A nurse notes a small section of bowel protruding from the abdominal incision of a client who is postoperative. After calling for assistance, which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Check the client’s vital signs.

Inform the client about the need to return to surgery.

Have the client lie supine with knees flexed.

Cover the client’s wound with a moist, sterile dressing.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

The correct answer is Choice D: Cover the client's wound with a moist, sterile dressing.

Choice D rationale: In the case of a client with a bowel protrusion from an abdominal incision, the immediate priority is to protect the exposed bowel and minimize the risk of further damage or infection. Covering the wound with a moist, sterile dressing serves to maintain tissue viability, prevent dehydration, and provide a protective barrier against contamination. This intervention preserves the integrity of the exposed bowel while awaiting further medical or surgical management.

Choice A rationale: Checking the client's vital signs is an essential aspect of postoperative care and may be indicative of the client's overall status, but it is not the first action in the case of bowel evisceration. Immediate attention should be directed towards protecting the exposed bowel, with vital signs being monitored closely thereafter to ensure the client's stability.

Choice B rationale: Informing the client about the need for a return to surgery is an important step in the client's care, as it allows for informed consent and understanding of the situation. However, in this scenario, the priority is to address the immediate issue of bowel exposure and provide initial care to the compromised tissue. Once the exposed bowel is appropriately managed, the client should be informed about the potential need for further surgical intervention.

Choice C rationale: Positioning the client in a supine position with knees flexed may help reduce abdominal tension and minimize further protrusion, but it is not the immediate action to take when faced with bowel evisceration. The initial focus should be on protecting the exposed bowel through the application of a moist, sterile dressing, followed by measures to optimize the client's position and promote tissue integrity.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice B rationale:

Checking the patency of the tubing is the first and most crucial step in addressing the lack of urinary output in this patient. Here's a detailed explanation of why this is the priority action:

Addresses the Most Likely Cause: Obstruction of the urinary catheter tubing is the most common and easily reversible cause of sudden cessation of urinary output in a patient with a continuous bladder irrigation system.

Prevents Complications: A blocked catheter can lead to a number of serious complications, including: Bladder distention, which can cause pain, discomfort, and potential bladder damage.

Urinary retention, which can increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney damage. Hematuria, or blood in the urine, due to clot formation in the bladder or catheter.

Non-Invasive Intervention: Checking the tubing is a simple, non-invasive procedure that can quickly identify and resolve the issue without requiring further interventions or delays in care.

Prioritizes Patient Safety: It's essential to promptly address any potential urinary obstruction to prevent the aforementioned complications and ensure patient safety.

Rationale for Other Choices:

Choice A: Administering a prescribed analgesic:

While pain management is important, it does not directly address the lack of urinary output. Pain medication would be appropriate if pain were assessed to be the cause of the decreased output, but it's not the first priority in this situation.

Choice C: Notifying the provider:

Although the provider should be informed of the situation, checking the tubing for patency is a necessary first step to gather more information and potentially resolve the issue quickly without requiring further intervention.

Choice D: Offering oral fluids:

Increasing fluid intake might be helpful in some cases of decreased urinary output, but it's not the priority action in a patient with a continuous bladder irrigation system and a potential catheter obstruction.

A. Temperature control for either hypothermia or hyperthermia. B. Administration of cardiotonic agents such as dopamine, dobutamine, or norepinephrine. C. Administration of a thrombolytic (streptokinase). D. Subcutaneous administration of epinephrine (1:1000) 0.5 to 1 ml every 5 to 15 minutes. E. Blood cultures from all suspected sources before administration of antibiotics. F. Vigorous intravenous fluid resuscitation with 0.9% sodium chloride.

Correct Answer is ["A","B","E","F"]

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

Temperature control for either hypothermia or hyperthermia is crucial in septic shock management. Here's a detailed explanation:

Hypothermia:

Mechanism: Septic shock often causes impaired thermoregulation, leading to hypothermia. It can worsen shock by decreasing cardiac output, impairing coagulation, and promoting vasoconstriction.

Intervention: Active warming measures are essential, including: External warming devices (e.g., blankets, forced air warmers) Intravenous fluids warmed to 39-42°C

Warmed humidified oxygen

Minimizing exposure and covering the patient Hyperthermia:

Mechanism: Sepsis can trigger an excessive inflammatory response, leading to hyperthermia. It can exacerbate tissue injury, increase metabolic demands, and worsen organ dysfunction.

Intervention: Aggressive measures to lower temperature are necessary, including:

Antipyretic medications (e.g., acetaminophen, ibuprofen) External cooling methods (e.g., cooling blankets, ice packs) Sedation if shivering occurs

Choice B rationale:

Administration of cardiotonic agents such as dopamine, dobutamine, or norepinephrine is often required in septic shock to: Improve cardiac output: These agents increase myocardial contractility and heart rate, enhancing blood flow to vital organs.

Maintain blood pressure: They support vasoconstriction, counteracting the widespread vasodilation characteristic of septic shock.

Improve tissue perfusion: By optimizing cardiac output and blood pressure, they help ensure adequate oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues.

Choice E rationale:

Blood cultures from all suspected sources before administration of antibiotics are essential for guiding appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Early identification of the causative organism: This information is crucial for selecting the most effective antibiotic regimen.

Prevention of antibiotic resistance: Judicious use of antibiotics based on culture results helps prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Choice F rationale:

Vigorous intravenous fluid resuscitation with 0.9% sodium chloride is a cornerstone of septic shock management.

Replenishing intravascular volume: Septic shock often causes profound intravascular volume depletion due to capillary leak and vasodilation. Fluid resuscitation aims to restore circulating volume and maintain organ perfusion.

Improving hemodynamic stability: By increasing preload and cardiac output, fluids help stabilize blood pressure and support vital organ function.

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A nurse notes a small section of bowel protruding from the abdominal incision of a client who is postoperative. After calling for assistance, which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is looking after a patient who is 12 hours postoperative following a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and has a 3-way urinary catheter with continuous irrigation.The nurse observes that there has been no urinary output in the last hour. What should the nurse do first?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A patient has been diagnosed with septic shock.What collaborative interventions would be expected? (Select all that apply)

Correct Answer is ["A","B","E","F"]

Explanation

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