A nurse is providing postoperative care for a child following an arterial cardiac catheterization. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Remove the child's pressure dressing after the first 4 hours.
Maintain the child's NPO status for 4 to 6 hours.
Keep the affected extremity straight for at least 6 hours.
Monitor output using an indwelling urinary catheter for the first 24 hours.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Removing the child's pressure dressing after the first 4 hours is not recommended as it may increase the risk of bleeding. The pressure dressing is typically kept in place longer to ensure hemostasis.
Choice B reason: Maintaining the child's NPO status for 4 to 6 hours post-procedure is a standard practice to prevent nausea and vomiting while anesthesia wears off, but it is not the most critical action in this context.
Choice C reason: Keeping the affected extremity straight for at least 6 hours is essential to prevent bleeding from the catheterization site. This is a critical postoperative care step following arterial cardiac catheterization.
Choice D reason: Monitoring output using an indwelling urinary catheter for the first 24 hours is important for assessing kidney function and fluid balance but is not the immediate priority post-cardiac catheterization.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Avoiding the removal of the cream prior to the procedure is important, but it does not specify when or how the cream should be applied, which is crucial for its effectiveness.
Choice B reason: Rubbing the cream into the skin is not recommended as it should be applied as a thick layer and covered with an occlusive dressing to ensure proper absorption and numbing effect.
Choice C reason: Applying the cream 1 hour before the procedure allows enough time for the lidocaine and prilocaine to take effect, providing adequate local anesthesia for the insertion of the IV catheter.
Choice D reason: Washing the site with alcohol prior to applying the cream is necessary to clean the area, but it is not the action that addresses the primary goal of numbing the site for the procedure.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Hemoglobin (Hgb) of 12 g/dL is within the normal range for school-age children and is not specifically indicative of nephrotic syndrome.
Choice B reason: A serum protein level of 4.2 g/dL is lower than the normal range, which is typically between 6 and 8 g/dL. This finding is consistent with nephrotic syndrome, as the condition is characterized by proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia, leading to low serum protein levels.
Choice C reason: A BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) level of 15 mg/dL is within the normal range for children and does not specifically indicate nephrotic syndrome. Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by protein loss, not necessarily changes in BUN levels.
Choice D reason: A serum sodium level of 144 mEq/L is within the normal range for children. While electrolyte imbalances can occur in nephrotic syndrome, this value does not specifically indicate the condition.
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