D rationale:

The swing-through gait is used by clients who have good upper body strength and balance. It involves moving both crutches forward together and then swinging both legs forward past the crutches. This gait is not typically recommended for clients who need to keep weight off one leg.