A nurse is caring for a client who has a vented NG tube set to low intermittent suction and has vomited.

Which of the following actions should the nurse perform first?

The correct answer is choiceb. Instruct the client to notify the provider if diarrhea develops.

Choice A rationale:

Infusing penicillin G over 10 minutes is not recommended as it may cause adverse reactions.The infusion rate should be based on the specific guidelines for the medication and patient condition.

Choice B rationale:

Diarrhea can be a sign of a serious side effect called Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, which can occur with antibiotic use.It is important for the client to notify the provider if this symptom develops.

Choice C rationale:

Penicillin G should be stored according to the manufacturer’s instructions, which typically do not include refrigeration after reconstitution.Incorrect storage can affect the medication’s efficacy.

Choice D rationale:

Checking for a sulfa allergy is not relevant for penicillin G administration.Sulfa allergies are related to sulfonamide antibiotics, not penicillins.

This statement should be included in the hand-off report because it provides essential information about the patient’s intraoperative status and potential postoperative complications, such as hypovolemia, anemia, or infection. The estimated blood loss (EBL) is an important indicator of the patient’s fluid balance and hemodynamic stability.

Choice A is wrong because “The client was intubated without complications.” is not relevant for the postoperative care of the patient. The intubation status is usually documented in the anesthesia record and does not need to be repeated in the hand-off report unless there were any issues or injuries related to the airway management.

Choice B is wrong because “There was a total of 10 sponges used during the procedure.” is not pertinent for the postoperative care of the patient.

The number of sponges used during the surgery is usually counted and verified by the scrub nurse and the circulating nurse in the operating room to prevent any retained foreign bodies. This information does not need to be communicated to the PACU nurse unless there was a discrepancy or a missing sponge.

Choice D is wrong because “The client is a member of the board of directors.” is not appropriate for the hand-off report.

This statement violates the patient’s privacy and confidentiality and does not contribute to the quality or safety of care. The patient’s role or position in the organization should not influence the hand-off communication or the postoperative care.

A hand-off report is a critical communication tool that facilitates the transfer of care from one provider to another. It should include relevant information about the patient’s medical history, surgical procedure, intraoperative events, postoperative plan, and any concerns or potential problems.

A standardized hand-off tool, such as SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation), can help improve the consistency, accuracy, and completeness of the hand-off report.

Some normal ranges that may be useful for postoperative care are:

• Blood pressure: 90/60 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg
• Pulse: 60 to 100 beats/min
• Respiratory rate: 12 to 20 breaths/min
• Oxygen saturation: 95% to 100%
• Temperature: 36°C to 37.5°C
• Hemoglobin: 12 to 18 g/dL
• Hematocrit: 36% to 54%