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A nurse on a postpartum unit is caring for a client.

Exhibits

Complete the following sentence by using the lists of options.

The client is most likely experiencing

as evidenced by the client's .
Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"B","dropdown-group-2":"A"}

Rationale for Correct Choices

  • Endometritis: This uterine infection is common after cesarean delivery, especially with prolonged rupture of membranes. The client’s uterine tenderness, elevated fundus, boggy consistency, and foul-smelling lochia are hallmark signs of endometritis, making it the most likely diagnosis.
  • Uterus and lochia: The presence of a tender uterus that is elevated above the umbilicus and only firms with massage, combined with dark, malodorous lochia, strongly suggests infection of the uterine lining. These findings point specifically to endometritis rather than general postpartum changes.

Rationale for Incorrect Choices

  • Mastitis: Although the client reports heavy, warm breasts with nipple discomfort, there is no breast erythema, localized swelling, or high-grade fever typical of mastitis. These symptoms are likely due to engorgement related to lactation rather than infection.
  • Pneumonia: The client’s respiratory assessment shows clear lungs with only slight basal changes common postoperatively. There are no signs of cough, sputum production, hypoxia, or respiratory distress, which makes pneumonia an unlikely cause of her symptoms.
  • Fever: A temperature of 38.2°C is above normal, but mild postpartum fever can have various causes, including engorgement, dehydration, or early infection. Fever alone is not specific enough to confirm a diagnosis without targeted findings.
  • WBC count: Although an elevated WBC of 33,000/mm³ raises concern, postpartum leukocytosis can be physiologic or related to many infections. It is not diagnostic of endometritis without more specific correlating signs like uterine tenderness and abnormal lochia.


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Rationale:

A. Auscultation: This step is performed after inspection and before percussion or palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds. It allows the nurse to assess for the presence, frequency, and character of bowel sounds without stimulating them artificially.

B. Inspection: This is the first step in the abdominal assessment. It involves visually examining the abdomen for contour, symmetry, skin changes, pulsations, or visible masses without touching the patient, helping establish a baseline.

C. Palpation: Palpation is the final step in abdominal assessment to prevent interference with bowel sounds. It allows the nurse to detect tenderness, masses, or organ enlargement, but should only be done after auscultation and percussion.

D. Percussion: This is done after auscultation and provides information on underlying structures, such as gas, fluid, or masses. It helps differentiate between dullness, resonance, or tympany across abdominal quadrants.

Correct Answer is ["B","C"]

Explanation

Rationale:

A. Clamp the chest tube every 2 hr to assess the amount of drainage: Clamping a chest tube is not routine and can lead to tension pneumothorax by preventing air or fluid from escaping the pleural space. It should only be done briefly and under specific provider direction.

B. Add water to the water seal chamber as it evaporates: Water in the water seal chamber may evaporate over time and should be maintained at the prescribed level to preserve the one-way seal. This ensures proper functioning of the chest drainage system.

C. Mark the drainage output on the collection chamber: Marking the drainage level at regular intervals allows for accurate monitoring of output trends, which can help detect complications like hemorrhage or increased fluid accumulation.

D. Maintain the collection chamber above the level of the client's waist: The collection chamber should be kept below the level of the chest to promote gravity drainage. Elevating it above the waist can allow fluid or air to flow back into the pleural space.

E. Strip the chest tube vigorously to dislodge blood clots: Stripping is not recommended as it creates high negative pressure that may damage lung tissue. If clots are suspected, milking the tube gently or other interventions should be discussed with the provider.

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