A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a subtotal thyroidectomy. The nurse should place the client in which of the following positions?

Choice A reason:

Urine specific gravity is the measurement of the concentration of solutes in urine and is an important indicator of the client's hydration status and kidney function. A specific gravity of 1.035 is relatively high, suggesting concentrated urine. High urine specific gravity can be a sign of dehydration or other kidney-related issues.

Reporting this finding to the provider is crucial because it could indicate potential problems with the client's fluid balance and kidney function. The provider may need to assess further, conduct additional tests, or initiate appropriate interventions to address the client's hydration and renal status.

Choice B reason:

Prealbumin: A prealbumin level of 25 mg/dL is within the normal range (usually 15-35 mg/dL) and may not require immediate reporting to the provider. Prealbumin is used to assess nutritional status, and this result suggests that the client's nutritional status is within the normal range.

Choice C reason:

Temperature: The provided information does not include any data about the client's temperature, and there are no signs of infection mentioned. Unless there are specific signs or symptoms of fever or infection, reporting the temperature is not necessary based on the given data.

Choice D reason

Bowel sounds: The provided information does not include any data about the client's bowel sounds, and there are no indications of gastrointestinal issues or abnormalities. Bowel sounds may not be relevant to report unless there are specific symptoms or signs of GI disturbances.

The correct answer is A. Clean the wound from the center to the outer edges.

Rationale: The nurse should clean the wound from the center to the outer edges to prevent contamination of the wound bed by bacteria or debris from the surrounding skin. The nurse should wear clean gloves, not sterile gloves, to remove the dressing, as wet-to-dry dressings are not sterile and do not require a sterile technique.

The nurse should remove the tape by pulling parallel to and away from the skin, not from the center of the dressing, to minimize skin damage and pain. The nurse should not moisten the dressing before removal, as this would defeat the purpose of wet-to-dry dressings, which are intended to debride necrotic tissue by adhering to it and pulling it off when dry.