On the second postoperative day, a client who had a colon resection is starting to eat and ambulate with assistance. Although the client has a prescription for an oral analgesic, they request that the PCA containing morphine be continued for one more day due to fear of pain. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
Measure urinary output to ensure renal functioning.
Administer the oral analgesic medication an hour before discontinuing the PCA pump.
Monitor for a depressed respiratory rate.
Teach about the need to progress to a high-fiber diet.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Measuring urinary output is important for monitoring renal function, especially when using medications like morphine, but it is not the most critical intervention in this context.
Choice B reason: Administering the oral analgesic before discontinuing the PCA allows for the medication to take effect, preventing breakthrough pain and addressing the client's fear of pain.
Choice C reason: Monitoring for a depressed respiratory rate is crucial when a patient is on morphine, but the priority is to manage pain effectively as the client transitions to oral analgesics.
Choice D reason: Education on dietary needs is important for long-term recovery, but immediate pain management is a higher priority in the postoperative period.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: A blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg is considered high normal and may not require immediate follow-up for a patient with a history of hypertension.
Choice B reason: A serum creatinine of 1.6 mg/dL is above the normal range for both males and females, indicating possible kidney dysfunction, which requires further follow-up.
Choice C reason: Dark yellow urine could be a sign of dehydration, which is common in diabetes, but it is not as concerning as an elevated serum creatinine level.
Choice D reason: Difficulty staying asleep could be related to various factors and may require follow-up, but it is not as urgent as abnormal laboratory values.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Sudden swelling, redness, warmth, and pain are more indicative of acute conditions like deep vein thrombosis rather than chronic arterial symptoms.
Choice B reason: Weeping ulcers on lower legs are more commonly associated with venous insufficiency rather than arterial disease.
Choice C reason: Ankle edema and varicose veins are typically associated with venous disorders, not arterial disease.
Choice D reason: Intermittent claudication, which is pain during walking that subsides with rest, is a hallmark of peripheral arterial disease and is an expected finding in clients with this condition.
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