A patient has been hospitalized after her house was destroyed in a hurricane.
She has spent two weeks in the intensive care unit and has now been transferred to the surgical floor for continued respiratory monitoring and completion of IV antibiotic therapy.
The patient reports a pain level of 2 on a scale of 0 to 10. She requests sleeping medication, explaining that she is haunted by distressing thoughts and memories of the house collapsing, which prevent her from sleeping.
She says, “I used to be so happy before all of this happened.
Now I can’t seem to get out of this funk I am in.”. She would also prefer a quieter area of the unit as she is currently near the nurses’ station and is disturbed by the noise.
After listening to the patient’s symptoms, the nurse suspects that she likely has:

Choice A rationale

Uterine atony refers to a condition where the uterus fails to contract sufficiently during and after childbirth. This lack of contraction can lead to excessive bleeding, also known as postpartum hemorrhage. This is because the contractions of the uterus after delivery help to compress the blood vessels and prevent bleeding. Therefore, uterine atony can cause a patient to hemorrhage.

Choice B rationale

Wound dehiscence refers to a surgical complication where an incision reopens either internally or externally. It can cause pain, infection, and organ protrusion. However, it is not directly associated with hemorrhaging.

Choice C rationale

Infection refers to the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. While severe infections can lead to sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation, which can cause bleeding, they do not directly cause hemorrhaging.

Choice D rationale

Hemorrhage is a symptom, not a condition. It refers to excessive bleeding which can occur due to various conditions, including uterine atony.

The assessment findings that require immediate follow up by the nurse are: The client has mild subcostal retractions. This could indicate that she is using accessory muscles to breathe, which is a sign of respiratory distress. The client is sitting in an upright position. This is a common position for people who are having difficulty breathing because it allows for maximum expansion of the lungs. Wheezes are noted throughout the lung fields. Wheezing can be a sign of an obstructive process such as asthma. The client is pale. Paleness can be a sign of decreased oxygenation. Her heart rate is 122 beats/minute, which is above the normal range and can indicate that her body is working harder to get oxygen. Her oxygen saturation is 91% on room air. Normal oxygen saturation is generally 95% or higher, so this could indicate that she is not getting enough oxygen.