A nurse is caring for a client who is to undergo a subtotal thyroidectomy. Which of the following items should the nurse place at the client’s bedside?
Thoracotomy set
Vacuum assisted wound device
Tracheostomy kit
Tuning fork
The Correct Answer is C
Rationale:
A. Thoracotomy set: A thoracotomy set is used for emergency chest procedures, such as to relieve a pneumothorax or drain the pleural space. It is not relevant to a thyroidectomy, which involves the neck and airway rather than the thoracic cavity.
B. Vacuum assisted wound device: A vacuum-assisted wound device is used for chronic or large open wounds requiring negative pressure therapy. It is not indicated for fresh surgical incisions or preventive airway management following thyroid surgery.
C. Tracheostomy kit: A tracheostomy kit should be readily available at the bedside following thyroid surgery because of the risk of airway obstruction from swelling, bleeding, or damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Immediate airway access may be needed in case of respiratory distress.
D. Tuning fork: A tuning fork is used in auditory and vibration assessments, such as during Rinne and Weber tests. It has no relevance to the immediate post-operative care of a client undergoing a thyroidectomy.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Urinary retention: Urinary retention is a potential side effect of epidural anesthesia due to blockade of sacral nerves, not necessarily a sign of unrelieved pain. It may occur even if pain is well managed, especially with regional anesthetics affecting bladder function.
B. Restlessness: Restlessness is a common behavioral indicator of unrelieved pain. When verbal reporting is limited or unreliable, restlessness may reflect discomfort, agitation, or anxiety related to inadequate pain control following procedures such as epidural administration.
C. Difficulty swallowing: Difficulty swallowing is not associated with pain from a herniated disc or the effects of an epidural. It may instead suggest upper airway or neurologic issues and should prompt assessment for complications unrelated to pain control.
D. Constipation: Constipation is more commonly linked to opioid use or immobility rather than unrelieved pain. While discomfort may contribute, constipation alone does not reliably indicate the adequacy of pain relief in clients receiving an epidural.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Use an N95 respirator: N95 respirators are necessary for airborne precautions, such as with tuberculosis or measles. C. difficile is transmitted via contact with contaminated surfaces or stool, not airborne particles, so an N95 is not indicated.
B. Initiate contact precautions: Contact precautions are required for C. difficile because it spreads through direct and indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or stool. Gloves and gowns should be worn, and hand hygiene with soap and water is essential to prevent spore transmission.
C. Place the child in a room that has a HEPA filtration system: HEPA filters are used for airborne pathogens or immunocompromised clients, not for enteric infections like C. difficile. This intervention would not reduce transmission risk in this case.
D. Instruct the parents to avoid bringing fresh flowers into the room: This precaution is typically for neutropenic or immunocompromised clients to reduce exposure to potential fungal spores. C. difficile precautions focus on containment of fecal-oral transmission routes, not environmental fungal sources.
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