A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following an appendectomy.
Vital Signs
1800:
Temperature 98.4° F (36.8° C) Heart rate 104/min
Respiratory rate 22/min
Blood pressure 142/80 mm Hg
O2 saturation 97% on room air
1800:
Client alert and oriented x 4
Skin warm and dry
Lungs clear on auscultation
Bowel sounds hypoactive in all four quadrants Urine clear yellow
Incisional dressing clean and dry
Client reports pain as 6 on a scale of 0 to 10
1815:
Morphine administered as prescribed
2000:
Temperature 98.4° F (36.8° C) Heart rate 110/min Respiratory rate 24/min
Blood pressure 158/88 mm Hg O2 saturation 93% on room air
Which of the following 4 client findings should the nurse report to the provider?
Bowel sounds
Oxygen saturation
Nausea
Vomiting
Pain level
Heart rate
Incision characteristics
Lungs sounds
Correct Answer : B,F,G,H
A. Bowel sounds are hypoactive in all four quadrants, which is expected after an appendectomy due to anesthesia and decreased peristalsis. This is not a finding that needs to be reported to the provider.
B. Oxygen saturation is 93% on room air, which is below the normal range of 95% to 100%. This could indicate impaired gas exchange, respiratory depression, or infection. This is a finding that needs to be reported to the provider.
C. Nausea is a common side effect of morphine and anesthesia, and can be managed with antiemetics and fluids. This is not a finding that needs to be reported to the provider unless it persists or interferes with oral intake.
D. Vomiting is also a common side effect of morphine and anesthesia, and can be managed with antiemetics and fluids. This is not a finding that needs to be reported to the provider unless it persists or interferes with oral intake.
E. Pain level is 6 on a scale of 0 to 10, which is moderate pain. The client received morphine as prescribed at 1815, and the pain level should be reassessed after 30 minutes. This is not a finding that needs to be reported to the provider unless the pain is unrelieved or increases.
- F. Heart rate is 110/min, which is above the normal range of 60 to 100/min. This could indicate pain, anxiety, dehydration, infection, or bleeding. This is a finding that needs to be reported to the provider.
- G. Incision characteristics are clean and dry, which is expected after an appendectomy. However, the nurse should monitor for signs of infection such as redness, swelling, warmth, drainage, or odor. This is a finding that needs to be reported to the provider if any signs of infection are present.
- H. Lungs sounds are clear on auscultation, which is expected after an appendectomy. However, the nurse should encourage deep breathing and coughing exercises to prevent atelectasis and pneumonia. This is a finding that needs to be reported to the provider if any abnormal lung sounds are heard such as crackles, wheezes, or diminished breath sounds.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Pain with movement of the left great toe is incorrect finding: Pain may be expected in a client with a fractured left tibia, especially if the great toe is moved. Pain is more related to the fracture and may not specifically indicate altered tissue perfusion.
Choice B reason:
Faint pedal pulse of the left leg is correct because it indicates that the blood flow to the foot is diminished. The pedal pulse is the pulse felt on the top of the foot, and its faintness could suggest reduced arterial blood flow to the foot.
Choice C reason:
Warm skin temperature distal to the pin site is incorrect: Warm skin distal to the pin site may indicate adequate blood flow and could be a normal finding. Warmth is generally associated with increased blood flow to the area.
Choice D reason:
Purulent drainage at the pin site is incorrect. Purulent drainage at the pin site could indicate an infection, but it is not directly related to altered tissue perfusion. Infection can lead to complications, but it does not necessarily indicate reduced blood flow to the extremity
Correct Answer is []
Explanation
Rationale:
A: Obtain the latex free cart is incorrect. There is no evidence that the client has a latex allergy or that latex exposure triggered the malignant hyperthermia reaction.
B: Paralytic ileus is incorrect. Paralytic ileus is not the primary condition that the client is experiencing, but a possible secondary complication of malignant hyperthermia.
C: Nausea and vomiting is incorrect. Nausea and vomiting are common postoperative symptoms that may or may not be related to malignant hyperthermia.
D:Malignant hyperthermia (MH) itself does not inherently include hypercapnia as a defining characteristic. However, during an episode of malignant hyperthermia, metabolic acidosis can occur due to the increased production of lactic acid and carbon dioxide as byproducts of the hypermetabolic state. This acidosis can potentially lead to respiratory compensation mechanisms, such as increased respiratory rate and depth, to attempt to eliminate excess carbon dioxide from the body. In some cases, if the compensatory respiratory efforts are insufficient to adequately remove carbon dioxide, hypercapnia can develop as a secondary complication of malignant hyperthermia.
E: nasogastric (NG) tube is incorrect. An NG tube may be indicated for paralytic ileus or bowel obstruction, but not for malignant hyperthermia.
- F: Malignant hyperthermia is correct. The client's vital signs indicate a possible malignant hypertermia reaction, which is a rare but life-threatening complication of general anesthesia that causes a rapid rise in body temperature, muscle rigidity, tachycardia, tachypnea, and hypoxia.
- G: Administer ondansetron is incorrect. Ondansetron is an antiemetic medication that can help with nausea and vomiting, but it does not address the underlying cause of malignant hyperthermia.
- H: Administer dantrolene is correct. Dantrolene is the antidote for malignant hyperthermia and should be given as soon as possible to stop the metabolic crisis and lower the body temperature.
- I: Latex allergy is incorrect. Latex allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction to latex products that can cause urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm, or anaphylaxis. There is no evidence that the client has a latex allergy or that latex exposure triggered the malignant hyperthermia reaction.
- J: Urticaria is incorrect. Urticaria is a skin rash that can be caused by allergic reactions, infections, or other factors. There is no evidence that the client has urticaria or that it is related to malignant hyperthermia.
- K: Muscle rigidity is correct. Muscle rigidity is one of the signs of malignant hyperthermia and should be monitored closely by the nurse.
- L: Bowel sounds is correct. Bowel sounds should be assessed regularly by the nurse to detect any signs of paralytic ileus, which is a potential complication of malignant hyperthermia that causes intestinal obstruction and abdominal distension.
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