A nurse is providing postmortem care for a client prior to the family viewing the body. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Raise the head of the client's bed to 30 degrees.
Cleanse the client's body while wearing sterile gloves
Remove the client's dentures and close their mouth
Apply surgical tape to the client's eyes
The Correct Answer is A
After a patient dies, postmortem care includes preparing them for family viewing. The nurse should place the body in the supine position, with the arms at the sides and the head on a pillow. Then elevate the head of the bed 30 degrees to prevent discoloration from blood settling in the face .
The other options are not correct because:
b) The nurse should cleanse the client's body while wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) based on indications for isolation precautions, not necessarily sterile gloves.
c) If the patient wore dentures and your facility’s policy permits, gently insert them; then close the mouth
d) The nurse should close the eyes by gently pressing on the lids with their fingertips. If they don’t stay closed, place moist coton balls on the eyelids for a few minutes, and then try again to close them. Surgical tape is not mentioned as necessary .

Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The nurse should expect the provider to discontinue phenelzine 2 weeks before starting fluoxetine treatment. Phenelzine is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) and should not be taken with fluoxetine, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Taking these two medications together can cause a dangerous drug interaction known as serotonin syndrome.
a) Levothyroxine is a thyroid hormone replacement medication and does not interact with fluoxetine.
b) Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and does not interact with fluoxetine.
c) Simvastatin is a cholesterol- lowering medication and does not interact with fluoxetine.

Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Answer: C. Change the perineal pad with each void.
Rationale:
A) Cleanse the perineal area from back to front: Cleansing from back to front is not recommended as it increases the risk of introducing bacteria from the anal area to the perineal wound, potentially leading to infection. The correct technique is front-to-back cleansing to prevent contamination.
B) Wash the perineal area with povidone-iodine twice daily: Povidone-iodine is not typically recommended for regular perineal care postpartum, as it can disrupt normal flora and potentially irritate the healing tissues. Using warm water and mild soap is safer for cleansing the area.
C) Change the perineal pad with each void: Changing the perineal pad with each void helps maintain cleanliness and reduces moisture in the perineal area, decreasing the risk of infection and promoting comfort during the healing process of an episiotomy.
D) Wipe the perineal area with a soft cloth: Wiping the area can disrupt the stitches and may cause discomfort. Instead, clients are usually advised to gently pat dry or use a squirt bottle to cleanse, which reduces pressure on the healing tissue.
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