A nurse is planning to administer 2 units of packed RBCs to an older adult client who has anemia. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take? (Select all that apply.)

Rationale:

A. The client experiences self-doubt when making decisions: Indecisiveness and self-doubt are common symptoms of major depressive disorder and do not reflect improvement. They typically indicate ongoing low self-esteem and cognitive impairment.

B. The client exhibits a flat affect: A flat or blunted affect is a hallmark of depressive states. Persistence of this symptom suggests the depression is still significantly impacting the client’s emotional expression.

C. The client can express angry feelings: Being able to express emotions such as anger can indicate emotional engagement and increased energy, which are signs of clinical improvement in depression.

D. The client looks down when speaking to others: This behavior suggests ongoing feelings of worthlessness or poor self-confidence, commonly seen in depressive states and not indicative of recovery.

Rationale:

A. Frequent swallowing: Frequent swallowing, especially of small amounts, can indicate that the child is swallowing blood from postoperative bleeding. This is a common early sign of hemorrhage following a tonsillectomy and requires immediate evaluation.

B. Increased drowsiness: Drowsiness can result from anesthesia, pain medication, or fatigue after surgery. While it should be monitored, it is not a specific indicator of postoperative hemorrhage in a child following tonsillectomy.

C. Elevated pain level: Pain is expected after tonsillectomy and does not necessarily signal bleeding. Sudden severe pain might warrant reassessment, but elevated pain alone is not a definitive sign of hemorrhage.

D. Diminished breath sounds: Diminished breath sounds are not typically associated with post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage. This finding may indicate a respiratory issue, but not specifically bleeding from the surgical site.