A nurse is caring for a school-age child who is 2 hr postoperative following a cardiac catheterization.

The nurse observes blood on the child’s dressing.

The correct answer is choiceC. Remove the cap and place it sterile-side up on a clean surface.

Choice A rationale:

Placing sterile gauze over areas of spilled solution within the sterile field is not recommended. Spilled solution can compromise the sterility of the field, and covering it with gauze does not restore sterility. Instead, the nurse should avoid spilling solution to maintain the sterile field.

Choice B rationale:

Holding the irrigation solution bottle with the label facing away from the palm of the hand is incorrect. The correct technique is to hold the bottle with the label facing the palm. This prevents the label from getting wet and unreadable, ensuring that the nurse can always identify the solution correctly.

Choice C rationale:

Removing the cap and placing it sterile-side up on a clean surface is the correct action. This maintains the sterility of the cap, preventing contamination when it is replaced on the bottle. Ensuring the cap remains sterile is crucial for maintaining the sterility of the solution.

Choice D rationale:

Holding the bottle in the center of the sterile field when pouring the solution is incorrect. The bottle should be held outside the sterile field to prevent contamination. The solution should be poured carefully to avoid splashing and compromising the sterile field.

A, B, C, D, and H. Here is why:.

• A. Heart rate: The client’s heart rate is elevated at 118/min, which could indicate blood loss, dehydration, pain, anxiety, or infection. This finding requires immediate follow-up to assess the cause and intervene as needed.
• B. Current medications: The client is taking ibuprofen 800 mg three times daily PRN for arthritis pain. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can cause gastric irritation, ulceration, and bleeding. This finding requires immediate follow-up to evaluate the client’s pain level, medication use, and possible alternatives to NSAIDs.
• C. Blood pressure: The client’s blood pressure is low at 90/50 mm Hg, which could indicate hypovolemia, shock, or cardiac dysfunction. This finding requires immediate follow-up to monitor the client’s fluid status, perfusion, and organ function.
• D. Stool results: The client’s stool tested positive for occult blood and H. pylori bacteria. Occult blood indicates gastrointestinal bleeding, which could be related to the client’s abdominal pain and weight loss. H. pylori is a common cause of peptic ulcer disease, which can also cause bleeding and pain. This finding requires immediate follow-up to confirm the diagnosis and initiate treatment with antibiotics and acid-suppressing drugs.

• H. Hemoglobin and hematocrit: The client’s hemoglobin and hematocrit are low at 9.1 g/dL and 27%, respectively. These values indicate anemia, which could be caused by chronic blood loss, nutritional deficiency, or bone marrow suppression. This finding requires immediate follow-up to determine the etiology and severity of the anemia and provide appropriate therapy such as blood transfusion, iron supplementation, or erythropoietin.

The other findings are not as urgent as the ones above:.

• E. Respiratory rate: The client’s respiratory rate is normal at 18/min. There is no evidence of respiratory distress or hypoxia.
• F. WBC count: The client’s WBC count is normal at 6,700/mm3. There is no indication of infection or inflammation.
• G. Temperature: The client’s temperature is slightly elevated at 37.5° C (99.5° F), but not enough to warrant immediate concern. It could be due to stress, dehydration, or a mild infection. The nurse should monitor the temperature trend and report any significant changes or signs of sepsis.